fanciful devices: Still here.

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.

8/4/14

Still here.

I'm always scared if I don't post every dang day that y'all are gonna forget me or stop lovin me or something. What's wrong with me?

So yeah I been sick the last few days. No big just throat/woozy crap that keeps me from moving even the tiny bit I usually move- from my bed to the studio. And like, the studio's next door so I can basically fall out the bed and drag my ass across the ground...

Ugh you guys I hate my laziness so much. It's not even laziness it's like chronic fatigue unabletomotivatemyself syndrome. Man I wish I could get me to exercise- I told y'all how it helped me feel better in Uruguay. Anyways... I get such lovely convos, peeps telling me I'm some kind of inspiration and I'm like "then why do I always feel like I'm such a sack of crap?"

My friggin' point being that I managed to take some poopy iPad pix of the stuff I have ready to photo and list, just to let you know I'm not dead. Tons lighter on the filters this time. I'm getting better at the iPad for sure. And I got my printer working finally! Woo-hoo, accomplishments!

Actually the other day I stumbled into a neighbor's house (that bingo likes to visit) with my pad and ended up showing this couple my shop and blog for like ten hours. It made me realize what a huge ton of stuff I've recently made and sold.

Like, i.e., I should really ease up on the self-recrimination or something. All us girls are like this I think, though. Wtf is wrong with us??

Most depressing blog post ever. Fuck it, it's my blog I do what I want.

Someone recently asked for more on Mr. Devices. He's still up to his same ol shenanigans. The other day he got a bloody nose during sparring and he was so proud he took a selfie. But he won't let me put pictures of him here! Cuz he's dumb. But so I doodled an approximation:

Yeah it was horrifying. Still getting a hang of this drawing app. That's supposed to be his headgear.

11 comments:

Miss R said...: Lazy schmazy! You rock! Go team! I'm reading this before bed and maybe I'll dream of those pins/pendants.

Hope Mr. Devices's nose is ok. Ps, do a family portrait with Bingo!; 8/4/14, 10:40 PM
Unknown said...: Uh, before I could look at the eye candy I decided to say this -
Uh, quit loving you...perish that thought. So NOT going to happen.; 8/4/14, 11:21 PM
Loralee said...: Checking for your blog updates is my favorite part of the day….oh, the anticipation!! You never fail to amaze and inspire me. <3 Hope you're feeling better and Dr. D, too xoxo; 8/5/14, 12:03 AM
Unknown said...: good grief girlie! You need a hug! HUGGGGG!!!!
Ok that's my virtual strong hug and love!
I don't think you can stop being loved even if you want to be :-P
Love you and your work! Keep it up, but rest up too! You need to recharge and get better. <3; 8/5/14, 1:07 AM
Unknown said...: the loveliness! Good way to start the day, I agree :)
Love especially the earrings.. the necklace.. oh the pins too. Ok love it all.
don't worry we all struggle with laziness. I'm pretty sure we're wired that way. xx; 8/5/14, 3:00 AM
Anvil Artifacts said...: Not to worry, you are unforgettable! Hoping you get a burst of energy soon and that the Mr's nose isn't as scary in real life as it is in your drawing. Yikes!; 8/5/14, 10:00 AM
Maggie Zee said...: One of the rasons I love reading your blog is that you're honest. Just the fact that you drag your ass out of bed and to your studio makes the world a better place. Maybe if it wasn't so hard, it wouldn't be so good. Just a theory.; 8/5/14, 2:37 PM
neshuma said...: --All of the above. Also, luv, luv, luv the 'shopped extra fingertips (featuring Those Long Gone) and the |h| in what would otherwise be (Tectonic).; 8/7/14, 7:00 AM
Thoughtfulhands said...: That pink necklace is really calling to me...; 8/7/14, 11:45 PM
Jennifer Valentine Morford said...: I agree...you are unforgettable.
I; 8/23/14, 5:45 PM
maria said...: buenísimo!!!; 8/24/14, 10:24 AM