fanciful devices: 06/2011

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.

6/29/11

Theeeeengs.

Hello my ladies! Here's a new batch of pretties for ya.
Canitude. Asymmetrical Dangles with Glass Frit.

Canitude.
This is frit. It should have a longer name to express its awesomeness- sugary fritterolia maybe? Anywho, it's an experiment in asymmetry.

Canitude. Asymmetrical Dangles with Glass Frit.

Namelings.
Here's some little dainties made with 4 little dainties from DreamscapesStudios. (Correction! 2 from Dreamscapes and 2 from radiantmind.)

Dicaearchy.
This girly girl is a trading card.... wait. I already told you about this one last time.
Look at the back:

Tea tin. Damn this is girly! But the oxidation gives it a balance so its not too saccharine, I think. Maybe. Whatever. Why do us girls like to wear images of pretty girls around our necks? Like do we think the pretty will rub off?

Medioxumate.
You've met these already.

Nerterology.
Here's something from the many spoons I got in Uruguay. Yay me for getting them!

Alabandical.
Oh and you know these. Whoa- I just realized that side by side they look like a bra. For a viking opera.

Eternitarian
And you know this baby.

Antipelargy. Necklace and Earring Set.

Antipelargy.
Here's something new for me- a necklace and earrings set. With little asymmetrical ear danglies and this awesome plastic teapot from Numinosity. Eek! The cuteness makes me squeal with glee.

Also, my hand is back to 100% awesome and I only have 1 class to go til I'm freeeeeeeeeee!

6/27/11

Snitches Get Stitches

--removed! Tomorrow!

Above- a jar lid. Below- a lamp fixture of some sort. I think no more hammering these curved. I think they look better with their original shape of little plates and such. The ear wire is actually stainless steel memory wire sent in my latest surprise mail haul. It's so damn hard beyond hard that I didn't have to hammer it. Thank god! I just shaped it a bit with fingers and my artistic talent.

I was planning on having all kinds of photos and listing these 2 above and 1 below today until the fucking locket ate my life. I make and ripped out maybe 3 different collages, I messed with those little heart frames so much that when I closed the damn thing, the top of the locket was scratched to hell. I tried to fix it by oxidizing but the layer of gold is so thick it wont oxidize. I tried sanding it and now it just looks like some nutty brushed texture... oh well.

Here's a bezel in the works with a little trading card that says, "S.23 Teresa No.69/ Empress of Brazil / 1889." I'm digging the ringlets.

And this will be a cuff. Two more classes til I'm free!!!

6/25/11

Came.

I mean "came" like, "the coming attractions mentioned in the last post have arrived" not like "I ca-..." Ok. I'mna stop. My dad reads this sometimes.

Pamphagous.
(Note: these were scraps left over from making the big ol' arabesque tin earrings below. The shapes sorta chose themselves, though I did trim them down some.)

These 2 sets of earrings above are made of a tea tin sent to me by SalvageBeautyDesign before my trip to Uruguay. I actually blogged what she sent me with this picture:

I used the 2 side pieces she sent- here you see only one. Which means I still have that top!

I know you're jealous.

The Titanomachy.
I had a smaller pair similar to these and someone asked for another pair.

The Titanomachy. RESERVED for cassa1.

Alabandical.
This pipe compass was actually given to me by my father in law. He found it in his junk drawer, I mean. It wasn't like a gift for me to keep. That would be rude.

Montivagant.
A burrow from Uruguay. The copper pipe it's hanging on is from the recent surprise mail haul of 2 posts before and I already found a use!

Divinipotent.
And this is from the surprise mail haul before that. Or certain elements:t the black jet with weave carving, smaller white with weave carving, faceted white, teacup and charlotte.

I'm kinda super proud of the toggle. I connected a MOP stick that I think was from the mail haul SacredCake or Opulent Oddities sent. It is slightly loose so that it can move along the thinner middle part and hooks to the hammered copper link. Isn't it neat? It's making me so happy.

The Helots of Sparta.
The curved jasper was also from that haul before last. I know! I didn't think I'd incorporate them so soon. Also, missficklemedia sent me those mustard hoops. I'm so blessed.
And only 2 more classes before I'm free. Is there a name for a panic attack when it's not from fear but from happy anticipation? A freak out?

6/24/11

Coming Attractions.

6/21/11

You Guys!

I got this heart-in-hand pendant from the lovely and generous Sacred Cake- she got it from Spirited Earth right before my hand surgery:

(I think though the bead was just from Spirited Earth since I sent her a note saying how much I liked those faceted ceramic beads.)

Readbetween sent me some pitch for chasing and repousse and added a whole bunch of these lovelies.

Another etsian, Caroline, sent me a huge box. Here's some pix. Actually, tons of it is crochet. If anyone wants some crochet, I have more than I know what to do with. Maybe I'll use it to wrap packages.

These earrings have nice dangles to detach.

Big gorgeous and authentic vintage African glass.

There are some vintage-looking earrings here w/pretty arab-y dangles that are cuter than they look here. I might just wear those. They're darker than this.

If you like any of it, there's more beads than I could possibly use. Email me at marinrios@yahoo.com and tell me what you'd like. Click on pictures to make them big. I've numbered them to make it easier.

This says "rifle expert".

Thing is, I never use seed beads.

This rainbow one actually has a touch of milky translucency to it- it's really nice.

These red buttons are all crackled but still very strong. Also there's purple bling.

Sequined applique and an unusual something ethnic looking.

These strippedy silver glass ones back there are prettier and vintage-ier than this photo conveys.

Cubes of coral among other things.

Wood and coral. Lots of old mop buttons.

I'm digging this old fashioned glass.

Lots of turquoise nuggets in pale green and, well, turquoise.

Oh here's a close up of the stripys. Also some little African glass sand greens w/blue and yellow stripes.

Lizard pin, big green rose.

Hinge, flower bursts.

Lots of pretty and big-ish buttons.

This middle-eastern bell thing. Cherry quartz. New jade I think.

I'm really liking these raw ones- tourmaline?

And these - moss agate?

These peachies are more faceted than they look.

Pretty hanky, big oval quartz, more buttons.

Another pile of crochet, some hardware.

Big-hole smokey mops.

Vintage frit glass babies. I'm really into these. And some jasper or agate coins in the background. Any of you do beachy or deserty things could use these.