fanciful devices: New in Shop

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.

1/23/10

New in Shop

Etymology of Blue. Found Object Bib.

These crochet necklaces were experiments in spontaneity. I tried to make pieces having no plan at all, just led by whatever supplies I felt needed to be destashed.

The Development of Crochet. Assemblage Bib.

Now, this cuff was made from all kinds of fabric bits and 2 buttons that Sparrow sent me! To be honest, one big hurtle was trying not to make something that looked just like her! Because upon seeing all the lovely bits, I could only think of her cuffs- like her style was made for her bits. (Well, duh, it's the stuff she collects for a reason.) Just the fact that I made a cuff from them. I avoided one big focal piece and grunged mine up with wax medium and soil, that sorta helped. But then, I had to try to make something that I also really liked, so it took a bit of finagling.

Escapism. Textile Cuff.

My next use of her fabrics will be for another necklace. Oh- so many good bits! I can't keep up. And yet, all I do is prowl etsy for more...

1 comment:

Penelope said...: I do love the cuff, it's kickin! I'm going to have to do some grunging- I'm running low on crusty old fabric. Only have 3 suitcases left...

Why DO we keep buying supplies? I think all artists do it- my jewelry shop is dead but my supply shop keeps on bringing me spare change... which I then immediately use to buy more supplies. Right now I'm shopping in the other window. I apparently don't have enough 'good' buttons left. Only one jar's worth - how will I survive?! :/; 1/24/10, 6:16 AM