fanciful devices

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.

3/30/12

Ok, so first, I fixed the pictures from last time. Second:

All of these were made by Rosie of EclecticTea. What I love is that she had a bunch of these thick bangles (the 1st bunch) and just improvised with what she had.
TUTORIAL:
So here's a heads up. The tutorial is coming out in two or three days. As usual, I'm going to offer a special coupon to you guys on this here blog for 2 days. So... the last one was 21 pages or so, right? So far, we have one 7 page sub-tute all about oxidizing. Then I have a 33 page main tute. That's 33 pages so far. Cuz I have a little bitty project that I could add to it as another source of possibilities cuz the elements are dimensional. . . or I could say fuckit and done.
So y'all kidding with the video tute, right? Like, I'd have to figure out how to work a video camera and the only one we have is hubs professional-grade huge... and then edit!?!?! are you trying to kill me!?!?!

So look at this sweet thing. I got it for my little sister as a housewarming present. Well, really it was just a way to get her to get rid of this hideous thing she and husband got in Dominican Republic once. Which is so crazy cuz I just remembered that's stuck on to Haiti, where this is from! Anyway, it's this workshop of artisans called HaitianMetal who make these out of old oil drums. So really it was just an excuse to support them and get some cheap gorgeous art.
This one is 24" across, and I think even more tall and it was $85!

Metal Sun Wall Hanging - Hand Hammered Haitian Recycled Steel Drum Art - 9003

Haitian Carnival Rara Band Wall Hanging - 30" Haitian Recycled Steel Drum Metal Art - 8013-30

Haitian Peasant Picking Apples Metal Wall Hanging - Haitian Steel Oil Drum Wall Decor - 486

<-While I was at it I also got her this one. They also make switchplates and house numbers and mermaids with dreads and angels and Mommas on bicycles.

Christmas Nativity Scene Metal Wall Art in Hand Cut Recycled Steel Drum - 361

Has anyone been having any sales lately? I'm not complaining cuz my tute sales have more than made up for it, but... Is it tax season or because I'm not constantly posting new things cuz I'm working on the next tute? I don't mind. And I actually sold something today, it's just been really weird...

Sparrowsalvage is having a sale and you can get the coupon code on her blog. spring gypsy - bohemian double hoop earrings - hammered metal - eco chic

These.

This.

hydrotherapy - rustic assemblage earrings - quartz crystal - metal patina charms

These.

And her photography shop's also having a sale.

Trophy - 5X7 photograph - still life collection - unmatted

<-Like this one.

Keep Calm - found object photograph - single postcard - vintage style

Death takes a lover - 8X10 photograph - found object arrangement - curated collection

You get the idea. I gotta eat something. 3 sisters - 5X7 unmatted photographic print - antique thimbles

Oh so Numinositybeads convoed me to thank me for putting up pictures of what I got from her and said that it had given her her first sales bump on etsy. She mentioned something about selling things as fast as she got them up. So I got curious. Next thing I know, I was purchasing the following even though I haven't used what I already got from her and haven't been making any jewelry and haven't been selling and am going to Uruguay to buy stuff and and and:

Found Object Rusty Nail Lampwork Altered Art Pendant Piece Mustard Yellow and Crusty Metallics

This is on a flippin rusty nail for Chrissakes. Found Object Rusty Nail Lampwork Altered Art Pendant Piece Sedimentary and Oceanic Turquoise Ivory and Shiny Metallics

Found Object Rusty Nail Lampwork Altered Art Pendant Piece Sedimentary and Oceanic Turquoise Ivory and Shiny Metallics

Lampwork Amphora Crusty Relic Modern Day Artifact Turquoise Ivory and Lavender

Like, I actually couldn't stand the thought of anyone but me owning these things. Which is insane in an if-I-can't-have-you-no-one-will kind of way. And I'm not like that. I'm a sharer. I'm a lover not a fighter. I'm a maker not a breaker! ...

I don't know what I saying again.

13 comments:

stregata said...: There is something wacky going on with the photos again...; 3/31/12, 12:30 AM
Jackie said...: Agreed!! No can see first few photos. I can't wait for the tute!! Sparrow's got some awesome stuff in her shops!! Numinosity's making some awesome stuff on rusty nails, how cool is that?

Video tute = WOW!!; 3/31/12, 6:59 AM
Numinosity said...: Saving up my moneys for your tutelage, it's a thrill to see my stuff up in the big lights, thanks!
You're off to Uruguay, I'm still mopping up the drool from your last haul. I was researching plane tickets, I kid you not!
xoxo Kim; 3/31/12, 7:51 AM
betweenreader said...: This is THE TOOT I gotta have. Er, make that tute! Have begun collecting dirt from different places.; 3/31/12, 10:13 AM
Rosie Moceri said...: Thanks for posting my bangles Fanci! A lot of the bits and beads on those came from the 3 supply exchanges that we did. Anyone up for another one soon?; 3/31/12, 10:38 AM
fanciful devices said...: fixed the pix! its b/c all the different sources than usual that i've been getting these from. usually it's just my photo file or the internetsicles.
numin-researching uru tickets??!?!? lol!!!!; 3/31/12, 12:23 PM
betweenreader said...: Hey, remind us all that the tutes are tax deductible if you are selling your work!

Beginning to wish I could put down those dang bangles ...; 3/31/12, 12:31 PM
Beatnheart said...: pics not up

Do a video tutorial...seriously...you can do it...we wil
buy it...not trying to kill you...love you...want to see how you do it all...

Numinosity’s nails are bitchen.

my sales are sucking right now...thought nobody loved
me anymore.

betweenreaders bangles are the sexiest ones in town.; 3/31/12, 1:43 PM
Jeannine said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/31/12, 2:48 PM
Jeannine said...: my sales have been slow lately as well.

I'm currently having a 30% off sale, so that's helping. But before my sale started my sales were pretty pathetic. Bleh.; 3/31/12, 2:50 PM
martinisfor2 said...: i agree. sales and shop visits have been slow lately. i have been busy with work in the outside world so i have to start listing more....including earrings featuring some of the treasure i won in Petra's giveaway.

can't wait for your new tute on oxidizing....today was the first time i had to sit down and make a couple bangles from your easy to follow tute. congrats to all the wonderful artists you featured with all the fabulous bangle creations.....love them all. i only was able to see two of Rosie's but they were cool.; 3/31/12, 5:49 PM
Skye said...: I figured I'd drop in and let you know that since I love your blog ( and jewelry) so much that I gave you a little feature on my blog :) http://skyescreativechaos.blogspot.ca/2012/04/sharing-love.html I provided links to your blog and shop, as well as to a couple featured items IN your shop :)I can remove any or all links ( and mention )if you'd rather not have the free publicity ;) lol; 4/1/12, 7:02 PM
Aqua Junko Artworks said...: Yea! Just bought the toot - got your bracelet toot this weekend and love it! Can not wait for the other 2 toots! Got my discount too. Thanks - Lori; 4/2/12, 10:29 AM