Dear Friends, I start this with one quote from a post by Jim Small:
If folks want it to be a more vibrant part of lapidary, then they need to get on the stick, and submit timely articles about what they see/feel are the important aspects of lapidary.
I do agree, in part. Yet, being able to submit an article and
having the stuff like images to back up an article the publication
might accept are another thing. For most of us, this is beyond the
reach, being jewelers and stone workers more than writers and
photographers. The idea is a good one…if it can be done.
I have seen LJ change dramatically over the years. When I first
learned what leaverite was I was reading LJ and now that I know that
old joke, I still read LJ. The mag has changed and likely for
reasons of survival. Surviving on lapidary would be a terminal
survival, short lived I suspect.
Yes, the artsy approach to jewelry is there…with much of a sort
most will not do at all unless independently wealthy. For instance,
using hydraulic presses and such to form shapes in metal…stuff
like that is something I cannot envision since I do make a living in
this business, fulltime. Still… with publications, changing is
part of survival and the market is so much beads on a string, who
knowing when the cord will break and go another direction rather
than look for the beads off the cord.
God Bless.
Tom @Sp.T.