It's Porcelain, But It's Not Ceramic!

This porcelain is mineral. Porcelain Jasper - Hard, naturally baked, impure clay or porcellanite. Found high in Mexico's mountainous terrain, somewhere near the Sonora-Chihuahua border. It was found years ago on a gold claim. Its exotic patterns and formations usually consist of purples, creams, and reds.

The latest entry in my gemstone web site update. I love the fractured patterns and subtle pinks blending into the off white. http://www.gemalchemy.com/pages1/porcelain.html

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Shhhhhhhhhh, The Fairy is Sleeping Peacefully

My latest piece of jewelry art is now completed.

This one of a kind pendant is hand forged and soldered Sterling silver with a very unique crazy lace agate gemstone forming the fairy's wing. I knew this stone had to be a wing. Having the fairy asleep just seemed a natural for this stone. The banding in the stone feels peaceful to me. The overall size is 28.55mm x 49.01mm (1.124" x 1.929")
The Sleeping Fairy Pendant is now available at my Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/listing/75057051/sleeping-fairy-silver-and-crazy-lace
And my ArtFire Shop: http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=3358416

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Kentucky Agate, almost too shiny!

My latest stones in this series, Kentucky agate was quite difficult to photograph. The polish of these stones is so brilliant that I could not photograph them in daylight without getting very distracting highlights. So I shot them at night under artificial light.


Beautiful Kentucky Agates specimens of red, black, yellow, and gray banded agate have been discovered in Estill, Jackson, Powell, Madison, and Rockcastle Counties. It is formed in the Borden layer of the Mississippian geological age which according to geologists was between 225 and 375 million years ago. The red and black agate in Kentucky is very rare and ranks among the most expensive agates in the world. The yellow and black agate that is also extremely rare in the rest of the world is not quite as rare as the red here in Kentucky.

For my friends at Creating the Hive; do you see any stones that could be a BEE?
http://www.creatingthehive.com

 

These stones will be offered on my web site after I contact a specific customer who has requested advance notification whenever I cut any of this rare agate.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

 Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Sea Worthy Rocks! Is that possible?

The latest in my continuing series of cabochons. Ocean Jasper is a trade name for Orbicular Jasper. Ocean Jasper has distinctive patterns of round or spherical inclusions of contrasting colors floating on solid jasper. The background may be white, pink, green or yellow. Ocean Jasper is mined off the ocean coast of Madagascar at low tide.

I love this material. It finishes with such a great polish, and the variety of colors and patterns is amazing. http://www.gemalchemy.com/pages1/oceanjasper.html

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Sleeping Fairy Pendant, A Work In Progress

As soon as I cut this Crazy Lace Agate stone I knew it was going to be a wing, but I wasn't sure how I'd use it. Somehow the idea of a sleeping fairy entered my twisted little brain. So I stared off with a pencil sketch, shown here on the backing plate rough cut from Sterling silver.

 

The next pic shows some of the elements I'm using: a vector drawing so I have nice clean lines to work with, the backing plate, the silver I'm using to carve the fairy body, the bezel shaped to the stone I'll be setting, and the stone itself.

 

1. The first carving stage of the fairy body 2. Fairy body with cutout for wing, checking to see if all the bits fit together 3. Body with more detail 4. Some hair has been added.

 

And here's how far I've gotten. I'll probably work on the hair a little more. It's starting to look a little gross from the heat of soldering, but that stuff will all polish out.

 

A friend mentioned that I should be more vocal about the 15% discount I offer to members of Creating the Hive, so here it is in black and white (or 0s and 1s if you're a geek). If you're not a member of Creating the Hive, you should check it out, it's great, and it's free: http://www.creatingthehive.com

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

MayBee the Cutest Givaway ever!

http://creatingthehive.com/blog-post/115289/time-for-fun
Ginger Brame is hosting a giveaway at the above link, and you're going to want to get in on this!

 

Click on the above link at Crating the Hive and follow the simple instructions.

Downunder Rocks!!!! Mookaite

The next in my series of cabochons posted on my gemstone website; Mookaite Jasper.

Mookaite is found only in Australia and is actually a fossiliferous sedimentary rock. It comes from, Mooka Creek in the Kennedy Ranges near Gascoyne Junction which is about 100 miles inland from the coastal town of Carnarvon in Western Australia. Also known as mookite, mookalite, mookerite, moakite, moukalite and moukaite. However, mookaite is considered the correct spelling.
It has been found in many very bright colors, reds, purples, tan, snow white, ivory white, pinks and many other shades. http://www.gemalchemy.com/pages1/mookaite.html

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

This Dalmatian Doggy Won't Bite

He doesn't bite, he doesn't growl.
He doesn't bark, he doesn't howl.
He hangs around for the pretty view.
If you wear him, you'll be pretty too!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/74575358/dalmatian-jasper-and-sterling-silver
I just finished this pendant and couldn't wait to post it. This is the first carved critter jewelry piece I've done, but I don't think it will be the last. I'm pretty pleased with the way it turned out. I'm not sure what I'll carve next, something different or course. I think I'll do more dalmatians too, but each one will be unique.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Another Rarity, No it's Not Wood!

The latest in my in my on going quest to list my freshly cut cabochons. May I introduce Deschutes Jasper to the unfamiliar (if that includes you don't feel bad, this stuff is very rare). These stones feature striking patterns in rich earthy tones in creamy tans and chocolate browns. I think it looks a bit like wood grain.
http://www.gemalchemy.com/pages1/deschutesjasper.html

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

And Now For Something Very Rare!

Laguna Agate is one of the most sought after and rare of all the banded agates. I've actually had these cabochons for about three years, but just couldn't bring myself to part with them until now. I just love the bright white against the rich reds in these stones.
Lunar Skies Laguna Agate: http://www.gemalchemy.com/pages1/lagunaagate.html

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

ArtFire Fairy Collection

I feel honored to be included in this Collection. There is some really great work here. I hope you'll take the time to visit some of these artist:
http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=20607

 

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Seeing Spots Again? No, This Time It's Dots!!!!

Ah yes, my on going effort to load my freshly cut cabochons onto my gemstone website continues. The latest entry is Polka Dot Agate. This is a new category for me, and I really like this material:
http://www.gemalchemy.com/pages1/polkadotagate.html

Polka Dot Agate is a fine chalcedony found in central Oregon. Color ranges; yellow, red, blue, white and some pink. Beautiful patterns and landscapes are displayed in this remarkable material.
Gemstones: http://www.gemalchemy.com/index.html
Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com/
Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html

Double Dalmatian! Yikes, I'm seein' Spots before My Eyes!

I finally finished cutting, and sorting all the cabochons I tumbled. I'm in the process of putting them on my gemstone website: http://www.gemalchemy.com/index.html
The first installment is dalmatian jasper, including my dalmatian Dalmatian Dog, and a spotted heart.
http://www.gemalchemy.com/pages1/dalmatian.html

I'm not sure how I'll use this pup yet, necklace, pendant, brooch. I'm open to suggestions. Below are the stones I've added to the Dalmatian section. I'll be adding others soon.

Jewelry web site: http://www.lunarskies.com
Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies