fanciful devices

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.

10/19/12

Who was it that wanted the phoenix resin shield thing? I cant remember!

It's not so damned white as all this. This is just the scanner making it look shitty. But if it's not what you wanted, that's completely fine don't feel obliged to buy it! But do tell me it was you or I'll fret.

Now I'll take this opportunity to force you to look at the cutest pix I've seen in a while.
On your left, the same 2 dogs over the space of a year or two.

Me in the morning.

Doggie dignity, Y U no exist?

Hey, while I'm here and there's not enough light for taking pictures of new things because it's monsoon season in Chi-town, wanna see something scary?

My hubs- who now realizes he's been in hernia pain for the last 3 years and is elated to be without it- nudged his way in and said, "Hey. You cleaned your studio! I can open the door now."

(insert segue way)

So mom told the nephew he should get a fish maybe. "Actually Abuela, I had a tank with a xiphophorus maculatus and a sword fish, but there was a malfunction."

xiphophorus maculatus, RIP

8 comments:

Unknown said...: that is a hilarious pix of the dogs, he is VERY good natured to put up w/ that!; 10/19/12, 10:12 PM
beadybaby said...: I think I understand everything in the studio except the TP. And if you ran out of regular tissues, I think I understand everything! :-); 10/19/12, 10:18 PM
Alice said...: Love the dog photos!!! I'm going to show your studio photo to my husband so he will finally understand this is the way it is for all people who make stuff. Then I'm going to remind him of how his work bench looks, and he never even uses it!; 10/20/12, 7:36 AM
PipnMolly said...: It's not nice to make me spit coffee on my computer from laughing. "You cleaned your studio!"
Or maybe it is.; 10/20/12, 9:33 AM
Numinosity said...: How do you keep your remotes so clean? Or are they just supplies for your next amazing jewelry assemblage?
OK, so you're not going to be on the cover of "Where bloggers create". It's just the magic cauldron from which all things fanci emerges. Kapow!; 10/20/12, 3:57 PM
Skye said...: OMG ! Your 'studio' is in almost the same condition as mine! Awesome :) lol; 10/20/12, 4:50 PM
Beatnheart said...: Ah ha... 3 empty cans of " energy drinks". Could that be what helps to fuel the fire? I love the mess ... Makes me feel better about me.; 10/20/12, 11:11 PM
Unknown said...: Ha ha, how sad it is that I am jealous of your studio? I love to other peoples chaos.; 10/21/12, 1:58 PM