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The Incredible Shrinking Lapidary Journal

#1

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.

#2 
    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.

Now now…I do this full time…I am still not independently
wealthy, (single mom), but I do make a living in this business too.
My sole support. Both LJ, and their affiliate, Colored Stone Magazine
have very generously published my work several times. (CSM
March/April of this year. pg 6), as they have many others in Orchid.
No doubt you would… alas…label my work, “artsy”. Almost all one
of a kind.

My boyfriend, (a jeweler since the 70’s), uses a hydraulic press
everyday. He does all hand fabricated production, and if he’s rich,
he hasn’t let on yet. I’ll be having a little chat with him about
that soon…lol…

There are many different ways to make jewelry, and to make a living
at it. I don’t believe that there is only one, “right” way. Go
ahead…envis ion…Think outside of the box. You might find that
you like it.

Oh…Thanks to everyone who wrote to give me the name of a caster
for my friend. That was really nice of you guys…as usual. My pal
now says that he can’t wait to get a computer to connect to Orchid!

Lisa, (FInished the holiday gift shopping…now to ship the stuff.
AAAAKKK! Wonder what Santa’s gotten the chickens and the goats?)
Topanga, CA USA

#3 
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.

Tom,

There are a lot of jewelers and metalsmiths who are not
independently wealthy yet make their living (full time) by using–
even depending-- on tool such as the hydraulic press. A lot of
production, series and one of a kind jewelers have built their
livlihoods on such devices…

Andy Cooperman