Any Lapidarians in the house?
 

My newest hobby is playing with rocks, cutting them, cabachoning, using crystals to heal psyche, etc.

Just curious if there are any other Crystallians or lapidarians here that may want to share cutting techniques, new ideas for crystals, rare finds you want to brag about....etc etc.

I'm really into kyanite/lepidolite/malachite but I have collected some Brazillian decent quality emeralds (I'm making LS some earrings with) found on York beach when we honeymooned in Maine. I also have a very nice peach moonstone I'm working with to make LS a nice present. I have a very nice black tourmaline in my collection. I could go on but haven't the time right now...... I'd get all carried away.

So let's hear from you, what have you got, what have you made, what are your crystals?

oooooo Pan... we could have some fun here.. I'm a jewelry designer. *grin*

" wanna see my cabochons baby? "

roflmao. I have a couple thousand cabochons in various sizes and from many types of stone. let me know if you are looking for anything in particular. (for your "rock" collection)

dont know if you are interested in working with opals at all, let me know before you buy some rough and have at it - they are an itch with a capital B to work with, and I have some preformed ones that i could pass along to ya that you could practice polishing on before you wrecked your rough teaching yourself on it.

malachite, ironstone, chrysocilla, rose quartz, onyx, a couple dozen types of agate, tiger eye, moonstone (brown and blue), rubies, emeralds, lapis lazuli... gaah the list would go on and on...

You guys ROCK!

(drum crash)

Midnight, does amber count?

absolutely amber counts!

and its one i dont have any of

I really like amber on girls.

I bought my ex a huge piece of it once. Real dark piece with water inside.

lol I love amber myself, but have never found a piece raw, finished and loose, or set that wasnt cost prohibitive, so I've never indulged in it

This is where I hide my amber right?

Dont get my dear husband started or soon you will be like me... being forced to suffer through show and tell for hours on end on a nearly nightly basis.

um. hes welcome to show me his ROCKS... i dont care about that - so long as hes only showing YOU his "other stuff" then its all good

*hug*

I want to find a nice girl and seduce her and give her amber.

perfect. im nice, i have no amber, i like it.. commence seduction!

I knew I liked you for a reason.

Cool, I'd love to work with some good opal. Malachite, Chrysocolla and emeralds interest me, from your list. As stated above, I am in love with kyanite and lepidolite. I cut an absolutely beautiful lepidolite for a pendant and was amazed at how nice it came out.

I just bought a bag of uncut/uncleaned/unsearched emeralds, supposedly straight from the mine, off EBay. Hopefully they'll be worthy of some cuts, polishes and wire wraps. On the other hand if it is a ripoff, I won't have lost much and will know better next time I see a deal too good to be true.

If they are and they sell well I'll probably use the company and buy their rubies, sapphires and more emeralds.

I could go on..... I was worried I was alone on here in my love for the crystals and lapidary arts.

BTW I'm also learning a lot about the metaphysics and power of the crystals. I guess it's the pagan/new ager inside of me trying hard to breakthrough.

metaphysics.... mmmm crystals..... mmmmm... I like this!

i saw that auction, but as i dont cut or polish - i passed it by - i want about to tumble emeralds. Ive seen their auctions multiple times as well. you'll have to let me know what all comes of it.
muhahaha. your poor sweet wife - i know i can go on forever with "my rocks" you must drive her up a tree. lol

Have any picture jasper in your collection? what about carnelian lace agate? *grin*

Mid, back me up on this, wearing too many different kinds of stones can be harmful in a metaphysical aspect. Much like taking too many different kinds of pills. Their properties can counteract each other.

Rocks?!? What the...?

Oh man! I thought that said; "Any Lapdancers in the house?

ROFLMAO@Bill

LS - absolutely correct. think of them as prescription medication that doesn't have the interaction warning labels on them, and that you need to read med school books or ask a pharmacist about.

certain crystals and minerals are for certain things, and like vitamins, an overabundance will do more harm than good, and like prescriptions - regardless of the problem - some aren't meant to be mixed - they will best case (and still defeating the purpose) cancel each other out, midline work with each other to create an unexpected or perhaps unwanted affect, and worst case - have a negative affect.

much reading must be done, and speaking to someone with a very detailed knowledge of such things is very important before "mixing it up", so to speak.

Ha ha Bill. Discussing my rocks and how I play with them is a topic I take very seriously.

Not just anyone understands how these rough rocks can be tumbled, polished, and ever so gently caressed and played with, rubbing them with the grain as you polish them..... till they release their potent energy and you feel total fulfillment.

So that ends that. :p

Ah yes, my lovely wife enters. I know that too many can be bad, psychic overloads, bad mojo because the combination of 2 creates negative energy. The books I am reading tell me what crystals work best with what crystals.

I'll be very honest, since I have worn my kyanite necklace, a malachite ring and carried a wonderful piece of Lepidolite, (that is filled with calming energy), I have never been more at peace.:thumbsup:

I don't know if it's the rocks, LS or the fact I'm growing spiritually and mentally.... but there is a very noticeable change in me and the way I express/carry myself. I believe it is the right combination of all three.

peace... dude... if those three were prescription meds you'd be so calm you'd be dead.

Were you having severe anxiety issues, have a biploar disorder, or just hyperactivity and general stress? Thats the only thing I can see warranting that particular combination for daily wear if you are seriously into it for the healing properties and not just someone that "thinks they are pretty"

for the record tho - I dont go for wearing them together and will rotate them based on the issues i'm having most at the moment

Wow, I'm not really a lapidarian, but I have the great fortune of being the future granddaughter-in-law of one, and she gives me all kinds of goodies because of it.

For Christmas two years ago I got a beautiful rose quartz pendant, and for my birthday this year I got a pendant made out of some kind of fiber optic stone. It's very interesting--pink and holographic looking.

I guess in three weeks I'm getting a cross made out of something she picked up in Alaska. When I get it and find out more about it, I'll have to come back here and post about it, because I'd be interested in hearing more about the stones she used and what their properties are.

What can you guys tell me about rose quartz and moonstone? Those are two of the stones I have in jewelry that I have worn on a regular basis. The moonstone has brought some odd circumstances upon me when I've worn it, and the rose quartz seems to carry better luck with it. Does that make sense to any of you, or am I just imagining things?

/me nuzzles the owlie

"rose quartz - represents love, beauty, peacefulness, forgiving, lovingness, self-love and emotional balance! Rose Quartz works with the Heart Chakra. It is a soft, gentle, soothing stone that warms the heart center. Its value as a nurturing friend cannot be overstated. Neither can it's soothing influence. Helps diffuse negative stimuli and uncomfortable memories. Helps us discover the ability to love ourselves and makes us more open to other people. It is of particular value in helping us to forgive ourselves, hastening self-acceptance. Helps us realize that all change is important, even difficult change. Stimulates love and tender appreciation of all things.

Folk Remedies: Rose Quartz can be used to facilitate emotional healing, ease loss, calm stress, relieve hurt, dissolve fear, help strengthen low confidence, resolves resentment and quells anger. Slowly eases childhood traumas/neglect/lack of love and low self-esteem. Rose quartz aligns mental, emotional, and astral bodies. It is deeply in tune with emotional states. Advantageous for the heart and circulatory systems. Also helps the cleansing organs. The reproductive organs may become healthier. Said to help increase fertility. Recommended for artists, acupuncturists, lecturers, and those suffering from low self-esteem. Cleanse and recharge this stone often. Especially if it fades.

Feng Shui: Rose Quartz can be used to balance both Yin and Yang. Use rose quartz in the Southwest area for relationships (be sure and use two). Use in the Center area for emotional balance or in any other area where emotional healing is needed.

History: Rose Quartz (SiO2) can be translucent to clear pink. Found in the US, Brazil, and Japan. It has been used throughout history in almost every great culture for jewelry, crowns and as decorative objects.

moonstone - Feldspar (contains aluminum). Translucent with white, pink, yellow, soft sheen. Honors the Goddess in all women, Dieting, Gardening, Psychic Awareness, Meditation. Soothes stress, anxiety, women's hormones/menstrual imbalance, lymph. Enhances intuitive sensitivity via feelings and less overwhelmed by personal feelings. Greater flexibility and flow with life. Connects 2nd and 6th Chakra and Pineal for emotional balance, gracefulness. Helps all be more comfortable with our gentler feminine/yin receiving side. Especially for water signs. Used for protection against the perils of travel. Translucent, milky gemstones usually pale blue or green that are cut from Albite. Found in India and Australia. Known to be of ancient spiritual significance in their connection to the moon and the intuitive aspect of one's nature. Help cool, soothe, and calm over-reactions to emotional and personal situations. Makes one conscious of the fact that all things are part of a cycle of constant change. They open us up to the feminine and are associated with sensitivity, intuition, and clairvoyance. Beneficial for those involved in agriculture. Moonstone's effect upon the menstrual cycle is powerful. At the time of the full moon or menstruation, women should be aware of their sensitive emotional nature and remove these stones. May help all parts of the lower torso, which include digestive, cleansing and reproductive organs. It is recommended for farmers, artists, dancers and young men. "

I'd just like to know why opals are always in such ugly settings. I've looked and looked and just can't find one in a pretty, un-grandmotherly (no offense to the grandmothers out there) setting.

Opals are extremely fragile and can only be worked in certain ways. I'm sure there is someone who can create something different, but the price would be as steep as the stone is fragile and for a stone that is very brittle and will "shatter" if cold then bumped, it's just not cost effective for traditional jewelers, who buy most everything from catalogs, to be creative.

Most opals are duplets (means they have crystal quartz above them so they won't shatter). There is also triplets where the put an onyx or jet underneath to make the opal appear as a "black" opal and add some bucks to that. While the idea works, a true black opal is still much more beautiful.

*sigh*. Opals are one of my favorite stones. I've had a ring with a shattered opal, so I don't doubt that they are fragile. I just wish that it was easier to find something that is more unique as far as they are concerned.

umm. im sitting here with about twenty thousand dollars (retail) worth of opals on my desk, not a doublet or triplet in the bunch, all solid and boulder opals.

I'm a jewelry designer.

What are you looking for medusa. I work almost exclusively in silver, but i CAN and Do do gold. also, keep the setting the shattered opal goes to. i would be happy to put another one in it for you if the setting is large enough for any of my opals to fit in - for the cost of shipping it back and forth to you. - the stone is my treat.

would you like to see the opal work i have in house at the moment?

hmmmmm I could always start cutting the stones (I love to free form) and you could design pieces for the stones......

never know may make some good money doing it...lol

I'm sure you have a stone cutter though.

i have a couple, but thats the great thing about meeting a new one - they bring a new look because of their work to the table.

oh and for the record - you arent correct on your doublet and triplet descs.

a doublet has an onyx, ironstone or some other stone backing. a triplet is a thin sliver of a very stunning opal that is far too thin to be used in jewelry, but too pretty to discard. its mounted to a backing like a doublet, but then instead of being made into a cabochon like that like a doublet is - it is topped with a clear quartz cap in order to render it usable.

Unfortunately, I took my ring (that my grandmother wore for 30 years and then gave to me) into a jewelry store that I trusted, and they "lost" it. Needless to say, I was extremely upset and they gave me a beautiful ring of equivalent value. Every time I looked at the new ring I got upset, so I just gave it to someone.

I'm not looking for something specific at the moment, but I am mostly interested in earrings and rings, and perhaps a pendant. I never wear bracelets and only rarely wear necklaces. My birthday is coming up and since opal is my birthstone, I would like a pair of earrings. So yes...to answer your question in a roundabout way...I'd love to see your work :)

You wont be disappointed! She makes everything I have made look like the plastic things you get out of a 25 cent machine at the grocery store!

Midnight, do you have a website? I would like to see it as well. My mother is a big fan of opals--they became her favorite stone after a 2-month trip to Australia in her twenties. She doesn't own any now, but I know she's in the market for jewelery with opals.

LS, Thanks for the compliment. I'd refute your claim on yours, but you haven't sent me pictures to do so. Regardless, I'm sure they aren't bubble gum machine quality. lol.

Medusa, If you have a picture of you or anyone else wearing your grandmother's ring, I could probably create something similar if not identical (which the store that lost it should have offered to have done for you)
It will never be the same, but might be a little bit closer to your heart. Too many larger stores forget that there are a great deal of emotional attachments to older pieces (as well as newer ones) and have people handling their shopwork that have no business being there, and don't care enough about what they are doing and the fact that they are handling people's memories as a daily part of their work. Just let me know if that is of any interest someday down the line.

Snowy, I have the domain, I have the hosting. They were not through the same company because I didn't like the hosting after using it for something else with the company I got the domain through. Now I have hosting, and other domain names through go daddy, but the orig. domain people refuse to let me move the domain over to go daddy because I canceled my hosting package with them. It's maddening. Needless to say, I am not really interested in buying another domain name and putting up the site there when I already own the proper name. I have pictures. I was thinking of posting them in the artwork forum but didn't know if it would be appropriate.

Speaking of appropriate, this is a complete threadjack and we need to move the topic back to Pan's rocks. *grin* Hey Pan - how are your rocks? polish anything interesting lately?

I agree...sorry about the threadjack, Pan!

Midnight, I think that your pictures would be very appropriate in the artwork forum. Art isn't just limited to canvas or sculptures!

I'll think about posting some of my stuff. in the meantime - hey pan - how about posting some of your cabs in the art forum? they dont call it "Lapidary arts" for nothing.. its an art form in its own right

True as soon as I get some pics in my puter, (I think LS's emerald ring will be first,) I will post.

excellent - but cabochons are an art form in themselves - dont wait to have a proper piece of jewelry made up - although that will be great too - but let us see some of the cabs you are working on. Actually - some of us might be interested in seeing a piece go from a raw piece thru the process to completion... *grin* come on pan - show me the goods!

*ducks and waits for Lady Sage to smack her upside the head*

I shall. But be forewarned as I am learning and realizing I am very heavy handed, I am doing primarily pendants for wire wraps.

I really haven't conquered the "cabbing" yet, as I tend to be impatient and push the stone to hard and grind it into nothing. So, first step is to learn to be more light handed and patient.

To make pendants, it still takes time, but I am more able to free form, create more interesting and one of a kind pieces and not have to worry about trying to make sure the cab is perfect.

Learning to crawl, before I can walk, learning to walk, before I can run.

well come on - show us how well you crawl pan. i want to see what you are doing

Very heavy handed, he doesnt realize how strong his grip is. He took what could have been a wonderful cab and grount it down to a useless piece of...

Anyway, I told him when he is making a cab he has to be extremely gentle. I told him to pretend he was holding his pecker in his hands instead of a gemstone. I see it hasnt worked... makes me wonder.

/me worries for a second about Pan's parts then smacks herself in the face with a stern "DONT GO THERE"

yeah, turning an interesting rock into a cabochon is an art form, and one which needs to develop over time. it takes a strong foundation in geometry, and being able to see the geometric range of a piece in 3D in your head before its done.

Many lapidary artists will work on making perfectly flat edges to their work, then taking the edges of that edge down on an angle. I have some examples here if you'd like to see what im talking about.
Its also easier to start with much larger pieces at first and work your way down to the size someone would use in a piece of jewelry, seeing as how manipulating a stone on a dop stick is a lot harder than holding the piece in your hands while you work on grinding and polishing it down.

As soon as I get some pics in the puter, I'll put them up or send them to ya.

I get my bag of emeralds from Ebay and they are decent. Some very nice roughage and workable stone. None gem grade and I don't think I could make a bundle selling them, but I think I'll be able to play with them for hours and make some money off the investment.

poke poke poke poke (to Pan)
Ok my friend, you are as slow as molasses in january. so here's SOME of mine, maybe they will nudge you into posting yours.

http://img111.imageshack.us/img111/6016/cabasstnq6.png

Wow, very nice.... I am nowhere near that good ...YET. Someday soon though.

I will have LS work on getting pics up soon.... you need to help prod her also.