Started it on My Vacation, Finished it at Home

One of my galleries back east requested some jewelry pieces with certain stones. I was headed to California right at that time so I took along my portable workshop and worked when I could. I finished the pieces in the week following my return. Hopefully the gallery will take some of these pieces and I'll have some left over to put in my etsy and Artfire stores.

Lapis Lazuli with Peridot acccents

 

Montana Agate pendants

 

Kingman Turquoise pendants and earrings

 

Petoskey Stone pendant and earrings

 

Ocean jasper pendants and earrings

 

Amethyst pendants and earrings

 

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

Holy Guacamole, ThatsAlottaRocks! WIP Wednesday

I've finally got the first cut completed and can move on to cut number two. Pictured below is about 4-1/2 lbs. of cabochons, or one and a half Mason jars (only the best high tech equipment for me).

 

The first cut includes trimming the slabs and shaping the cabochons. It's really more of a grinding process. Cut number two uses a finer grit disc and is a refinement of the first cut. Once cut number two is completed the stones can be tumbled; a four stage process that also requires thoroughly washing each stone between tumbles. So there's still quite a bit of work to do before these beauties will be finished cabochons. Then there's the reality that about 15 to 20% of the stones will have to be re-cut or discarded due to imperfections (crazes or bugs) that were not visible before the tumbling began. Crazes are cracks or fissures, bugs are pits or voids. But the 80 to 85% that finish well will make it all worth while.

One of my next projects will be to update and market my gemstone website. You can visit that web site at: http://www.gemalchemy.com

My jewelry and sculpture web site: http://www.lunarskies.com