fanciful devices: GLLLAAAGGHHHHUUU..HH..GH...ffff

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.

12/21/12

GLLLAAAGGHHHHUUU..HH..GH...ffff

That's the noise my brain makes when I look at these photos...
Maybe I just don't like these pieces?

Will someone please tell me if I hate them or not?

You're all gonna say I shouldn't then they'll sit in the shop for ages with people thinking they're good, but... meh. Maybe I threw them together because there were findings and beads I felt obligated to use up. Like the colors above make no sense together.

But yeah, Alice and Jiorji, there's something all wrong with the effect of the light tent.

I'm telling you though, North-facing shmorth-shmacing.

When you wake up at 2 pm there's no chance of light anywhere...

Oh plus I've been having serious sleep schedule issues.

I'm just a mess over here. And just to get these images I had to edit the living crap out of them.

You can't see it but the button that closes this is beautiful.

Also you can't see there's gold foil painstakingly applied over the edge...

What's the use? Waaaahhh....

15 comments:

Anonymous said...: I LOVE all of these new pieces! There is nothing wrong with them. I think it's the cold blue-ish light though, that makes them look sort of sterile and lonely. But that's just my personal opinion. I tend to like darker or warmer backgrounds.; 12/21/12, 5:54 PM
Anonymous said...: Love the earrings! And gemstone rimmed hoops.
Love the bracelet!! You find more creative uses of goldfoil than anyone in the comos ;)
Pics- you just have more light than usual. But that's way more preferred to oversaturating or too dark, because it's true.; 12/21/12, 6:10 PM
Alexandre Patrick said...: Really digging the mini pitcher necklace!!! :); 12/21/12, 6:15 PM
Beatnheart said...: there is no more grunge factor...the part of your work that always intrigued me from the get go...looks too clean and sparkly...how did you do the pics before in the dark winter months...; 12/21/12, 6:43 PM
willowstudio said...: well...I'm fine once I get down to the crystal and pitcher choker on leather...the first three, I don' know. Let's see them again with your new light bulb when it comes.

But cheer up, we're all still here and the shortest day of the year is now behind us!

j; 12/21/12, 9:13 PM
Lynn said...: don't hate me, ok? usually i'm dazzled by your work. i can hardly stay w one for long because i'm eager 2 be bedazzled by the next. i didn't get that this time. maybe you set me up to have that reaction by dissin' 'em at the gitgo? don't let the components force u into using them b4 u feel inspiration. HAVE A GIVEAWAY! do you ever do that? (see how cleverly i worked that in?)i love the puppy tho w that big polka dot on his head.i want to scoop him up and hold him and make him happy. back to this work: it happens ... the doldrums.; 12/22/12, 1:12 AM
StaroftheEast said...: I love all these pieces, they are really great.
The pictures...not so. That stark and unclutered from the cube is not you,imho:); 12/22/12, 6:25 AM
Penelope said...: Those big hoops under the pic of the necklace with the jug... I NEED THEM. Reserve em when you list, I wanna buy.

Also those feels, I know them. It could be the light tent, those things make everything all sterile and soulless. I know it's hard doin' photos when you sleep funny- my sleeping pattern right now is as normal as it's been for years (sleepin 1am till 10am).; 12/22/12, 6:44 AM
Penelope said...: Okay those earrings under the pic of the one with the jug- I NEED THEM. Reserve for Sparrow, plz.

Also I know those feels, bro. Light tents are soul-devouring sterile units, they will suck the spirit out of anything truly creative. I don't really have an alternative for you though if the light is sucky...maybe force yourself to stay up all night and then take the photos at dawn/early morning, then go sleepies? I've done that before. Mostly cause I love dawn, and it's the only way I get to see it!; 12/22/12, 6:46 AM
alteredarcheology said...: You are wah wahhhing over your creations, i think they look divine as usual. Never been a fan of those light tents, the feel they give off is akin to that in a surgery suite. Maybe you should move from cold dark Chicago and come down here to sunny 75 degree Florida! I bet you'd like the way your stuff looks in sunlight a bit closer to the equator.; 12/22/12, 9:11 AM
darlene said...: i think all are lovely, but that's me. love, love, love. happy holidays!; 12/22/12, 9:20 AM
martinisfor2 said...: Love all your new designs! Sooooo DiFFerEnT... I haven't tried working with a lightbox yet so I can't offer any technical~stuff advice.; 12/22/12, 12:59 PM
Othel said...: You are an artist, so please do not let those technical details make you sad!; 12/22/12, 1:08 PM
Carrie said...: I think you might be missing some of your dark waxed grunge and that's what's making your brain squawk. These pieces are all beautiful (yes!) but they seem lighter and less jaxy-waxy than many beautiful fancidevs of yore.

I don't know whether to encourage more color evolution or send you back to the patina bath. I like it both ways (sounds dirty but it's true).; 12/22/12, 2:55 PM
Lela said...: Lucky Sparrow. Those earrings are gorgeousauce.; 12/22/12, 7:15 PM