fanciful devices: Couple more attempts

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.

12/23/12

Couple more attempts

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!
I got so much response on a post where I put up mediocre earrings, I should do it more often (ba-dum ching!). But no really, I'm SO GLAD some of you said meh, that way 1, I knew I wasn't going crazy and 2, the praise I get is all the more meaningful.
Look, I more thoroughly oxidized these:

This was the before:

If you can even see it.

I always felt the light I was using was too yellow, but now I see these photo bulbs really do give off, as altered archeology noted, all the warmth of a surgical suite.

I also took pix of these:

Which maybe they do need more grunge and gunk...

See, I've been thinking a lot about perceived value and all... Sometimes, adding something like :

Gold coated faceted pyrite nuggets 10-12mm 1/4 strand

really gives a special spark to my things. So I was wondering if I'd sell more if I made things... while not exactly mainstream... at least a bit blingier... I dunno. Turns out I don't know how to do so while retaining any of the specialness of my pieces...

Thank you guys though so so much for all the help and support. Especially the non-regular-commenters that seemed to pop out of the woodwork for this one. I really can't tell you how much I appreciate it.

And OMG sparrow I lurve you. Of course I'll save those for you! Guuuurl, I been peeing myself over your I did it for the LOLs pinboard (Billboard Baggins!!!). As well as all your other gorgeous selections.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Didn't get round to saying how much I loved the yellow and red tin and lampwork earrings in the last post.
Light is a real pain, I use natural light, I've tried the tent thing and it killed my jewellery. Have you thought about bribing a proper photographer to do a look book of your best pieces. Seasonal greetings too and have a great 2013.; 12/24/12, 12:43 AM
Anonymous said...: Personally, meditations on perceived value are odious and to be avoided: you're an artist. If you want to make things for different audiences- cool, but don't change to make sales. (I'm a musician...so these questions come up often for us.;)
On the question 'To Bling or not to Bling'- you already are! what with your cool gold foiling, and cosmic foil/glitter blobs. These things draw me to your designs: your work is unique with a balance of rustic/modern design, color, and bling. Not sure questions of bling/perceived value make sense in the rustic assemblage world.... But quality does. What influences my purchase isn't how valuable it looks; but how well it's made, and the balance btwn unique/odd, color (not so black with oxidation it dissapears in my dark hair...), and blingy bits for the stage lights. My .02- keep doing what you do. Expanding? Experimenting? Wheeeeeeee!; 12/24/12, 12:53 PM