fanciful devices: This thing on?

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.

8/26/14

This thing on?

Hello my sexy bitches, remember me? Where've I been? Sick! This whole time! Not very sick just a mild virus that sucked out my will to do anything but netflix. So yeah I'm back, here's some stuff.

Some more brooches.

When I say some I mean tons.

Do you know I was about to be stressed about not blogging or listing new things for so long but since several commenters said don't sweat, just take care of yourself, I was like 'nah, I got permission.'

Check out the pattern on this ammonite.

Right?

Here's this very dark one.

But I dont know if I'll be listing today, taking all these pix was enough.

Oh so guess what y'all?

I turned 40!!!!!

I feel so accomplished, just from being 40. Like, good for me to have sat around and allowed time to elapse.

And Mr. Devices and I celebrated our 9th anniversary. We decided it felt more like 4 years than 9 though.

I still have nightmares that I'm back with my exes. Shit. What a handful of... handfuls.

What else happened?

Got so used to reading on the kindle app that the other day I was reading an actual paperback and I found myself tapping on a word to get the definition to pop up.

It's like the times I've found myself in front of my house clicking the car unlock button on the keychain and wondering why the front door's not opening.

Is this just me?

Also my mom's cat Blanquito taught himself how to use the toilet.

Dad just caught him on it today.

Here's a couple bracelets, haven't made those in ages.

Very victorian tribal in the mix of elements.

This one uses a long section from a kutchi hair ornament.

And this big ol' rhinestone buckle I curved for braceletness.

Also some beads.

And these earring pair thingies.

Someone asked me how I managed to drill a hole through the glass in these.

It's very thin glass and the layers of resin sort of protect it. I don't know.

I also made a couple necklaces I haven't yet fully photographed.

And I have some bead soups and earring pair collections to photo as well... but I think the next couple hours are gonna be dedicated to a nice nap.

Check out this dog guilt-tripping after stealing a baby's toy.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...: Glad to see you back, but it's going to take me at least a week to digest all these goodies. Loving the brooches and bracelets. Congratulations on being 40 and happy wedding anniversary.; 8/26/14, 4:35 PM
big mamabird said...: 40 really is a thing...I remember...now about 50.......; 8/26/14, 8:41 PM
Thoughtfulhands said...: So glad your feeling better, you really came back gang-busters. You created some gorgeous goodies. Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to the two of you.

Love the guilty dog...; 8/26/14, 9:37 PM
StaroftheEast said...: Wonderful new stuff, and happy birthday/anniversary :); 8/27/14, 4:54 AM
Beatnheart said...: 40 is the new13!

Loved the " handful of handfuls"

You do the best little vids
Glad you are better....; 8/27/14, 9:50 AM
Juliette said...: Happy Birthday!!! Hope now that you're feeling better you can do some serious celebrating. Happy anniversary as well to you and Mr. Devices, that's worth a hoopla too!

LOVE the ammonite, I'm slobbering. And your natural beads, and - well, you are fabulous.

Man that's some guilt trippin, doggie! Pretty awesome :); 8/27/14, 1:20 PM
Vintajia Adornments said...: Just when I thought that I may have conquered my addiction, back you come! I shall control myself and absorb all this slowly. (maybe)

A very happy birthday to you and happy anniversary to you both; 8/27/14, 5:08 PM
betweenreader said...: Congrats on the birthday, dear, tho you are still a spring chic in my book. Those pins are sooooo seductive. The doggie apparently returned everything he had taken; big guilt!; 8/28/14, 8:31 PM
RomAntiqueSoul said...: Welcome back! Glad you got some rest...well...I think you got some rest, good grief girl! You just created a ton! Great stuff, as always!; 8/28/14, 9:08 PM
CraftyHope said...: I'm so glad you're better. I have both tried to click on a book AND unlock my house with the car key fob, MY SISTER!
The dog gif made me laugh happily, until I wondered if he was just trying to smother the baby. Hmmmm.; 8/28/14, 9:34 PM