[Orchid Blogs] New topics on the Orchid Blogs network

Jewelry Discussion
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Ruby Ring and Tahitian Pearl Ring
Harborjewelers

The ruby ring is a design of Ignacio’s. We can use it for other
shapes than round, but the main thing is that the stone is tension
set so the stone needs to be able to handle that. With a princess
diamond, we flatten the curve on top to correlate with the
squareness of the diamond. This ruby is a nice juicy Burma…

View article…
http://harborjewelers.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/14/

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Pin in Sterling and 18K Gold set with Citrine
Sam Patania

My, inspiration for this piece was the large citrine and the Tucson
summer sun. This citrine is about 30 by 22mm and had to be the
centerpiece of what ever it was in. The Tucson summer sun is also
very large and any Tucsonan lives from air conditioned area to air
conditioned area. Or under a rock…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/14/

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Saltshaker Days - Simple ways to fuel creativity
Ginger Meek Allen

During the drive to Quirk Gallery in Richmond, Va., last week, fellow
metalsmith Tara F. and I talked about the nuances of the creative
life, or, the duties of having been created creative. Quirk Gallery
is a fine contemporary craft gallery presenting wonderful work in a
wonderful way. We were headed to Quirk for “Unplug with Bob” " a
intimate luncheon with Bob Ebendorf. Bob recently completed a vault
project at Quirk, and Tara and I always enjoy an opportunity to
connect with Bob. He shared an array of raw materials and talked
about how he would approach each one. It’s always enlightening to
gain insight into the mind of a master…

View article…
http://gingermeekallen.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/14/

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Gold Plique-a-Jour Fairy
Hans Meevis

I semi-finished this fairy in July. It was a very labour intensive
piece. I have found that if one works a very long time, like two
weeks non stop on a piece, the piece becomes angst ridden. Things
become big that are not. And then I got gatvol working on it…

View article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/14/93/

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3D Digital Design
Paysoncooper

For a long time I resisted the idea of moving into 3D Digital design
work. thought it would 98taint’ my jewelry making, feeling like I
wanted to be a 98purist’ and only make ‘handmade’ work - either
carving wax, directly in the metal (engraving, carving and chasing),
or hand fabricating. What finally got me to start was the desire to
create a line of jewelry using words and fonts…

View article…
http://paysonjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/14/

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Freedom from the cubical farm
Kevin Potter

Twenty years ago I was a cog in a great big blue wheel, not a
critacal cog just another person with a badge and a cubical. I would
go to work everyday and sit in this huge office with hundreds of
other people and I would wonder how in the hell I got here. Actually
I did know how I got there I applied, because my parents told me
that if I got a job with IBM I would be set for life. I was only 18
and all I knew how to do was make pizza, but IBM is notorious for
nepotism so I was hired…

View article…
http://kevinpotter.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/14/

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Trent Agate Shibuichi Experiment
Kay Taylor

My husband, Rich, creates lovely stones from his monumental
collection of rough. I’m the beneficiary of his work. This piece of
Oregon Trent agate with stibnite is the focal piece of the
neckpiece. Combining it with shibuichi and rough citrine gives it an
ancient look. The hooks are detachable from the pendant and were
forged and melted on the ends, so that the beads can be worn alone.
The beading wire is hidden in a buttonhole gusset set up that I
first drilled, then carved deep into the wire…

View article…
http://kaytaylor.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/13/22/

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Finding Inspiration
Valentin Yotkov

Finally, at the age of 50 I accepted the idea that life isn’t all
about work. Not that I don’t absolutely LOVE what I do - few things
make me happier than chasing some ancient design on a piece of gold
or silver. We spend a lifetime rushing from class to class, learning
new techniques and proving that we are worthy of being called
Masters. But there is one more ingredient needed to create art -
that is INSPIRATION…

View article…
http://valentinyotkov.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/13/

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We have to keep on trying!
Atinuj

This is a follow up on the selling opportunity that I’ve got with the
largest and hippest mall in town. Remember the whole thing about
costume jewelry? Well, there’s more to come. I sent them my profile
along with 5 others showing our works, most are made of silver, with
gold accent. One artist got 98turned down’ because it’s not what they
would considered jewelry. What a shame. (BTW, Can you guess which one
this is?)…

View article…
http://tanim.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/15/

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How Blogging Has Changed my Life, Part II
Allthingsmetalclay

So, besides encouraging me to model, and posting pictures of things
I’ve baked, how else has blogging changed my life? Well, for one
thing, I no longer pay for advertising. Now the blog drives traffic
to the website and I no longer need to pay for advertising. There’s
something to be said for advertising in print, or online advertising,
but for now, I don’t need it. That’s pretty cool. I’m getting to know
more people involved in jewelry making, including all the folks in
our jewelry blog carnival…

View article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/15/

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More on 3D Digital Model Making
Paysoncooper

Yesterday I talked about why I started using 3D Digital Modeling and
Design in my business, today I’ll say a little bit more about what I
like about it, and specifically about Rhino3D. While most software
has it’s limitations (often time found between the monitor and the
chair.just kidding.sort of), Rhino3D is an incredibly flexible, easy
to use and fluid software. It allows the user to design in a 3D
world, view all aspects of the design following very strict
guidelines, or inviting more free-form work. As with any new
software, Rhino3D is not ‘hard’ to learn - it just takes time,
patience and persistance. When I took my first class a few years ago
I avoided doing the homework and barely kept up for the first few
weeks. There was an event at which I wanted to launch the
Transformational Jewelry Collection and I knew if I didn’t step it
up I would either have to pay someone else with the expertise, or
figure it out myself. Sitting down at my desk on a Sunday afternoon
I spent about 12 hours catching up (wouldn’t have had to if I didn’t
avoid it for so long.and I was taking the class for a grade at FIT).
It felt like the beginning of a roller coaster - where there is that
huge, long pulling up-hill to start the first big descent. It was a
valuable lesson for me, one that I’ve been able to apply to learning
other things since then, as I know it’s part of how I learn…

View article…
http://paysonjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/15/

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More Experiments with Electrolytic Etching
Beth Wicker

I have continued to experiment with the electrolytic etching, and
have made some changes to my setup, and some discoveries. I got
tired of screwing and unscrewing the plastic connectors to the
wires, and added some alligator clips from Radio Shack. These are
the kind where you strip some of your insulation from your wire,
then wrap it around a screw on the clip and tighten. This makes
starting and stopping the etch much easier!..

View article…
http://bethwicker.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/15/

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Some of My Homemade Metalsmithing Tools
Shelbyvision

The kind of metalsmithing I do requires a lot of special tools. Most
of them are simple enough that I’m able to make them myself. Usually
all that is required is a piece of steel rod, a chop saw, a grinder,
a sander, and sometimes a big torch, sometimes a lathe, sometimes a
welder. Below is a universal stake holder I made to hold homemade
stakes. The holder part is made from two track roller brackets from
an old bulldozer, the bottom one welded to a 1" steel rod. The stake
it is holding in the first picture is for one specialized purpose, to
create the recess on the bottom of my pet urns where the closure
plate goes. The second picture shows me doing that task. The larger
hammer in the first picture is a bodyworking hammer I purchased from
McMaster Carr. It’s American made, and higher quality and less than
half the price of the fancy German hammers. The only drawback was
that I had to polish the heads myself. The smaller hammer is a gem I
bought from Dixon (Do they still exist?) about 30-some years ago…

View article…
http://shelbyvision.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/15/

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Another Shibuichi Experiment
Kay Taylor

This is another pendant that I created using Morrison Ranch Jasper,
also known as Morrisonite, shibuichi and sterling silver. Dimensions
are about 2" h X 1 1/2" w. The shibuichi alloy when overheated raises
to a nearly reptilian textured surface. Instead of pickling the
surface…

View article…
http://kaytaylor.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/15/

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Sunday Afternoon Football
John Rasmussen

What is a better time to make cabs than during the Football games
Also think of these as being future jewelry…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/16/

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More on 3D Digital Design and Modeling
Paysoncooper

As I stated a few days back, I went from lost student using Rhino3D
to assistant teacher at the FIT Enterprise Center Rhino I, Rhino II
and Rhino III courses (taught by Dana Buscaglia). I love assisting
in the classes as I have the chance to meet new people in the
industry, help people learn (teaching/tutoring is one of my favorite
things to do), and learn from Dana, the primary teacher, every week.
And I do too, every single week Dana shares a little tidbit of
I might never have figured out on my own, and in several
instances I remember her saying the same thing in one of my previous
classes with her (I also took her semester long course at FIT prior
to becoming the evening assistant), but I wasn’t in a position to
begin incorporating it into my daily use. Now, each and every week,
I’ll make a note to myself and the next morning experiment with
using it in my own Rhino3D work…

View article…
http://paysonjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/16/

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Hi every one
Jenlane

Sorry for not keep up with this but I have been in and out of the
hospital over this past month and will be going back in on the 1st
hopefully for the last time 4 surgeries on my spine so with luck I
might walk. hell might is better then never. good enough for me.
sold and still am selling my tools I make most of mine custom. the
ones here are some basic simple sets I was putting together for
beginners. had some orders mostly for just that and even managed to
buy a few tools for me…

View article…
http://jenlane.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/15/

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A good crowd of jewelry creators/designers
Atinuj

After having many small planning meetings with 3-4 people for the
past 6 months, it was a nice change to have 20+people joining us
today at Tanim’s first general meeting. Students, working studio
jewelers, designers and educators alike came to a casual meeting at
One Form One Piece Studio to get to know what Tanim is all about and
also to meet new people working in the same field. Many ideas were
shared on how to we can get stronger as a group to where we could
hold group exhibitions…

View article…
http://tanim.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/16/

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Saturday Afternoon, etc.
John Rasmussen

Now it is Saturday Night, I slept late waking up around 1400. Then I
have spent the remainder of the day and evening cutting stones. I am
experimenting with a variety of gem species and stone designs this
round. Trying variety. Several octagonal shapes, rectangular shapes,
oval shapes and no round. I like the strength of the dollar
increasing; I was able to order twice as much silver for making
jewelry this time as ever before, since the price of silver is the
lowest since I started using it. I still love copper as a medium for
setting the stones, but few folk seem to want copper jewelry…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/15/

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Solving Problems in Class -
Soldering Prongs on a Bracelet and More
Coralnut

In my last post, I told of Maria from Venesuela who is constructing a
bronze bracelet, etched, with stones. The middle stone of the middle
plate she wants to be set in prongs in contrast to the other bezel
set stones. Following is a picture of the bracelet in progress.
Notice the prong shaped 98cup’ used in the center so she would be
able to properly align and center it. This weeks challange comes from
Chrissy, a local gal, who enjoys making or modifying rings. Chrissy
has been 98beading’ for a long time and is now polishing up her new
found fabrication skills aimed at making more substantial jewelry (no
offense to all you beaders out there)…

View article…
http://coralnut.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/16/

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Introducing Kay Taylor
Kay Taylor

I am an art educator, turned exclusively metalsmith and always jump
at the chance to learn new skills, processes, & techniques.
Life-long learning. But I can’t really learn until I attempt it
hands-on and continue to experiment by DOING a process, skill,
technique over and over. Successes and failures teach… the sum
total of learning. And the sum total allows creativity to flow and
flourish. The more skills, the more creativity. Truth be told, there
are agonizingly boring tasks necessary in metalsmithing that can’t
be imagined by the viewer, excluding the well-trained eye. They are
basics that can confine me or can ultimately let me go…

View article…
http://kaytaylor.ganoksin.com/blogs/about/

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Beth Rosengard: Stunning Color, Texture & Pattern
Fortheloveofjewels

I have the great privilege of friendship with Beth Rosengard. I met
Beth a few months ago when she had a home sale in Los Angeles where
she was offering local jewelry designers some of her rather immense
collection of unusual, interesting stones. At that time, I first saw
some of her amazing jewelry and it quite simply took my breath away.
Not long after that first meeting, Beth generously allowed me to
watch her create a commissioned pendant piece, offering me valuable
tips throughout the process that improved my own work immensely.
Beth’s use of extraordinary stones, with her distinct style and
superb craftsmanship results in some of the most stunning jewelry
I’ve ever seen, making her among my most influential jewelry artists
as I move forward in my new career…

View article…
http://fortheloveofjewels.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/17/

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Colored Stones in Gold
Sam Patania

I’m not sure if I would call this series Modernist, I don’t know
what I would call it. I had many stones I bought from Jeff Graham,
which I bought because I loved them. I had inspiration from the
brilliant colors and cuts and wanted to frame them with different
colors of gold. These pieces are certainly modern, plain and clean
but I have no label for them other than just that, modern. I made
the bracelet out of 18K white gold for the central piece and 18K
yellow gold for the sides. The white framed the stones Jeff cut and
didn’t interfere with the bright colors. I wanted to bring the
richness of yellow gold to compliment the gold tourmalines but,
didn’t want it next to the stones. I made bezels for the stones and
soldered them underneath the center element so they are underset.
This left the top of the piece very clean…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/17/

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Daydream Facets Collection
Dianegeisel

My interests have turned to jewelry collecting. What types of jewelry
do you collect? What are the most sought after pieces in a given
genre? How do I know about the markings on jewelry pieces of
interest? What major jewelry manufacturing was produced in Providence
RI (I’ve lived in RI all my life). the “Jewelry Capitol of the
World”.
All of these questions have been bouncing around in my head so I
decided to write a series of Hubs around these very questions. I
invite you to check my hubs frequently and let me know if these
articles are of value to you. As always, I am open to comments and
suggestions and your opinions are very valuable to me…feel free to
contact me!! Here is the first in the series of Hubs: Coro
Jewelry…

View article…
http://dianegeisel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/17/

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Success isn’t always pretty
Kevinpotter

My wife and I had just had a child and we had butt loads of debt,
like $56,000 dollars worth, so working for myself right after 9/11
was not working out. I had been doing tradework for a real nice
store but was sorta hesitant to ask for a job because I had heard
the guy was tough to work for. Well leme tell ya, this guy was nuts.
My dad is a retired marine and a real hard ass, but this fella took
it to new levels…

View article…
http://kevinpotter.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/17/

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Joe Vitale Expect Miracles Book
Paysoncooper

A new book being launched today by Joe Vitale, called “Expect
Miracles” is a hand book to lining yourself up with and allowing
what you want. The reason I’m posting it here is because a short
story about how one of my jewelry lines came to be is included in
the book, along with a picture of that line as well as the Expect
Miracles Necklace from the Payson & Co., LLC Transformational
Jewelry Line…

View article…
http://paysonjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/18/

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Color, Texture, and Form
Margarita

I will be participating in the December First Friday Art Walk with
Tracey Bell and Renee Ford at Blue Moon Jewelry Designs. Our theme
is Metal: Color, Texture, and Form. For this event I am breaking
away from the meticulous nature of cloisonnC3(c) enamel to explore
in a less restrained manner. I had planned on texture being the
focus of the new pieces, but it turns out form and color are the
dominating themes…

View article…
http://pixieprincess.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/18/

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Ring in 14K gold set with Citrine and Ruby
Sam Patania

I have made many rings that were organic in design but, only a few
which were as identifiably floral as this one. This ring was
fabricated out of 14K gold. The citrine in this ring was a large
14mm round which I mounted as the center of the flower. I had fun
with the petals as the prongs for the mount and then carried the
design further down the shank. I added some leaves in 14K yellow and
white gold solid beads. Two small round rubies are on the sides of
the flower one of which is visible in this photo…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/18/

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Black Coral Pendant and Before and After Wedding Set.
Hans Meevis

This is a Black coral pendant that I finished. The two caps are 14kt
gold and the center squiggly part is 18kt white gold. My black coral
is all found material. The guy who collects it and sells it to me,
gave me the secret to working this material. Black coral is not
really coral, in the true sense. It is not as hard as true coral,
and does not consist of calcium carbonate. Instead a thin veneer of
animal tissue secretes a horn like protein, and this is used in
jewellery…

View article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/19/

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Opal Patterns and Color
Mikelley

Play of color (or fire) may come in many patterns. Pattern refers to
the physical structure and form of the play of color. There are a
dozen or so patterns, some of them common and some are very rare.
The most common patterns are pinfire and flake fire which look as
they are described, like tiny pinpoints or small flakes of color.
Think of black pepper, which may be finely ground or coarsely
ground, thus making different size flakes. Medium to large flakes
are also fairly common. Flake fire generally has individual flakes
clearly separate from each other, floating in the white or dark body
of the opal, so it is easy to identify the body color or body tone
as it is sometimes called. Sometimes the amount and intensity of the
fire is so great as to mask the body color and all you will see is
the play of color. The opal pictured below is a good example of such
closely packed flake fire…

View article…
http://mikelley.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/19/

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Gee I love making Jewelry and cutting stones
John Rasmussen

Well got some more of the last batch of cabochons wrapped, and I
also made another copper bracelet. Absolutely love to cut stones, so
much fun to see something turn out with my own two little hands. The
adventurine is a primative facet cut cabochon (flat surfaces) but
with no pavillion. Everything is going well as I count down the next
two years to retirement from work work. I do enjoy what I do, but it
will be nice to not think all the time in statistics. Here are the
latest…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/19/

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Doh!
Allthingsmetalclay

In the comments on my recent post, How Blogging Has Changed my Life,
Part II, Anne wrote, Hidon’t forget the benefits for your readers.
Between your blog and forum participation, my learning curve has
been (a bit ) less bumpy. (Sound of hand smacking forehead.) Doh!..

View article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/19/doh/

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Show of a very different stripe
Beth Wicker

A few weeks ago I attended the ACC Craft Show in Charlotte, NC.
Today I scouted out the Southern Christmas Show, also in Charlotte.
They could not be two more different shows! The ACC show was held
downtown at the Convention Center, a newish very nice facility. Huge
hall, never very crowded with customers, high quality work - with
matching prices. Never did see any PR, ads, anything at all
advertising the show…

View article…
http://bethwicker.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/19/

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Necklace in 18K Gold set with Bisbee Turquoise
Sam Patania

Bisbee turquoise is one of my favorite stones to work in. a career
filled with amazing things to work with Bisbee is at the top.
Natural high grade Bisbee, the deep blue with red matrix is very
hard to come by. Treated Bisbee is very available but natural is
rare. When want to make signature pieces in turquoise I work with
Bisbee…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/19/

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Cat on a pillow
Shelbyvision

I just finished this yesterday and shipped it out today. It’s a
brass cat urn, cat serial number 18. Like the dog I posted earlier,
the cat is hammer formed, and the pillow is hydroformed…

View article…
http://shelbyvision.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/19/

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Mall Rat
Kevin potter

Every goldsmith goes through a rite of passage, you start as an
apprentice working in a shop for a lunatic then you think you know
everything after you have been there a while. In my case I thought I
was a master jeweler after a few months. I was too naive to know how
bad I truly was. Anyway after about ten years of doing it every day
all day, you discover that you are not all that good and it is gonna
take awhile. In my case after sixteen years I was ok. I was earning a
decent living, I had a house, a couple cars and a family, life was
pretty good. Something was missing. I had spent my whole career
working for myself and other independent jewelers doing mostly custom
work, I had not really been in the trenches, tested so to speak, you
know really seen the top of the mountain or more to the point the
bottom of the hole…

View article…
http://kevinpotter.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/20/

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Reclaiming old wedding bands
Harborjewelers

The pendant shown was made for a lady who had two very wide, heavy
wedding bands and a couple of diamonds rings. Her husband passed
away a few years ago, and she wanted to find a way to wear
everything but to not have rings on her left hand. So it was an
important life transition moment. sort of declaring herself
available while keeping the memories of her husband with her. We
created the pendant by rolling the rings into sheet. We then cut the
sheet, used the torch to sculpture the shapes, and fused the shapes
together. Then we set the diamonds randomly in the pendant…

View article…
http://harborjewelers.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/20/

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What Would Seth Godin Do?
Allthingsmetalclay

Master marketer and Squidoo founder Seth Godin doesn’t need any free
press from me, but apparently, I’m going to give it to him anyway. I
was astonished to hear that neither my step-father nor brother had
heard of Seth Godin. What? How could they not have heard of Seth
Godin, author of many books on marketing and web design, all with
silly names, like The Big Red Fez?..

View article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/20/

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Pendant in 18K Gold and Bisbee Turquoise
Sam Patania

I approach my work with the idea that it will be around for
generations and I hope it will be interesting to collectors of my
family’s work. My work is driven by design and technique and I use
materials which have intrinsic value. Jewelry with collector appeal
that is well designed and has real value due to material selection
is classic and will be enjoyable and sought after for ever. I do not
ride trends…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/20/

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New Jewelry Press
Christy Robinson

Hello everyone, I wanted to get some feedback from the group on a
new business I am starting with my brother. My wife is a jeweler, I
am a sculptor and my brother works in a machine shop. We never could
afford the other presses on the market so my brother and I built a
Jewelry Press for my wife and she has been using it to great success.
Other jewelers we know began asking us to design presses for them and
we realized there was a need. We are now offering this affordable,
sturdy press to other jewelers. We design and build each press
ourselves so we can ensure that quality is never compromised. Because
we make one press at a time we are able to constantly improve the
design…

View article…
http://christyrobinson.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/20/

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Quartz Crystal Pendant
John Rasmussen

Today I delivered a small quartz pendant placed on a twenty inch
sterling silver chain for a customer. She received the crystal from
her niece as a present after the niece went mining for gems in a
school trip. When I saw the crystal, my mind saw what I was going to
wrap the crystal in. Sterling silver wire (20 gauge square half
hard), with a dangling tail curling around the crystal…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/21/

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Bracelet and Chain from Two Generations
Sam Patania

Chain by Sam Patania, Bracelet by Frank Patania, Jr. [img] In this
photograph I combined my dad’s and my jewelry for a two generation
shot. Both pieces in sterling silver. Dad’s bracelet was made in the
late1960’s or early 1970’s. It was a box form with a star Topaz on
the top. This is typical of dad, classic design, clean work and
shiny surfaces. Nowhere to hide any blemishes. My father is a master
craftsman. He has the patience and skill to be unafraid of designing
clean pieces with highly finished surfaces…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/21/

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Mirror Clock
Hans Meevis

This is my latest clock I have finished. It was an old mirror. The
sides are made of off-cuts of stained glass. I got a LOT of off-cuts
from previous projects. Other than the hanging braces, everything is
made out of glass. There are round glass rods glued with silicone
clear to the front and the back of the mirror. The face has been
soldered together from copper offcuts. The red behind it is red-ish
stained glass…

View article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/21/

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Code 10
Atinuj

Code 10, the newest boutique in town features top 10 Thai clothing
designers and 10 contemporary jewelry brands. Nine out of ten
jewelry brands are Tanim current and soon to be members! They are
Solid Skin, CASO, Todesire, Phonthip, SaPrang, Pilantha, Aztique,
Flow and La Chiocciolina. It is a new center for those who are
looking for hand-made/hand-assembled, small production works with
great original designs. It is located on the 1st floor of Siam
Paragon Shopping Center, right next to Starbucks and in front of IWC
store…

View article…
http://tanim.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/22/

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Choker? Pendant? Two-Way Neckpiece
Ceid

Recently, I finished a neckpiece, and took it along to a family
reunion.

While showing it to a cousin, another relative came by, and
suggested, “Oh, it looks like it could work this way too!” “Hey,
cool!” we think. It looks good on my cousin both ways! She likes the
idea of being able to have two looks with one piece of jewelry, too.
The problem is to make it hang well in both orientations, AND be
easy for her arthritic fingers to manage…

View article…
http://ceid.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/22/

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What is Green Amethyst? Is It as Valuable as Purple Amethyst?
Jsellington

Green quartz is commonly being called green amethyst. I think this
article may start a firestorm among the gemologists and other
jewelers who are very careful to refer to each stone with the
correct terminology. However, the term green amethyst is literally
all over the Internet. The only thing we can do now is to try to
educate the public to keep them from buying a gemstone under false
pretense…

View article…
http://jsellington.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/22/

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Ring and Videos
John Rasmussen

I finished a 1.25 carat Turquoise cabochon ring in Sterling Silver
(size 6) for a customer’s wife for her birthday. He may see it on
the blog, or the internet before he actually sees it in person. This
ring was the second commission that I had this week. If only
business was this busy all the time. In addition, I signed up for
the video BenchTube section of Ganoksin…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/22/

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Show Report
Beth Wicker

I showed at a very different kind of show yesterday, and will share
my thoughts and observations. I have been very careful in show
selection this fall. My husband is very sick, and I can’t do shows
that take me out of the house overnight - so they have to be close to
home. Given that I live in a rural area, this creates its own unique
set of limitations! So yesterday I had a booth at what was promoted
as a “craft show” by the Episcopal preschool my daughter (now a
college freshman) attended lo those many years ago. I figured it was
a good cause to support, right here in town so basically no travel
costs, and the booth was all of $30 - figured I couldn’t lose…

View article…
http://bethwicker.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/23/

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Corrugation - Horn Coral Ring
Kay Taylor

After taking a metal corrugation workshop with Trish McAleer a few
years ago I found there were really no limitations to its use. I
love making rings, but have found that custom rings can be a real
challenge achieving the right fit. Sometimes a ring lays differently
on a someone’s finger than expected, so experience with sizing and
the use of certain materials in a ring makes it or breaks it. This
Horn Coral ring (fossil coral from Utah) was made for a client who
loved the stone. We talked about fit and ended up using half round
wire, turned inside out for…

View article…
http://kaytaylor.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/23/

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Sue Ann Dorman: Jewelry As Paradox!
Fortheloveofjewels

I first met Sue when I signed up for jewelry classes at Loyola
Marymount University in Los Angeles. With 30 years experience as a
jeweler, Sue devotes much of her time teaching at both LMU and the
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in downtown LA.
She’s a wonderful teacher with a great laugh and twinkling sense of
humor. And, her original jewelry designs are dazzling and quite
unique. I especially love her use of concrete with car glass! Here’s
what she has to say about creating that concept…

View article…
http://fortheloveofjewels.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/24/

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More Flowers!
Jmwjewelry

I’ve finished the four additional marriage of metals flower pendants
you saw a sneak peak of a little while back! I’ve started listing
them in my shops, starting with the Orchid…

View article…
http://jmwjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/24/

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Making a Brass Pillow
Shelbyvision

I first developed my method for making brass pillows about a year
ago. The idea was to use them as a base option for the cat and dog
urns I make for custompeturns.com. My first attempts were with
compressed air, which turned out to not have quite enough force to
push the metal out beyond the form that creates the depression where
the cat or dog would lie…

View article…
http://shelbyvision.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/24/

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Rings and Bangle
Hans Meevis

I made this commission ring for Lola. She came in on Saturday
afternoon and she was leaving Monday. So I made the ring halfway,
unset, and she came in on Sunday and fitted it. All was correct and
this morning I set the stones. She was very happy with it. I make a
wide heavy band the right size and then with a strong flame, fuse
the edges inwards until I have the requires width and taper…

View article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/24/

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Swarovski, Anna McCabe Craft Fair and eSMArts Team store
Dianegeisel

Here is my “Fruity Bracelet” sporting those lovely Swarovski’s all
around! For those who are local, I’m inviting you to visit me at the
Jingle-Bell Craft fair on December 6th at Anna McCabe School on 100
Pleasant View Ave. in Smithfield RI. The bazaar will be open from
9-3pm, Santa will be visiting, food and refreshments will be
available. Come join the festivities share the holiday spirit and do
some Christmas shopping!..

View article…
http://dianegeisel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/22/

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The most relaxing christmas ever
Kevin Potter

I am sure that I am not the only one that is being affected by the
economic descent into the stink hole. For some reason people think
that paying their mortgage and feeding their children is more
important than squandering conspicuios amounts of cash and credit on
shiny stuff. I mean dang, do they think the world is gonna end and
the day of judgement is near? What they don’t want to stroll through
the pearly gates with too much bling on? Or maybe they beleive that
passage in the bible that it is easier for a camel to pass through
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven…

View article…
http://kevinpotter.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/23/

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Blog Carnival: Gratitude
Allthingsmetalclay

For Thanksgiving, the blog carnival group is talking gratitude. I’m
grateful to be healthy, that my family is healthy. I’m grateful for
the internet, and the opportunity to make money in my pajamas, for
Precious Metal Clay, and artist-made glass beads, for space to work,
computer-controlled kilns, fresh ripe peaches, and that gadget that
cores and slices a pineapple all at once…

View article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/24/

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New Method for Wire Wrapping
John Rasmussen

I have joined a new discussion forum called “Evolution in Stone.”
The main thrust of this group is Lapidary Arts. This appears to be a
good group for me to gain knowledge to improve my stone cutting
skills. I have already garnered a new method for applying wire to
cabochon stones. The original author called it his “groove” method;
this I found out after I started using the term “channel.”
Basically, you cut a groove/channel around the girdle of the
cabochon to place the wire into, hiding it from view…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/23/

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Belt Buckles in Silver and Turquoise
Sam Patania

I occasionally do work for men, not often but occasionally. I made
these three belt buckles last year and set them with premium
turquoise. The one on top and bottom left have Bisbee turquoise and
the bottom right with Carico Lake. My usual turquoise grading went
out the window when I used gold grade stones in sterling silver. The
design of the different shapes of silver is a design my dad did years
ago. He called it “Bits-O-Silver” and dad would use only triangular
shapes in the work. I made many of these “Bits” items over the years
I apprenticed to my dad and the challenge with that design was to not
let any of the pieces face the same way as the adjacent “Bits”. I
would solder and re-solder those bits until my dad was satisfied. My
dad was a tough teacher and I hope if either of my children follow in
my footsteps I am as tough a teacher as my dad. It was really the
only way to learn, he never told me what I wanted to hear but kept me
working until he was satisfied. It was, after all, his name on the
sign on the front of the store and on each piece. I love my dad for
teaching the way he did…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/24/

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Turquoise
Sam Patania

I have written about how much I love turquoise and thought it might
be nice to show some of the stones I have. Bruce Mead,visits
regularly and always has something wonderful to look at and buy. I
have an addiction to good turquoise. I comb through the Tucson Gem
Show every year for turquoise and am always on the look out for it
from any source. Since Bisbee is 6o miles away from my studio I have
a special place in my heart for it. It is as local a turquoise as I
can get…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/25/

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Ring in Gold set with Sapphire and Diamond
Sam Patania

22 Karat gold is a wonderful material to work in. I have used it for
bezels for years and received a commission to make a wedding ring in
22 K earlier this year. The client had strong ideas about what she
wanted. In some ways, as an artistthis makes life easier. I am not
good at drawing, I never have been. I used to think this was a
failing but I have come to accept that I think in three D and that is
good for a metalsmith. When a client wants a specific design I am not
comfortable without first making a model to show them. I got this
idea from the Orchid forum. I read a post from a goldsmith in
England, and I am sorry I have forgotten his name, who always made
silver models prior to crafting in gold. He kept all his models and
so he had a metal representation of all his work. What a wonderful
resource he had made for himself. My client wanted a pink sapphire
so I contacted Tim Roarke in Atlanta and got him to send me some
stones to choose from. The center stone was the key to this project,
the rest of the ring’s size depended on the center stone. I made the
whole ring in sterling to show the client. Once she approved I went
to work in gold. Making the model in sterling also taught me what
engineering was going to be necessary…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/26/

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Happy Holidays
John Rasmussen

As we celebrate the various Holidays in the next several weeks,
please remember those who are serving so you can be safe and healthy
during those times and can not be with their families…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/26/

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Earrings
Jmwjewelry

Well, I finally got some pictures of my earrings that weren’t
terrible. I’m still working on great, but these will do for now.
I’ve started listing them in my stores, but here is a sneak preview
of them all…

View article…
http://jmwjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/25/

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Opal Auctions - Have a look!
Mikelley

Hello there friends,Today’s post is about opal auctions. I’ve been
posting opals for sale on an excellent site, www.opalauctions.com for
a couple of months now…

View article…
http://mikelley.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/26/

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Call for Entries: Toy Show
Allthingsmetalclay

The “36th Annual Toys Designed by Artists” Exhibition Arkansas Art
Center, Little Rock, AR Juror: Suzanne Ramljak, editor Metalsmith
magazine Purchase Awards totaling $2,500…

View article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/26/

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$5,000 an ounce gold
Kevin Potter

I was listening to the news the other day and this economist said
and I quote “Gold will match parity with the Dow.” Holy crap that
will be bad. That will bring a whole new meaning to bad. They said
that the Dow could drop to 5,000 and gold would rise to 5,000. At
first I thought, “No way.” Then I looked at the chalk board in the
shop where my friend and I have been betting on the economy and I
thought oh yuck we will be eating government cheese! We have been
betting on the Dow and the price of gold for over a year and we
track the progress on the chalkboard. I bet a pizza that the Dow
would go below 10,000 and that gold would break 800 and the Fed
would drop the interest rate to 1%. I also bet that fuel would go
over 4 bucks. I never thought it would drop below $2 again, ever…

View article…
http://kevinpotter.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/26/

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Jewelry Tourism: The Nature of Diamonds
Allthingsmetalclay

You can see the show, “The Nature of Diamonds,” at the Royal Ontario
Museum, Garfield Weston Exhibition Hall until March 22, 2009. Not in
Ontario? These museums helped put the show together, so you might be
able to see it if it travels to one of those towns next

View article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/27/

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Thanksgiving Day Jewelry Making
John Rasmussen

Saturday will be another edition of the Clemson v. Carolina rivalry.
Clemson is just down the road a little piece so we tend to root for
them. My daughter did all the cooking for us today, so I got to spend
the day making jewelry. I tried my hand at hammering and making all
the parts for a copper and unakite bracelet. I also did up a
Moonstone cabochon, which also turned out pretty well…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/28/

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Small Dog on a Pillow
Shelbyvision

Here’s another dog, different from the other one I posted (a huge
great Dane). This one is a little dachshund. The base is about 7-1/2
in. square, and total height is about 4-1/2 in. I just shipped it on
Wednesday…

View article…
http://shelbyvision.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/28/

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Ring in 18K Gold and Bisbee Turquoise
Sam Patania

It is such a beautiful day out, it is the day after Thanksgiving 2008
and I am in my studio. Taj Mahal is playing blues on my IPod, it’s
sunny and cool out. Most of the nation is in winter weather but in
SoAz it is gorgeous. This is what we suffer through summer for. I
have Christmas orders and some new clients who are interested in my
work. The economic times are strange but, I have work for now. I
don’t want to get too far in front of myself and start worrying. All
I can do is work so that is what I plan to do no matter what happens
in the future. I have too many designs I want to do, I bought some
silver sheet two days ago to make some new bracelets. I need to get
some of these orders farther along before I start to make the new
bracelets though, I love this work…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/28/

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How To Reach a Jewelry Related Social Community
Virginia

The most trusted way for Jewelers, Artists, Craftsmen & Metalsmiths
to discover state-of-the-art products and services has fundamentally
changed. Word-of-mouth has become a Metalsmith’s most efficient way
of learning about new products and services. (Personally, I am much
more likely to try a new product or service if it is recommended by
a fellow Artist than by reading marketing-hype in a product
brochure. I avoid months of trial & error by following the advice of
my more experienced peers.) Recent studies have shown that sales
resulting from direct Social Networking, have increased 37% in the
last 6 months…

View article…
http://virginia.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/29/

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Learning to Use a Wood Stove
Liana

My house came with a cute little wood burning stove, called an Earth
Stove. Being the middle of summer I didn’t give it much thought.
Coming from Florida, all I know about is air conditioning. But
burning wood for heat? That means buying firewood, getting it home,
cutting it up, and then stacking it. It means sweeping and cleaning
ashes, and the figuring out what to do with the ashes. I needed to
collect newspaper and kindling, and learn how to light a fire. Oh
yes, and then there is the essential sweeping of the chimney…

View article…
http://nsjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/29/

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Bracelet in Sterling and Bisbee Turquoise
Sam Patania

This was the first fish bracelet I made. Inspired by my dad’s and
grandfather’s fish designs I wanted to make one with Bisbee
turquoise all over it. I made the fish outline with square wire and
then put as much turquoise as I could bezel set into the center.
This was difficult as the stones I was using were large and have to
span the radius of the outside of the bracelet. I textured the
background with a lined engraver. The dark back ground set the
turquoise off just as I wanted it to. I finished off the fish with a
sapphire eye…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/29/

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On the Bench.
Margarita

Hoping to get lots done for First Friday! This may be the most
colorful my bench has ever been:)…

View article…
http://pixieprincess.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/30/

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What’s New
Tschetterstudio

Great News! I’m participating in the CraftForms2008 at the Wayne Art
Center in Wayne, PA. Michael Monroe, the juror chose Thank You, Alan
Revere, a very contemporary piece that incorporates Ancient gold
granulation. This is the second exhibition that Monroe has chosen my
work. What an honor! The exhibition starts Dec. 5th and runs through
January…

View article…
http://tschetterstudio.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/30/

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Jewelry Tourism: Lillstreet Art Center Holiday Show
Allthingsmetalclay

You may know Chicago’s Lillstreet Art Center for its fabulous
classes in metalsmithing and more, but they also feature artist’s
studios on the upper floors. If you’ve taken the Handmade Pledge
this year, knock out a bunch of shopping in one stop at Lillstreet.
Start with the Gallery on the first floor, then visit the 50 artist
studios on the upper floors…

View article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/30/

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Blue Agate Ear Rings
John Rasmussen

Well another Saturday, and a dreary rainy day (outside). Football on
the television, and stones to be cut; jewelry to be made. The world
is just great when you can do multiple things that you enjoy at the
same time. So I took a small slab of blue agate and cut two
hexagonal stones from it. They were about 40 carats each. Then I
took 20 gauge square half hard Sterling Silver and fashioned a six
prong setting, using the top prong to make the bail for the ear wire
attachment. Turned out pretty good…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/29/

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Techno peasant and the dead horse
Kevin Potter

Every now and then I like to drag out the proverbial dead horse and
beat the crap out of it, and tonight is the night. My wife calls me
a techno peasant, my friends call me a luddite, and me, I just think
I am "keepin’ it real. " I am sure that there are a ton of people
out there using CAD, CNC and rapid prototyping to make their
jewelery. Notice I didn’t say jewelers or goldsmiths…

View article…
http://kevinpotter.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/29/

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Turkey wings and snowy things
Jenibuckingham

The turkey this week was plump, and now that I’ve eaten it and
consumed its powers, I’m afraid I look more like it than me today. I
think the turkey had this all planned from the beginning, plotting
his phoenix-like return through my transfiguration! If only I could
grow wings…

View article…
http://jenibuckingham.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/30/

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Another great afternoon in the shop!
John Rasmussen

Well, I spent this afternoon making jewelry, and watching football.
Unfortunately the Packers lost again. The saving grace was making
jewelry at the same time. I can sort of tune the game out while I
working on the jewelry and then every now and then look up to see
what the score is. People would think that I love football,
actually, the Ice Hockey season is just starting. However, ganoksin
is about jewelry, so I try to make some of my blog engage in that
pursuit. I experimented again in several methods…

View article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/11/30/

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Great show except for 1 little thing
Bev Ludlow

I finally had another good show! The Crocker Art Museum Christmas
Craft show in Sacramento was fabulous for us: terrific turn out,
well run, easy setup and tear-down, and very nice and helpful
volunteers. We were a bit dismayed when we arrived to find that our
expected 10x10 was actually 8x10, but after a bit of creative
thinking, and with the help of some of the other crafters, one of
whom loaned me a couple of lights that would work without my
overhead canopy poles, we got everything worked out…

View article…
http://bhlwebdesign.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/01/

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Rings in Gold
Sam Patania

Some of my work is influenced by ancient metal work I see in books
or museums. A few years ago my kids and I went to LACOMA to see the
Egyptian exhibit, it was the second Tut exhibit. I saw the first one
too in San Francisco which I toured think the US in the 1970’s. I
try to look at all the metal work I can find, in books, magazines,
museums, online and for sale in galleries. I am always looking for
jewelry or metal sculpture…

View article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/02/

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Larimar and Black Coral
Hans Meevis

A couple of days ago, I got an order for six pairs of silver dangle
larimar earrings. That fired me up to cut some cab’s for stock as
well. I had no cabs in stock and I had been meaning to get around to
cutting some for some time. They all came out good. Cutting larimar
is sometimes dicey. Often, the grain will just flake off especially
if I cut the flat side. The center one is 40mm x 30mm, and it weighs
in at 70 carats. It is the very best quality I have cut in
larimar…

View article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/02/

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1st Post and Catching Up
Michael Johnson

I have been a lurker here on Ganoksin for several years, and lately
I have been enjoying reading your blogs. I have other blogs that I
keep up with at MySpace and Deviant Arts. But, I am looking forward
to sharing my more technical explorations in metal and stones here
on this blog. I am not a traditional bench jeweler by any means. I am
trained as an artist, and I am a high school graphic design and
photography teacher. But, almost every free moment outside of the
classroom, I am at the bench. I refuse repair work, and my work is
only found in galleries; this frees me up to concentrate on just
making what I want to make…

View article…
http://cosmicfolklore.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/01/

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The horse is dead
Kevin Potter

I think you guys are right about my latest rant it was awfuly small
minded I thought that I was being sorta hypocritcal as I was writing
that stuff on a computer sometimes I just like to throw some ideas
out their and see what others think. These machines are not going
away and they will only improve so I guess I had better get outa the
way or jump on oh waite it has run me over and left me in the dust
to languish in blissfull ignorance…

View article…
http://kevinpotter.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/02/

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I could be a dentist
Kevin Potter

Dentists use small fussy tools and so do jewelers. Dentists work
with gold and so do jewelers. Dentists wear see-biggers (magnifiers)
that is what my son used to call them when he was little. Heck, I
can work on teeth. I have teeth so I am qualified. That is what went
through my mind after walking into the shop and seeing the boss with
a mirror and a pair of vise grips. A little background is in order.
I work a couple days a week in a machine shop and the owner is nuts.
I mean this in the most literal sense. He is the ultimate
do-it-yourselfer. Aside from that he is cheap- real cheap and
prefers physical pain to financial pain. What do you do when you
crack a tooth? I go to the dentist. The manly men pull it
themselves…

View article…
http://kevinpotter.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/02/

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Yo bro, I need a Grill
Kevin Potter

A few years ago this fella rolls into the jewelry store with his
posse and tells me he needs a grill. He wants it to shine and its
gotta have the bling - its gotta “pop” he says. I unfortunately have
made these things and the store owner knows it, so there is no
gettin’ outta this. I luck out because the guy already has the
plaster mold of his teeth, all I have to do is make the wax. I tell
the boss this is a bad idea and that we don’t want to become the
go-to grill guys. So I make this silly thing and the guy shows up.
This is where it gets real ugly-this is where you are glad you
didn’t go to dental school. The thing has got to fit over his front
teeth and snap in place, so that involves lots of test fits and lots
of drool. Yep, all over the showcases and all over me. Man this is
totally not worth it. I take that stupid thing outta his mouth at
least a dozen times before we get it to fit. The boss is watching in
horror, as are a bunch of customers. I am lovin’ it because I know
that this is the last time I ever have to do this…

View article…
http://kevinpotter.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/02/

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Lily Cross in Hammer Formed Brass
Shelbyvision

This is the third one of these I’ve made, and I Think it turned out
better than the previous one, which I have pictured on my website.
All of them so far have been made as gifts for very special people.
I tried to make the design such that it can be aesthetically
pleasing whether it is being viewed as a religious symbol or having
no symbolism at all. Made from three pieces of 16 gauge brass sheet
formed into tubes and then twisted together. It is made to hang on a
wall. Dimensions: about 9" x 13"…

View article…
http://shelbyvision.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/03/

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Yet More Experiments in Electrolytic Etching
Beth Wicker

I have continued to experiment with electrolytic etching, and have
found that I can use the same salt bath for up to two pieces with no
degradation in etching. The third and fourth in the same batch begin
to have issues, and I have to remove the - plate and scrub it with a
brass brush after the second etching, as it becomes caked with the
extra copper…

View article…
http://bethwicker.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/03/

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New Niobium Pendant
Hans Meevis

This is a niobium and 18kt gold pendant set with some small diamonds
that I have just finished. I blogged about how this CZ was made here
This is the nicest laminated CZ I have made, and I figured it had to
have some high tech-ish surround. Niobium works a lot like titanium
in terms of finishing off. But its much softer and it’s also got
that irritating schlep of being unforgiving when it comes to
finishing. “Verily, I shall not forgive the scratches thee has left.”
Polishing is from 220 to 600 to 1500 to polish to rougC3(c) Niobium
is nice. I wanted to make the colour more apple green, but it
started to look garish, so I settled on teal and a bit of green…

View article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2008/12/03/

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Cathedral Ring in Sterling
Sam Patania

I had lots of fun setting up this photo. I can’t remember who the
hand model was but I borrowed a martini glass and shot this in front
of a photograph taken from a magazine. The Cathedral Ring pictured is
a ring designed by my father in the 1960’s which I have included in
my Patania Collection. The Patania Collection is a collection of
classic designs taken from the three generations of Patania’s work.
These are repeatable pieces which I inventory in a variety of
materials. This allows me to provide my family’s designs in an
affordable collection. I have many pieces in the Patania Collection
which I will post about over the next few weeks. I decided to put
this collection together to keep popular designs available. I have a
rich source of designs to pick from some of which have been made
since the 1940’s. My challenge was to make them affordable in
today’s market. Most of my family’s designs are fabricated pieces
which means they are entirely handmade. This was the way my
grandfather worked his entire career. My father ran a workshop for
much of his career and I even got a chance to do so early on. A
workshop full of artisans is an expensive proposition these days
which is why most handmade work on the market today is done over
seas…

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