fanciful devices: 06/2010

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.

6/28/10

Love with a pale stranger

LONESOME DOVE Steampunk Saloon Burlesque Gothic Opera Victorian Bustle Skirt ALSO AVAILABLE IN BLACK, RED, PURPLE, TEAL, CREAM, WHITE AND MANY OTHER COLOURS

SEXY Big Red Hair Rose Flower with Black Net Spider Web Petals

My Dark Valentine Bracelet - Victorian Era

Scarlet Red Glass Teardrop Oxidized Sterling Silver Wire Wrapped Dangle Earrings - Fever

Steampunk Fashion Necklace fashioned with a Gorgeous Vintage Watch Movement

SALE Victorian gothic red silk couture shrug shoulder wrap black roses made to order

Blood Red Glass Adjustable Cocktail Ring - Passion

TODDIE TOPPER - Cream Mini Top Hat w/ Red Velvet Trim and Box Pleated Sparkle Trim, Red and Black Feathers Topped with Vintage Button

Hot Pink , Black, White, Red - Sexy Ruffle frilly Panties Bloomers- one size fits most

Large Diamond Cuffs in Black and Red (Pair)

Black and Red Satin Underbust Corset-Made to Measure

Scarlet Red Rose and Black Tatted Lace on an Ivory Silk Ring Bearer Pillow

Strolling Seduction--Satin Rosette and Marabou Feather Garter

keenaskreations composed this treasury, and I've never felt sexier. Well, I may have, but this particular set of earrings sure hasn't.

It's amazing how any article can change it's feel when grouped with different items, don't you think?
Fancylinda says no more than 20% on the coupon, maybe even 15%... sounds good to me. However, I just remembered I'm going out of town next week so I need to wait until after that to offer any coupon. D'oh!

Coupon?

So, as always, I get antsy when a few days go by without sales. I'm considering some kind of promotion. I was thinking of maybe saying if you follow my blog and leave a link to a blog post about my shop or items, you could get a certain percentage off? (I prefer this to an all-out giveaway. I'd go crazy deciding which item, for one.) I could announce it on my shop, and it would give me some nice promo.

Now the question is, what percentage would the coupon be for? As a shopper I remember thinking any percentage less than 50 wasn't worth a second look, but as a seller... I once gave a wholesale discount of 20% and it was almost heartbreaking. Which is crazy because I still have several checks from work I haven't given a second glance for a couple of months just sitting on my counter top. So. Money isn't an issue. I don't know. Any ideas out there? Think this is worth the bother? Is it tacky? Don't know why I should think it is, I'm just awful at self-promotion... Is 20% enough to generate interest? Should it be more? 25%? What, more? Now you're just talking crazy! What, you think I'm crazy? Well, I'm not the one arguing with her computer screen, honey. Nope.

Post Apocalyptic Deliciousness

LIAISON Custom OOAK Mucha Inspired Headpiece (YOU CHOOSE THE COLOR SCHEME), This is for a unique 1 of a kind piece...

CUSTOM ORDER ONLY Fluffie Rufflie Dance Pants

Deliverance. Antique Mary and Child Assemblage with Fuses, Textile, Tourmaline.

Skirt, Black and Gold, Cabaret, Vaudeville, Steampunk, Vampire, Noir, Gothic, Witchy, Black Rock, Dance

I am a Mask of Divinity. Salvaged Textile Cuff.

Gothic Tiara with Swarovski Crystals- The Queen of Hearts Royal Whim

Belly Dance Super Stars Ready, SUPER DUPER DELUXE Tribal Belly Dance Costume.

Tattered zombie lace belt or waist cincher tribal goth or steampunk

A Wink at a Lost Life. Asymmetrical NECKLACE. wearable Crude art by Lana

Tree of LifeTribal Bedouin Potion Snuff Bottle Pendant Necklace

This luscious cllection bythegypsykiss includes TWO of my items! Is that legal? Deliverance. Antique Mary and Child Assemblage with Fuses, Textile, Tourmaline.

The gypsy kiss is the lovely lady who posted about me in her facebook to introduce me to the tribal fusion belly dance community. In Japanese, that would be shortened to Tufubedaco. I'm just saying. They need to shorten it and TFBDC doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. This is her, modeling her own belt creation:
Steampunk Bellydance Belt

Yup, just my average sexalicious customer. They all look that good, I know it.

6/27/10

CUFFS cuffs CUFFS cuffs CUFFS cuffs

Metallic Gold Genuine Stingray Leather Cuff Bracelet

Eye of the Snow Leopard Cub beaded bracelet

Wrist Cuff Hand Embroidered Fiber Bracelet Hydrangeas

Pop Rocks Grape Recycled Glass Beads Embellished Resin Hand Forged Cuff Bracelet

Tory Brown Leather Wrap Cuff with Antique Key ... Tonal

Chocolate Burgundy Basketweave Leather Cuff - Small

Royal bracelet - black beadwoven cuff with bronze and copper pattern - FREE SHIPPING

City Life Bead Embroidered Cuff Bracelet

MonicaI made this treasury all about cuffs. What a great idea.

This guy was wanting some love, too. Cuffs haven't been my best sellers. Or they have but since I don't see the sold ones in my shop, I forget they ever existed. That's probably more likely.

I'm soon to move my studio from my coffee table and all over the living/dining area downstairs to my upstairs bedroom, since we have 4 rooms upstairs and hardly use them. I'm gonna make it all cozy and display all my supplies, so I don't have to feel bad about the space they occupy or what a mess hubs has to live in. I think this will help me not feel as panicky over my supplies or feel in such a rush to finish projects. Plus it's the room I take pictures in, so that part will get done much faster and more organically. I can't wait! I need some good storage/display shelves. I've already bought some bins. Eeeeee!