I am retired from being a Jack of All Trades! My interests cover way too much to list here. I tend to hang out on the fringe, but keep busy with my lapidary business.
What I'm Reading
Presently reading books about jewelry design. Bezel settings, and silver metal clay.
Subjects I'd Like to Learn More About
Maya culture
An Interesting Fact
If we experience each of our experiences to their fullest, we will receive the very most growth from it.
Just for fun want to show off this recent Mexican Crazy Lace Agate pendant. Sorta patting myself on the back just a little as it is my best silver solder project yet !
We decided to have a jewelry design contest for existing forum members. Actually, it is still ongoing as of this blog entry..
Not being a very good artist as free hand drawing goes, it took almost an entire notebook to come up with the final sketch !
Wanted to see if I could actually design a piece using a similar set of ston... Read Full Story
Recently received several slabs of what I believe to be a dendritic Moss opal. Not entirely sure if it is an opal, opalized, or a opalite. I have read that opalite is an opalized volcanic ash than can occur with common opal and agate. It can be dendritic.
Opalite is very hard and can have a wet appearance upon breaking creating the illusion of an opal. I don’t really see this wet appearance in the darker, and not at all in the white.
Common opal fractures into tiny pieces/crumbs upon h... Read Full Story
Brand new Spokane area Social Networking Community for crafts, lapidary, jewelry, and all other related artists.
This community was started as a means to simply bring a variety of local niche artists from the Spokane area together in hopes of creating interesting and unique opportunities for all members.
Members are not limited to the few arts categories within the site title. All area artists are encouraged join up, and benefit from networking within the Community.
When we think of Artists, ... Read Full Story
Semiprecious gemstone cabochons on EtsyAgate, Jasper, Obsidian, Serpentine, Chrysocolla, Fossil Coral, Quartz, Moss, Lace Agate, and the list goes on, and on..... Lots of interesting and unique gemstone cabochon minerals to choose from at TaoGem on Etsy. Read Full Story
The community of Newport Washington had a large event hosted by Treasures on Foxwood Aug 8th and 9th 2009. An event for antiques, collectibles, vintage, art, crafts and much more. A huge amount of time, money and effort was involved in getting 70 vendors from all over the Pacific Northwest to gather for this successful community event. Local businesses who choose to participate in the community event paid for a spot like any other vendor. The exception was a small five and dime hardware store... Read Full Story
The community of Newport Washington had a large event hosted by Treasures on Foxwood Aug 8th and 9th 2009. An event for antiques, collectibles, vintage, art, crafts and much more. A huge amount of time, money and effort was involved in getting 70 vendors from all over the Pacific Northwest to gather for this successful community event. Local businesses who choose to participate in the community event paid for a spot like any other vendor. The exception was a small five and dime hardware store... Read Full Story
It will be held on the grounds of a Victorian Tea House (the one in the photo I took above) and a lovely home just across the lane.
Admission is free (as is parking as far as I know) and there are many vendors (at least forty that I have heard about). Vendors will cover everything from antiques, collectibles, vintage goods, primitives and arts and crafts. Both homes will have vendors set up… with the one across the lane featuring more artists. Seventy plus vendors with an expected 2500 peop... Read Full Story
Recently I did a little poll on my forum asking other lapidaries how their online sales have been doing. There were a couple of comments that stood out. First, although the number of folks utilizing the poll were few, online gemstone and jewelry sales seem to be in decline past few months. The month of July stood out the most for myself.
One comment that really stood out was how it is local artists, various shows, and events that a great deal of sales as well as new business opportunities are... Read Full Story
After uploading the videos, realized that the audio on most did not pick up my voice. So will type out as best I can a description of what is going on in each video. I can hear them much better using my headphones.
As always, what works best for me can be different for someone else. So please critique, add too, point out, or anything else that you find works for you so it can be added here for others to take in.
A lot of this really applies to most any cabbing.
One of the first things I like ... Read Full Story
Chrysocolla is right up there among my most favorite minerals for cutting cabs from. Most all Chrysocolla makes for some stunning jewelry. Then there are some that are truly a bit more unique than others.
We have been sharing a whole lot of different Chrysocolla varieties on my forum.
I especially like a Chrysocolla with Hematite, Tenorite, Silver, Copper, and even Gold.. I love a beautiful metallic finish that these offer.
Then when we start talking about a druzy Chrysocolla…….. ... Read Full Story
