fanciful devices: Just had to share.

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.

1/30/13

Just had to share.

The Moon in Deeper Languidness. Cosmic Victorian Tribal Assemblage Earrings.

The Moon in Deeper Languidness.
I know, I'm blogging so much no one can keep up.

Oh well, here's more. Is the Moon Still There. Aluminum coaster blade hoops with black patina and flowers.

Is the Moon Still There.

Free Shipping. Bedlam. Pale Victorian Tribal Kuchi Assemblage Necklace with Bones.

I did another rework! This guy's been sitting in my shop for fifty years.

The problem was no Victorian to balance all the Tribal. Just like the other one there was no cosmic to balance the vintage...

Bedlam.
So I removed the that and added the this.
Bedlam. Pale Victorian Tribal Kuchi Assemblage Necklace with Bones.

And then I made this:

Which is actually two necklaces but if you don't wear them together they self-destruct.

And then this:

And then I watched this:

9 comments:

Jiorji said...: a rainbow of...UGLy!!!!!!! HAHAHA i love those videos. those poor vain shrimp! they never had a chance; 1/30/13, 9:08 PM
Flotsam Tide said...: Smacks forehead with hand, shaking with silent laughter because I just got the kid to sleep not too long ago, that video is hilarious. Love everything you posted here, that double strand necklace is wonderful, and I can't get over those earrings at the top, and what you did with the jewels. I really like your latest leafing or gilding... the coppery hues mixed with the gold is so pretty.; 1/31/13, 12:46 AM
Anvil Artifacts said...: The first earrings are just wonderful! Yes, it's hard to keep up with your plethora of posts, but fun to try!; 1/31/13, 10:22 AM
StaroftheEast said...: Wooah, those are ugly !!

I mean the fish, of course :); 1/31/13, 12:54 PM
betweenreader said...: Where do you find this stuff, dearie? What a hoot! 'Do love those first earrings in this post -- I'd wear them myself, easy, with everything.; 2/1/13, 8:47 AM
martinisfor2 said...: The first pair of earrings are gorgeous and I love what you did with Bedlam.

I now have a stomach ache from laughing at the video the three times I watched it...the B&J chunky monkey before hand could have had something to do with it too.; 2/1/13, 5:44 PM
Tribalis said...: ..absent of here for a while, very busy these days..
I like more the double chain on the remade neck piece really, much more vivid! you got the fly!he,he..portuguese..

blog,blog,blog!..what would be of us without this comfortable place? This is like mom's lap..:)
Have a nice weekend Marina. Ah! Thanks for the "immaculately rendered", love it!
Beijos!!; 2/2/13, 2:30 AM
Tribalis said...: i would eat those fishes with coconut milk and palm oil..yummy!!; 2/2/13, 2:33 AM
Anonymous said...: Wonderful pieces! The Moon earrings at the top are magnificent! And the necklaces....oh! Love your work so much; thanks for giving me the link to your blog. Peace to your heart, Sara; 2/2/13, 1:19 PM