fanciful devices: I JUST SWALLOWED FIRE!!!

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.

1/27/12

I JUST SWALLOWED FIRE!!!

I don't know what that means but it was in my comments and I liked it.

Pythagorean. Asymmetrical Assemblage Earrings with gold foil and decoupage.

Pythagorean.
I've been gold foiling everything within reach. It's so addictive!

Pythagorean. Asymmetrical Assemblage Earrings with gold foil and decoupage.

These triangles came from one of a pair of earrings in SacredCake's massivestash.

The Plague. Rustic Victorian Portrait Asymmetrical Assemblage Earrings.

The Plague. Rustic Victorian Portrait Asymmetrical Assemblage Earrings.

The Plague.
Here's what I made from these scrapbooking frames, some cut (and very tediously sanded) tin and some paper bits.

The Plague. Rustic Victorian Portrait Asymmetrical Assemblage Earrings.

Selcouth.
Here's my recent papered filigree. It reminded me why I'd stopped. Cutting out those zillion holes takes forEVER.
No, guys- really. Don't do it. Friends don't let friends cut out holes in paper for 5 straight hours.

Selcouth. Papered Filigree Earrings.

Why the different bead dangles? No, I'm asking.

Understanding. Recycled Rustic Tea Tin Cuff Bracelet with Gold Foil.

Understanding.
Another tin cuff with decoupage and foil. Not nearly as good as the first, but on the other hand the first didn't have the paper... so yeah, it's alright

Sky.
Here's a simple little baby. Bezel and raindrops by JewelIdentity.

Sky. Rustic Ceramic Assemblage Choker. Sun Cloud Rain.

I can't really tell if that's a moon or a sun.

Coal Dust Kitchen. Black Miniatures Assemblage Rustic Vintage Cooking Necklace.

Coal Dust Kitchen.
Here's my sink full of dirty dishes. Screw the bubbles!

Coal Dust Kitchen. Black Miniatures Assemblage Rustic Vintage Cooking Necklace.

I thought I'd show you some more bits Petra sent.

How adorable is it that when I suggested that she make eggs, she took it so to heart that not only did she make (and send me) regular eggs, she also added fried eggs!!!! I actually cracked up when I saw them.

I noticed her charms were smaller and the shapes were more refined. I'm really loving the black wire connectors. Lookit the fishies!

OK, hello- do you see that in the middle? Is it me or is that a thumbs up? Is that a redonk charm giving me the thumbs up? And did I just pass out from the redonkulessness?

Also- bead caps! And more redonkulesness- a cartoony cat paw with leetle claws!!! And yeah, the ear has a pierce.

Wanted to show you these. From 3 different gift boxes sent w/in the past 2 weeks. All now foiled.

And look! More foil! I think I especially like it on commonplace found objects not intended for adornment. Like the bulbs and the faucet handle. Adds the bling to the not... bling............ I dunno. I got nothing.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...: LOVE those gold foiled pieces!
What kind of foil is that- gold leaf?
So cool.; 1/28/12, 2:33 AM
Skye said...: Okay... I love the black/gold stripey look to the medallions there! so cool :)

And that ear... you totally need a matching one, add earrings to them... then turn THEM into earrings! lol I'm sorry, but the idea of having pierced ears dangling from pierced ears is just too hilarious :D hehehe
And yeah, that is definitely a thumbs up there... and the cartoon cats paw... LOVE!; 1/28/12, 7:27 AM
Petra Carpreau said...: Gooooood grief!!!THANK YOU soooooo much for making my little bitties look so purdy! I hope they come in useful. Man, you've gone gold giddy!! I really can say you've got the midas touch now! How kind of you to make the un-blinged feel all special.
Love, love, loving those new earrings. Really - you cut all those holes out? The results look gorgeous, but i don't think I'll be giving that a go!!; 1/28/12, 7:29 AM
darlene said...: lovely filigree earrings. ♥; 1/28/12, 8:47 AM
Alice said...: 'I just swallowed fire' I saw that too, and wondered if that was a bad thing or a good thing.....

Love the Plague earrings and that coal dust kitchen necklace! Do you dream up these designs in your sleep?

Also I love the foiled stuff. When I was young there must have been a fad to spray paint everything gold. My parents 'gilded' everything in sight: devils claws, cattails, acorns, plastic fruit, candle holders, clocks etc. I'm surprised they didn't spray my twin sister (she was the evil one anyway). But I love the way you use just enough to make it beautiful and not overpowering. Does anyone else remember that fad? Please say yes so I know my parents weren't bonkers.

I love all the treasures Petra sent you!; 1/28/12, 9:33 AM
ensourdine said...: Oh mine! I was going to say "I AM BLUSHING" at first but somehow turned that into "I JUST SWALLOWED FIRE", and now see what web sensation it became!!! :P
(but, seriously, when i saw that one timid web presence of me my face immediately turned, well, burning hot...)

The Plague is sublime - now you actually use seed beads, and the result is so wonderful -- some mosaic effect complementing the archaic look of the book frames.
Petra's treasures and what you came out with the gold-foiled fever are very lovely. Can't wait to see the assemblages they will eventually become part of.; 1/28/12, 10:20 AM
Beatnheart said...: I said “fire up me bum” then she said “i swallowed fire”...subliminal connection or two degrees of separation...hmmm something to ponder. Anywhozits.
do you do your gold leaf the “old world way”? Is it liquid or real gold leaf? looks beautiful either way regardless. Now we’re all going to be gold leafing everything in sight. I know I want to.

Love Petra’s lil objects esp. cat paw!; 1/28/12, 11:03 AM
Louise said...: I love your new creations and wonderful you have found a new way to express - looking forward to seeing more, as always!; 1/28/12, 1:39 PM
ensourdine said...: Oh-my-god, the Plague is gone! (gasp!!!)

"subliminal connection"? totally.; 1/29/12, 10:32 AM
Penelope said...: You know what's funny? I was getting into gold foil on tin just before the accident- in fact I bought a gold leafing pen about 2 days before the crash! Cause I wanted that look that gold has when it's dug up on arkilogickal stuffs.; 1/29/12, 9:56 PM
Tribalis said...: Fanci, you are indescribably creative! The idea of gold foil is amazing, the jewelry gets a fantastic look with them!; 1/30/12, 12:33 AM
Anvilartifacts said...: Piled up dirty dishes have never looked so good! Love the framed photo-tin bezeled earrings and the paper filigree, love it, love it! Your ancient gold technique is awesome!; 1/30/12, 9:16 AM