fanciful devices: I'm talking to you, Sparrow!

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.

So my dollarbeads aren't good enough, your highness? Well, check these babies out!!! I had a custom request from a regular and she likes colorful. So... yeah!

Obviously, I gave them some acrylic washinks with the blackness.

Also, I got her there via transfer and layer of utee. I back painted the glass for some color, which is cool b/c when you shift it around the color doesn't match up with the photo image in back and it looks neat.

I really overdid the color so I sorta scratched it off which left tons of scratches on the glass...

CUSTOM for bianca schmauser

The Fearless Kiss Kidnapper. Rustic Gypsy Collage Necklace.

Also, just to note- I only did custom for her cuz she has been a regular forever and her requests are like "Like this one --->>
but with an indian girl with lots of color and coin-type things and do your thing all over it."

So I actually made it a combo of 2 necklaces. She loves her some tribal. I had the idea to tone down the tribal w/the rhinestone rondelle bling and of course, gigantor beads make good chokers.
Used these: 14 - 24mm Red Mix Artisan Bone Bead – 7” string, big hole - Click Image to Close

14 - 24mm Red Mix Artisan Bone Bead – 7” string, big hole - Click Image to Close

, these:

24mm Apple Green Mix Artisan Glass Bead – 8” string, big hole - Click Image to Close

and these on the smaller one: 7 - 12mm Color Sugar Mix Artisan Glass Bead – 12” string - Click Image to Close

and a couple others.

Dunno if it isn't a bit too dinged-up. What with the scratches.

I could open it back up and erase the scratches with some of that diamond glaze stuff I think I have somewhere.

Maybe I should show you 50 more pictures of the same damn piece?

14 comments:

PipnMolly said...: I don't think there is a bead that YOU can't make beautiful.
Nice piece... love the bird on the back too.; 4/23/12, 7:37 PM
Beatnheart said...: Performed yet another miracle.; 4/23/12, 7:53 PM
Green Studio said...: Nice!!!; 4/23/12, 10:00 PM
richelle said...: I'm so glad you were able to find some good stuff at dollarbead. i've got those same splotched nuggets. I love how you altered the sugar glass. I did some highlighting on a few but I might try the darkening as well. looks great.; 4/23/12, 10:34 PM
Flotsam Tide said...: Sooo awesome! I am in love with this piece. The bird on the back is perfect, and the Indian girl on the front is very dreamy. She's beautiful... so is your necklace.; 4/23/12, 11:32 PM
Anonymous said...: Loving the colours, the black wash looks amazing on these beads. Struggling to find tin at the moment, bought 2 off ebay that looked crap, but when I got them they were beautiful and I can't frickin' touch them.; 4/24/12, 1:51 AM
Skye said...: Bah.. it's not the cost of the beads or components that matter... it's what you do with them.. and you, darlin' .. do amazing things with everything you get your hands on :D; 4/24/12, 2:11 AM
Penelope said...: I beg your pardon HOW DARE YOU

I believe my original statement inferred that the beads would have merit once they were in your hands, as proved by this post- HA. Your genius has been your ruin!

I don't care how cheap the beads are either really- I just have an issue with using new materials. It's like some self-harming challenge wherein I stunt my growth as an artist because some shit you can't buy secondhand so i don't buy it at all, and that is my problem stop looking at me I HAVE MY PERIOD DON'T YOU JUDGE ME; 4/24/12, 5:47 AM
alteredarcheology said...: That is one deelishy necklace. It looks like it came straight outta some beautiful dream.
I personally do not mind how old or new a component is. Everything is alterable and if it's right for the design and concept, well....use it!; 4/24/12, 8:14 AM
Anvilartifacts said...: Beautiful transformation of the ordinary again! Love it!!; 4/24/12, 8:44 AM
Chelsea said...: Okay, Fanci, I have a question for you: how did you affix that image of the bird onto the back of the tin? (That is, if you don't mind sharing the trade secrets.) :D; 4/24/12, 9:05 AM
Tanya said...: PERFECT, it is!; 4/24/12, 9:13 AM
TesoriTrovati said...: I think that I am in awe of your fearlessness. I am not sure that I would have had the courage to play with the beads as you do, but they needed your touch! That makes them stunning! You encourage me to try....
Enjoy the day, fanciful!
Erin; 4/24/12, 11:06 AM
Lela said...: ...slowly backing away from the sparrow.

Love what you've done with those cheap beads. You sure know how to spread the magic sauce.; 4/24/12, 12:33 PM