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.

4/9/12

From. You're welcome for the seizure.

Ok, VirginiaBeach ArtnSoul is, like April 28. So early April is fine. and one of us can do march 25-April 5 (she told me via convo).

The rambla...

Dad, get off my blog! lol. We are not going to go layout on the beach. Anything that I'm the boss of will not involve me having to shave my legs. We will walk along the rambla... But I doubt all us shut-ins want to have to go bathing suit shopping. Or carnival. (It's not like Brazil, it's not what you think.) I can hardly understand what they're on about, and I actually speak Spanish. Sheesh!

Rambla. En la costa se disfruta de una vista espectacular al mismo tiempo que, al caminar, se hace ejercicio físico.

...where youngsters scope out the hotties.

ANYWAYS, you all have to forgive my dad, he's very excited about people wanting to go to Uruguay. He thinks the country is the height of culture and the perfection of awesomeness on earth. When we saw the guys on the little horse carts that pick through the garbage for cardboard to trade in for a few pesos, he called them "recyclers." Not garbage pickers, not semi-homeless slum inhabitants- recyclers! Soon, hubs and I were calling them "administrative executives in the environmental arts of recycling."

<--This administrator was disappointed when he realized I wanted a picture of the horse and not him so much. Usually they strip the horses of their last shreds of dignity by putting them in straw hats with holes for the ears and a bunch of plastic flowers on top or whatever hat-like thing they find in the trash. So when the horses trot along, the hats flap up and down and it's completely ridiculous.

OK, Lori- your homework is to make us a facebook account for this then send over the link. Cuz I've got more such ramblings to share. Like how Sean Penn went to meet our president last week. (Our prez is an ex-freedom fighter and a big ol' lefty is why.) At one point the translator left and the prez, being Uruguayan, kept trying to make small talk in his best Spanglish. Apparently, he kept calling him "Clint" or "Mr. Eastwood"... cuz you know, Sean Penn/Clint Eastwood. Practically the same guy.

<--Our very dignified president, Jose Mujica. People call him "Pepe." He complained because when he was elected it meant he had to actually install electricity in his farmhouse (where he still lives) for the secret service guys.
Maybe this is why I'm so goofy. It's part of my national identity.
Oh, a beach house would be way far from the flea marketing. Someone at some point asked if a hubs was allowed? Allowed and encouraged. We could use a few wranglers to keep us together while I zone out looking at theeeengs. My hubs will be there for that purpose but he usually has his hands full with just me.
So- beatnheart is in charge of looking for a centrally located hotel, lori will make us a facebook place... 2 hubs for wrangling... What else can I delegate?

(juliette- it's from here. Just a hook pendant, nothing salvaged or whatever. Took me forever to figure out what to do with it. Still have another one if you want it...)

20 comments:

Numinosity said...: Yes, It was my hubs. He's very good at encouraging me to buy stuff too and is a pretty good shopper himself.
would be a good wrangler for sure.

I can do those dates unless some untoward family emergency comes up... the folks are getting old.

The prez is adorable. I like the Clint in his eye.; 4/10/12, 12:04 AM
stregata said...: Oh my - Uruguay doesn't know what's coming! Wish I could be a mouse and watch the commotion that will ensue, when you girls hit the markets...
I can see it now - a whole new tourism branch is coming into being - flea market tourism. Let me know when you plan to hit Europe...; 4/10/12, 12:12 AM
Beatnheart said...: i feel bad for that horse. why is his face all locked up.
Hey a little carnival action might be cool.

my big problem is...you have a focal, then what?
necklaces are a puzzle for me and i get extremly frust tur ated.. I don’t know how to attach beads and ropes and strings. you use an old lamp cord and it looks cool...I’d do that and it woud look like I’m trying to hang myself intentionally.; 4/10/12, 12:33 AM
willowstudio said...: Hope someone will keep me up on Uruguay if you-all go to Facebook, I wouldn't sign their agreement-thingie. (I actually read it, that was my mistake.)

Those dates would work for me, too. Gads, I think we are actually going to do this...

Janet (the tree one); 4/10/12, 1:08 AM
alek said...: mmm delisious leather work on that horses bridle, though no doubt uncomfortable for him.
i agree with your dad, i think trips to uruguay should be compulsory for ones cultural education, i'm applying for a grant now.; 4/10/12, 4:25 AM
Penelope said...: That's your prez!? He looks like a teddy bear!!

I'm starting to feel left out of this here Touraguay thing. Maybe when you go I have to give you a bunch o monies and you can fill up a shipping container of weird Uruguayan antique shit. YEAH! Okay I feel better.; 4/10/12, 6:38 AM
Aqua Junko Artworks said...: OK! I have created a group called Uruguay Haul on facebook - it is open. So Please let anyone who is interested in the trip to go there on facebook.I think this will work and keep your blog clear of overly excited travelers like myself.
Lori Burek; 4/10/12, 11:07 AM
fanciful devices said...: i cant find 'uruguay haul' on facebook and i dont know how to contact lori. but also im a facebook failure in general can someone please help my retarded ass?; 4/10/12, 1:22 PM
Lela said...: I couldn't find it on fb either.; 4/10/12, 1:41 PM
Aqua Junko Artworks said...: Hi! Lori Burek here I am tech callenged to. I'll see what I can do..; 4/10/12, 1:43 PM
Aqua Junko Artworks said...: Ok you have to friend me on Face book and then I can add you to the group. Lori Burek; 4/10/12, 1:59 PM
Jackie said...: Hi Lori, I can't find it either, can you give us a link???; 4/10/12, 2:19 PM
Subconscious Dad said...: The stories of Pepe Mujica get embellished as they age. When he knew he was going to be president and host Secret Service guys, what he said was "I will have to change the lightbulb in the shed" (where the SS guards would stay).
But the Prez's farm did have electricity! In the shed!; 4/10/12, 2:32 PM
Jackie said...: Okay, here's a link to the Facebook Uruguay Haul page.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/371638012880363/

Up on the right is a place to Add to Group or add friend or something like that, I forget what it will say, but click on it and someone will add you to the group.; 4/10/12, 3:47 PM
Jackie said...: If a copy and paste of my link doesn't work, just go on facebook and type Uruguay Haul at the top where it says SEARCH.

Okay, you can do it.
OKAY GO!!; 4/10/12, 3:52 PM
Jackie said...: I won't get to go, but I'm all excited for you guys that will be going.; 4/10/12, 3:53 PM
PipnMolly said...: You are fortunate to have such a wonderful subconscious dad. If you don't want him on your blog may I adopt him on mine?
I haven't quite figured mine out yet. Nonetheless.....; 4/10/12, 4:47 PM
alteredarcheology said...: All you gals that end up actually going on this trip are going to have the time of your lives!! I'm so excited for all of you! I would be there in a heartbeat but I can barely plan a weekend evening out much less international travel a year from now, sheesh. Juggling hubby's crazy work schedule and a toddler right now. I adore the countries I've been to in South America, I'm sure Uru is a fab place too.
Btw, I wouldn't require a shipping container of weird shit, a ziploc baggie would do me fine, lol; 4/11/12, 8:38 AM
owlparty said...: OK, I sent a friend request to join everyone on the adventure in Uruguay

-Anastasia
(owlparty); 4/12/12, 5:46 PM
Juliette said...: Love this post, and the eye candy. Wish I could go with you all to Uruguay, but it's not in the cards right now so will have to drool from afar.

Fanci, thanks for the info about that connector. Will convo you about it.

xoxo Juliette; 4/14/12, 9:01 PM