What will happen to your stuff when you're gone?

Jewelry Discussion
21

Terrie, Allan, and Marly,

Take your metals to a company that will pay you for bullion. The
price of gold is now at 970 or more and this is much better for you,
not the rip off people.

I took some of my gold to a local shop that buys gold, silver and
coins and was paid retail for my scrap. I am taking some more
tomorrow, most of it 14kt, and some 10kt, which I will use to buy
more equipment. Being able to watch the “clerks” test and weigh my
scrap is a plus, because you know then that you aren’t being stolen
from.

Donate all your magazines, books, etc, to your local rock, mineral
clubs or junior colleges that have students who are learning lapidary
and jewelry arts classes. When I was learning to create, I was able
to
buy stones at below normal costs, thanks to someone who sold their
collection of stones to the club for use of the students.

I am lucky that I have a Granddaughter, who decided that this
Grandma, knew how to create gifts and items for sale, so she is
currently learning how to create costume jewelry, but will go onto
creating with silver and gold. I also have a Sister and Daughter, who
is into creating jewelry, so they will all get my tools and supplies
should I die, before I am 125. LOL.

If it wasn’t for my Mentor hiring me as an Silversmith Apprentice
and the lapidary and jewelry arts classes at Modesto Jr. College,
which I attended for 6 years, I wouldn’t have been able to obtain the
I needed to cast, forge, cut and polish rocks to create
my jewelry or be able to repair costume jewelry. And of course, the
years I spent as an assembler of electronic parts, including
fabrication of circuit and multi-layer boards, inspection of such and
then teaching the basics of soldering, crimping and wire wrap to
students who wanted to work for Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.

When I was taking classes at Modesto Jr. College, I borrowed old
copies of Lapidary Journal and Rock and Gem, and read all the
articles, made notes and then scanned the articles I wanted to use
for reference, then returned the magazines so other students could
use them too. I suggest, that you scan the articles in your magazines
that you want to keep and then donate the magazines to your local
clubs. You could suggest to your family to donate your tools or sell
them to the local clubs for the up and coming new students who won’t
have tools yet.

Marly, Terrie and Allan, I would love to see pictures of your
beautiful jewelry creations and also your costume jewelry.

I hope my suggestions helps,
Veva Bailey

22

Our dear John,

You are in my thoughts & prayers. You have always been such a
terrific contributor to this wonderful forum!

My heart is heavy thinking about your wife, Jean, eventhough I don’t
know her. Alzheimer’s disease takes so much away from the individual
and I know you must have really struggled with the decisions you’ve
had to make.

There comes a point when the “stuff” isn’t so important and the
people, much more so.

Please continue to write to all of us any time, about any thing. I,
for one, never delete your entries before I read them. You have a
wealth of knowledge and have always shared what you know so
willingly. You are a very generous man, and selfishly, I don’t want
you to go anywhere. Please?

Sincerely,
Kay Taylor

23 
My idea was to rent the fully equipped space to a deserving artist
for a very fair price, including utilities. The candidate would be
selected from applicants by 3 of my trusted colleagues and friends
who would also act as a "board", checking on the studio, etc.

Sounds like you want to start a foundation for an artist retreat
center. Have a real board. So start now, found your not for profit
organization or foundation, fundraise for it to fund the residencies
(if you want funded residencies) and you’re all set!

Elaine
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com

24

Good to hear from you John. It sounds like things are going as well
as can be expected.

You have our sympathy as many of us are dealing with similar
situations. All the best.

KPK

25 
I decided I couldn't leave with a word of explanation.

Hi, John, it is good to hear from you. I’ve been wondering how you’re
doing. I’m so sorry to hear Jean has declined so far, though it’s
good she still can be happy to see you. Your situation sounds like a
good solution for a sad and difficult set of decisions. I do have the
impression of you as one who takes an active response to the world
and makes things work with what you have at hand. Best of luck in
your new(ish) home!

Noel

26

i dreamed about this question last night. i took it with me: the
casket was filled with things i loved. what i remember was tubes of
bright colored paint filling the space.

don’t forget your books. i have many beautiful books on the arts,
and so the question came to me many years ago when i first prepared
a will. both tools and books are taken care of in bequests to my
alma mater and a local cultural arts society.

the university would like a list of my books. i can’t imagine
preparing one. i’d like a laser scanner and an isbn database that i
could use with a laptop. nah, i still can’t imagine actually doing
it…

jean adkins

27 
The inventory must include the purchase price, present value, and
replacement cost. For things we make ourselves I list the cost of
materials...unfortunately time is irrelevant for tax purposes but
can be included under replacement cost if you have to buy a
similar item.

Sadly, a few years ago, I helped my son deal with his Dad’s “estate”
in Nashville. It consisted of a dental lab and a home full of tools,
leftovers from an old jewelry school, music equipment and dreams. It
was painful and I don’t want my son to have to face this again.

I started collecting tools, stones, metal and beads in 1969 and for
the next 11 years, my studio grew. I loved tools and found some
wonderful ones in unlikely places. Then, for 10 years, after moving
to a house with no room for a studio, I packed everything away,
spending my time learning how to be a mother, a gardener, a
breadwinner. Only after a workshop with Ron Ho, here in Seattle, did
I get seduced into making jewelry again. This time with a different
focus because I no longer had to make wholesale jewelry and do
repairs to supplement a meager income. I could actually take the
time to learn new techniques, meet other jewelers, become involved
with our wonderful Seattle Metals Guild - and, of course, continue
building my collection of tools and equipment. Now, after (good
grief) 40 years, I look around at my accumulation and wonder what
happens next.

An inventory of the large, and many of the hand tools, would be
easy, but I have no idea what most stones I purchased 30 years ago
cost then, or are worth now. What about the tools my now-deceased
friend Dieter Nowak meticulously crafted? Who will love them as I do?
It will be a challenge. This thread has given me a lot of ideas. Most
of all, it is to have a plan which takes into account the possibility
that I may not have the time to dispose of everything myself in some
ordered manner.

Pam Lund

28 
having been diagnosed as an Alzheimer sufferer, became more and
more difficult for me to manage on my own

Sorry John - my father’s in the same boat, I’m afraid. On topic,
though, the word is “stuff”. We’re in a mercantile situation here,
and we’re also pretty high-profile in our area and arena. That helps
more than some folks, I suppose - we’ve had 50 opportunities to
either buy shops dirt cheap, or just haul stuff away for free.
People who died, people who moved, people who just quit… One
old-timer who was a good friend took all his metals, diamonds and
really high-value stuff and asked me to move out his shop for the
contents. I kept a few things, donated the office things, and gave
away the rest to needie jewelry people. Unless you’re a newbie who
just went out and bought everything new, think about
depreciation… We have about 15 things that are really of value -
a classic Mettler diamond scale, machine shop, rolling mill,
casting. Otherwise it’s 100’s of $5 to $150 items that have done
their duty over the years. I’m not going to need them anymore… Let
somebody else use them. Some of our prized possessions are the
things we’ve acquired that have their history and sentiment attached
to them… Somebody else can get the same from my stuff, too. You can
get twenty bucks for your old, decrepit flex shaft, or you can see
some student or apprentice light up when you tell them it’s
theirs…

29 
or you can see some student or apprentice light up when you tell
them it's theirs.....

I totally concur with this statement… While, knock on wood, I am a
long ways off from having do deal with this situation. I have been
the
recipient of a deceased professor, a jeweler who is no longer able
to practice her craft, and a teacher who saw that I could really use
a
specific tool.

I am completely in debt to these individuals for their kindness and
it is noted each time I pick up or mend each tool.

I also am well aware of high school and college labs where tools are
used and abused… They could all use extra of everything… I hope to
one day repay my alma matters with the same kindness they have shown
me.

Christine

30

dang, i had no idea so many of us are having to deal with this. i
have been a cancer patient for the past 10 years, thrilled i got
kicked out of hospice cause i wasn’t dying fast enough (thanks
kaiser) but other stuff keep happening, and last e-coli infection
brought other things up, like severe aortic stenosis. can’t operate
cause the cancer is in the lungs. so,it has it’s bright side… no
more mamagrams…they won;t do anything if they find something, so
why do it. i don’t want to know about it, so forget about it. it’s
day by day, and each day is great.

but…the beads,faceted stones and cabs i have collected over the
past 25 years, is amazing. husband grins and says he likes what i
make, not interested in learning how to crochet, or do wire wrap.
daughter 30, with a daughter 6 have an interest, but i’m afraid they
more see the resale value of the stones and beads, boy i hate writing
that, than actual use. she does macrame with linen cord, has not
really done too much wire. i have approached her with wanting to show
her different things, but something comes up.

i know i have to do an inventory. i do, i know i really do. i’m
working with the Zebra House, a non profit attached to my kind of
cancer, Carcinoid, and have been making jewelry for a fund raiser
last week in september. Carcinoid is really rare, like one in a
million and of that one, 3percent in the lungs i’m so darn special.
lucky it is slow. doctors and patients are coming in from all over to
LSU in new orleans for the 3 day session, last nite is classy dinner
and silent auction. friends have been donating beads, and finished
jewelry (very kind strangers too) so i have focus right now. since
i’m in bed 95percent of the time now, it helps to have focus. course
i’m right under the big screen tv, i have my ways of getting
attention here! (having the remote helps)

i ramble, sorry. i guess my first course of action is to wrangle
daughter into actual showing her how to do something. if i truly see
she isn’t interested, then checking with relatives first, then
spreading out to friends. there has always been interest in my
stuff,. i have taught a few classes.

and john b. please don’t leave orchid…you were my first friend
here and have always helped when i needed it. stick around
please…i’m praying for both of you

pat

31

Sadly, over the years I have purchased tools that were left behind.
A few months or years in a damp basement undos years of care. Some
were poorly stored, but with some TLC are still seeing use. I have
gravers, a vintage Leveridge gauge, various punches and stamps,
usually the files are beyond recovery.

Rick Hamilton

32

Nearing my 90th birthday, I’m thinking of ways to clear out all the
stuff. Sold my faceting machine and most of the big equipment but
still have a 24 inch slab saw and hundreds of cabs and facetted
stones. Bought an Ameritool unit so I still cut a few cabs. Any
great ideas

Irv B.

33

Rick:

Don’t give up on the files just yet. Never underestimate the power
of pickle. Normal jeweler’s pickle (in the states) is Sparex #2. Ever
wonder what Sparex #1 is? Steel pickle.

I picked up a lunchpail sized lump of ‘new’ files all rusted
together, bright orange, intending to use them as rough steel stock
for bladesmithing. They were new, but the supplier had both a bad
roof and indifferent management, so nobody noticed they were getting
dripped on until the box fell apart. So I got a big batch of 14"
bastard files for $5.

Just for kicks, I threw them into a pail of Sparex #1, and let them
sit overnight. Came back the next morning, and there they weRe: dull
grey, and ready to go. The Sparex had dissolved off the rust, and
left nice sharp teeth behind. The teeth were a bit rough, these would
never be finishing files, but they worked just fine for years, and I
still have some of them in use. After that, I always make sure I have
some Sparex #1 around to attend to my scrounging finds. One never
knows…

Regards,
Brian.