fanciful devices: Less is More and More is Also More

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.

2/17/13

Less is More and More is Also More

Before:

After:

The Shiva Hypothesis. Rustic Choker Dark heart swords vintage antique recycled with raku ceramics.

And yes, Sparrow, David is crazy brilliant, even more so because he was a premie, and they can end up a bit slow. It's even cuter because he's tiny for his age and talks that way.

Before:

After:

In Your Light. Iridescent Victorian Tribal statement necklace with art beads, lampwork, ceramics doll face assemblage.

Mom told us how on the plane home, the pilot reported the temperature in Cali was 66 degrees Fahrenheit.

"That's like you, Abuela!"

"Whuuuu??"

"You're 66 too!"

Then I made these next two pairs from SacredCake goodies. This was a buckle:

Between the Stars. Victorian Tribal Assemblage Earrings with Bell, Frosting Tip and Rhinestones.

And some gumball charms, with acorns from potterygirl1: Tree Dwellers. Vintage antique rustic assemblage asymmetrical brown earrings with acorn ceramic art beads and gumball charms.

Tree Dwellers. Vintage antique rustic assemblage asymmetrical brown earrings with acorn ceramic art beads and gumball charms.

He also expressed concern because everything evolves and he's not sure what he's going to evolve into. He hopes it's a dog.

8 comments:

Jiorji said...: "He also expressed concern because everything evolves and he's not sure what he's going to evolve into. He hopes it's a dog."

my mind...... BOOM!!!!!; 2/17/13, 10:10 PM
Penelope said...: We need to get this kid his own TV show. STAT. He could have big time politicians on to ask questions and they wouldn't be able to argue. Damn all politicians should be interviewed by kids. Also they should be a bit drunk. Not the kids. Did you know way back in olden times, Germans would not have political meetings without getting drunk first? Because it's harder to lie effectively when you're hammered.

There's some random trivia for ya.; 2/18/13, 7:10 AM
steufel said...: "He hopes it's a dog" oh my god - that is so funny. nd your stuff beautiful as always. Love it. Also love your tut about the tribal bangles. Thanks for sharing your experiences.; 2/18/13, 11:33 AM
Anonymous said...: Sweetness abounds through the love and support of family... : ); 2/18/13, 11:35 AM
anabelucraft said...: I like them. Chao; 2/18/13, 3:21 PM
gretchen said...: you should ask your sister start writing down what your nephew say, so it can be shared with him when he is older. my cousin does this with her girls. all year she saves these little gems and at xmas she sends out a letter with the best/most insightful bits. from the mouths of babes and all that ....

the neckpieces are even better than before- and they weren't bad before! the earrings are killer. love. them.

The give-away earrings you sent have arrived - LOVE. the web photos did not do them justice. thank you so very much.; 2/19/13, 1:33 AM
Flotsam Tide said...: The connections on that second added strand to your bone necklace are beautiful! Lovely to see your fruitful alterations, I like both end results. David is absolutely precious.... dogs are awesome.; 2/19/13, 2:39 PM
belvedere beads said...: Less is more, more or less.; 2/19/13, 3:30 PM