Paintbrush Jasper-China
Bonnie mentioned that I have not blogged about “What’s on the Workbench ?” in some time. So this month let’s just have a look.
I usually consider my workbench as the place I make finished jewelry, but getting stones to the point they can be worthy takes time also. Many wire artists do not cut their own jewelry stones, but I think it’s important to control my jewelry from start to finish.
Where do I get all the beautiful stones I use in my jewelry? I get that question all the time. Over the many years I’ve been in the Lapidary business I’ve acquired many old collections from estates or old collections that were just wasting away in a basement, garage, or barn somewhere. Rocks are also bought at the rock and gem shows in Tucson, Quartzsite, or rock & mineral shops anywhere we travel.
Outside Mexican Crazy Lace Agate
Inside Mexican Crazy Lace Agate
Owyhee Jasper-Owyhee Mountains Oregon
Leland Blue Stone is actually slag glass form an old smelter in Leland, Michigan. It is a local favorite.
Deschutes Jasper. Oregon
I eventually make jewelry stones (cabochons) from the rough. I love that many times (actually most of the time) I just don’t know what’s inside a rock of interest. Let’s saw it and see the inside!
Biggs Jasper has great pictures. Notice the Dendrites?
What will this Larimar Rough look like when cut and polished? That’s the fun.
Anyone that works with rocks generally knows what kind of rock they have, but the surprise occurs when that rock is sliced. Sometimes that rock is a Heaverite (just heave-her right out on the scrap pile). Bonnie’s flower garden is sometimes the beneficiary of these rocks, other times they just pile up outside the barn waiting for some visiting kids to take them home. The times that really are exciting is when the rocks are much better inside than I ever could have imagined from the outside. On occasion a rock may be just exceptional. I love these. Snob Appeal Jewelry is well known for the rare, unusual, and exceptional. I love it when someone buys a truly amazing piece.
Distinctive Picture Jaspers amaze me. A recent Paint Brush Jasper had a really outstanding scene. Classic picture jaspers like the famous Oregon jaspers from Biggs Junction, Owyhee, and Deschutes are famous and popular.
Turquoise and Petoskey Stone. Bonnie has been busy too.
Many, many of the stones I cut can have unique pictures in them, so I’m showing you a few. . Dendrites in jaspers resemble trees, shrubs, and plants and make the scenes in these Jaspers very realistic.
A Dendrite is a crystal structure with a tree-like branching form, adding realistic-looking details to the picture jasper stone. These are not a fossils, as many believe. Manganese is a common mineral that crystalizes into dendrites in picture jaspers.
Many projects are in the works here at SAJ. I find myself with too many ideas for the time I have. If you watch cartoon movies, you’ll know what I mean when I say I see that little fish saying in my ear “Just keep cutting-just keep cutting”; so that is what I do. I’m busy, but enjoy it as long as I don’t have a deadline.
If you enjoy looking at my recent projects share your favorite on Facebook!.