fanciful devices: Express Train

A Stone Is Nobody's

A man ambushed a stone. Caught it.
Made it a prisoner.
Put it in a dark room and stood guard over it for the rest of his life.

His mother asked why.

He said, because it's held captive, because it is captured.

Look, the stone is asleep, she said, it does not know whether it's in a garden or not. Eternity and the stone
are mother and daughter; it is you who are getting old. The stone is only sleeping.

But I caught it, mother, it is mine by conquest, he said.

A stone is nobody's, not even its own. It is you who are conquered; you are minding the prisoner, which is yourself,
because you are afraid to go out, she said.

Yes yes, I am afraid, because you have never loved me, he said.

Which is true, because you have always been to me as the stone is to you, she said.

Russell Edson

FAQs

1. Are you a Southeast Asian dancing girl from the 1800s?

No, sorry to disappoint. My avatar and banner images are from an ancient book I found in the depths of my grandmother's cabinets. More on that here.

2. How do you make everything look so old?

First, you need a good oxidizer to brush on every bit of metal you can reach. I'll tell you all about it here.

Then there's this wax. I first mentioned it here. You'll have to scroll down a lot.

3. How can you be so productive?

I'm insanely obsessed and I have no offspring. I do nothing else- I don't have a day job, I don't clean my house or cook, I spend all day in pjs, often completely abandoning personal hygiene... I only interact with other humans when I walk my dog. And I like people! But I prefer dogs.

And I'm sloppy- but I make that sloppiness work for me.

4. Any tips you'd like to share?

No! Except for these 16 posts about techniques and this one about how to find your aesthetic.

5. Would you be offended if I took some inspiration from your designs?

Well, I'd be happier if you outright copied them.

No really, imitation is how we learn. I have enough ideas to go around. And even if I don't- please. No one's going to do this obsessively enough to threaten my business. (Probably.) I learned by copying others and I've seen others copy me as a step toward developing their own voice. So feel free. (I'd love if you tossed me a link in my comments, so I can feel like a proud momma.)

6. What do you look like?

Why, what have you heard? Really? Wow.

10/12/12

Express Train

Doesn't stop. Just keeps on keeping on. The Thunder of My Roar. Black antique buttons and amethyst choker.

The Thunder of My Roar.
The only thing keeping my shop from getting whiplash is having to stop to photograph.

But I'm getting faster at that too. Basically anything you do a million times you're going to improve at. Love the Scattering Cloud. Alchemy Victorian Tribal Cosmic Earrings.

Love the Scattering Cloud.

I should be photoing some kits I have. I have a LOT of buttons to destash alla sudden.

Fly to Blue Perfection.

If you're gonna get something from the shop and want some buttons, send a convo and I'll stuff your box.

That's what he said.

Lilacs for Lydia.

OK, you might not be getting the exact ~~calibur calebur calebir calibir~~ caliber as the ones seen here, but, you know, free and all.

Mercy.

So here's an anecdote (or antidote as my poor dumb husband has more than once referred to it): Beast of Burden. Rustic Asymmetrical Earrings with Ox Bull Cow Horse.

Beast of Burden.

Mom was telling my 4yrold nephew about her cats.

We Will Teach the Storm.

"They sleep during the day and play at night," Mom explained.

The Ocean We Desire to Become.

"Abuela," he replied all serious,

Say It to my Heart.

"That's called nocturnal."

Soak my Soul.

Can you believe 2 pairs from the previous post that I hadn't posted yet already sold? I gave her that special discount for not making me take more pix and list all fancy. Another help has been basically glossing over the fucking tags. I fucking hate fucking tags.

I haven't chosen a giveaway winner yet. If you still want to dust your shoulders, you have to leave a comment in the previous post. Got it? Good. Oh and if you win and wanna pay shipping, I'll throw in a bunch of buttons.

4 comments:

Penelope said...: HAHA! Do you know how exciting it is to go to your shop and buy something before someone else gets it first? I do, I just did it. Couldn't keep my heart away from those Lilacs for Lydia, those bitches be smokin'.

Also, it boggles me that a 4 year old knows Nocturnal.; 10/13/12, 2:42 AM
darlene said...: love the thunder of my roar! way love it! seriously. makes me sad that on a teachers budget with no raises and insurance going up, up, up, i just can't afford jewelry anymore. *sad face* poor pitiful me. but i would pay shipping on the earrings, says me for anyone, as that is such a deal. just so you know,and you probably do, that that is very reasonable.have a lovely,lovely day!; 10/13/12, 8:45 AM
betweenreader said...: Oh, I'll pay shipping! There never have been too many buttons and I always have high quality petite French macaroon crumbs on my shoulders that need to be dusted away with something truly elegant, like those earrings. C'est moi! (pretty please with almond paste?); 10/13/12, 10:17 AM
Anonymous said...: "Antidote, anecdote, hernia, hemorrhoids- lets call the whole thing off!" I think this is exactly how Louis Armstrong sings it! ;); 10/15/12, 2:50 AM