fanciful devices: Labors of Like

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.

7/9/14

Labors of Like

Hey homeskillets. I been busy, here's just a few of the whats.

Made a couple necklaces with medals!

I thought lariats would be a good idea for them, counteract the basic round-thing-on-a-chain visual.

And some resin pieces since, as I've said, I have a billion I just made.

Here I thought the girliness of the doll arm counteracted the masculinity of the dude in the resin. Ehh?

Coupla these since people keep asking for them.

So that's one pair...

And here's another that looks practically identical.

I'mna make these $200000 so people stop wanting them. I'm PMSy and grouchy tho.

That's why it sez 'Labors of Like' and not Love. Can't feel no love while PMSing.

And another of the caged baroque pearl pairs this time in a lilac-y pink.

Some amethyst chunks with polybabies.

So this comment from Beatnheart on my last post almost made me cry: "The number one, first lady of etsy and of blogdom... Marina, you have tought me from the beginning that sharing is cool...that it's ok to copy from you without you freaking out about it and in fact encouraging it...you don't have such insecurities about your work and you are there to help others grow and develop...

"... what a wonderful way to live! your ideas are endless...you invented most of the designs and styles and ways of doing things and you continue to do so. your new foray into making beads continues to blow my mind in a million ways and your boundless enthusiasm and deep pit of knowledge and experimentation astonishes and amazes me...thank you from the bottom of my beatnheart for showing me the way... xxxcynthia "

What can I even say to that? I swear when (everyday) I'm struggling against myself to get shit done and feeling like a big fat looser, one of y'all comes along and just...

I especially liked that "deep pit of knowledge" since often I feel like I'm stuck in a deep pit fo' sho'.

Now lets look at this otter playing dead:

And these guys freaking out over a tasty bug:

This gal rocking herself on her horsey:

And this guy... No I actually have no idea what this guy's doing:

It takes a loooot of gifs to counteract PMS.

5 comments:

dawn said...: Wowza.....I would really really really like one of those caged multi color pair of earrings....could I possibly reserve one? Please :)

Any pair would be wonderful....

Dawn Sherrill; 7/9/14, 10:29 PM
Unknown said...: All very cool as always, thanks for sharing!
what are those rainbowy stones that are on top of your handmade glass mini pendants on the earrings? Are they mystic moonstones? They're so magical!
XO; 7/10/14, 12:44 AM
Louise said...: Absolutely gorgeous creations! YOU! :) do it every time.; 7/10/14, 1:14 AM
betweenreader said...: I should get PMS like this, but actually, its about 20 years too late. Alas! All of these things are glorious and yummy. Have some chocolate.; 7/10/14, 1:34 PM
Beatnheart said...: Fanci dee licious...
It is all true and then some...
So i'll just copy exactly those caged earrings!!
Thanks for being the real deal...; 7/11/14, 9:39 AM