Crafting for me . . .

I have been busting my fanny getting work ready for a big show coming up the end of February and late yesterday I decided it was time to do something for myself.  I deserve it.

I dug around in my old cases of stones that I purchased at the very first Gem and Mineral Show I went to - I say that because the two little turquoise stones I picked up I had taped together and written "27 cents/pair".  Yikes!  A pair!  Must have been a loooooooooong time ago!  Tiny cabs - tiny bezels.  My fingers felt like sausages trying to craft the small bezels, I swear.

These little guys are not even 1/2" making the drop about 1" - swingy and the right touch of color for late winter.  (Spring's coming!)

I seriously love these and will wear them until they fall off my body.  Seriously.

Stinking Water Plume Agate . . .

Weird name

And a new leaf is turned - I'm finally getting my etsy shop back up and running.  I've ignored it for a long time and now that Summer is drawing down, I am bound and determined to get my new work listed.  

Gorgeous stone

I also will be listing the stones I've cut and polished and generally just thinning the herd.  Why?  Well, I attended the auction for my friend, Roger Pabian, who passed away this Spring.  A world-class published author and authority on agates, Captain Agate's house was full to the brim with agates in all shapes and sizes, in slabs, rough and polished stones.  

Roger taught me lapidary and I believe that's why I'm so picky about my cabs and how they are finished.  One scratch and it's all the way back to the beginning wheels for me.

His auction showed me just how much a person can accumulate - and I mean that in a nice way - and how little a person can actually use on their own no matter their intent.  Now that I've polished and loved on these little stones, it's time for someone to create something of beauty with each one.  I'll never get to them all.

I'll look at them this way : I don't own any of these stones.  I'm only the caretaker and when I've enjoyed them and taken pride in their beauty, it will be time for them to move on to the next caretaker.  Just promise me that if you buy one, you'll send me pictures of your finished product.  And then you'll be the new caretaker.

A Triumph of Lichen revisited . . .

Maybe lichen isn't the word I'm looking for here. Maybe fungus is the word but that makes for an icky title for such a lovely stone.

Ocean Jasper is always gorgeous and I blogged about this little bit last week when I was finally able to get back to the lapidary bench for a few hours.  I turned out this stone and a handful of others that will slowly make their debut here in the next few days.

The patterns in the stone remind me so much of the roundish mold or some sort of fungus that grows on fallen logs and sometimes the side of the barn.  You people who read this and know what I'm talking about, please straighten me out as to what this is called.

This stone begged to be set with circle accents and it turned out particularly well, I think.  Okay, I had some issues with it but in the end, I like it.

Triumph of Lichen . . .

Yes, a Triumph of Lichen.  No matter how severe the winter, lichen survives.  This Ocean Jasper reminds me of the lichen that clings to every tree, rock and occasionally, the farm truck and tractor.

I plucked this little slab-ette of Ocean Jasper from my overflowing kit of bits and pieces and polished it into this sweet cab yesterday.  Destined to become the first of my Prairie Collection - quite possibly a pendant but I haven't decided yet.  Still, my lovely little Triumph of Lichen, you inspire me.

Once in a while it's all about me . . .

The set up: Sunday night. 9:00pm. Bored. Too early for bed. Finished my book and refuse to turn on the tv. I excuse myself and head out to the pile of rock slabs in the shop where a cat joins me, watching from the windowsill. I find a little bit of Prehnite about the size of your little fingernail and I start to polish.

Monday morning: Using a scrap of silver from another project, I set this stone in a simple bezel, added a long loop for a bail. Change my mind and saw it off and use a tiny slice of tubing for a bail.

I am always surprised when a piece is in progress at how rough and messy it is, metal covered with glassy flux, bits of melted metal, sharp metal edges, a completely nasty piece. But in no time it's polished and hung from a snake chain, now around my neck. I marvel. I'm satisfied that I've fabricated a piece from beginning to end for my own pleasure.

Once in a while, it's all about me and what I want to make for my own creative satisfaction. No worries about finishing a handful of work for a gallery or listing on my etsy site. This is just mine. Unless someone falls in love with it while I'm wearing it. Then . . . awww . . . I'm a sucker for a compliment.

Yummy stuff . . . .

There is no better word for this material - yummy. I've been looking for prehnite cabs that I could afford or slabs of this sweet stuff and I finally got my lapidary instructor to give some up. Thank you, Captain Agate.

Eight beauties - six slabs and two heels - that I can't wait to work on and I will be posting the little works in progress. If you're interested, join me.