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Post by kk on Jul 8, 2014 18:02:42 GMT -5
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Post by kk on Jul 8, 2014 17:54:53 GMT -5
Totally awesome work KK.....Thumbs up Awesome Material!Yes, absolutely. Work? Not so much, have done nothing but removed basic matrix thus far.
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Post by kk on Jul 8, 2014 10:16:44 GMT -5
Wow, what an amazing assortment of goodies. Some really special stuff in there. Thanks for showing.
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Post by kk on Jul 8, 2014 10:03:51 GMT -5
Got several:
KK: here as my name starts with "K's"
Asianfire: because I'm pretty much the only one cutting Fire Agates over here and that stone got me into the hobby.
BChallenge: I held a company selling vertical faceting machines for high grade material. The name at the time was Brilliant Challenge.
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Post by kk on Jul 8, 2014 7:54:37 GMT -5
Its has been a busy few weeks with nothing but routines to close out all the school-programs and getting summer-school set up, so nothing but tedious and boring stuff. But then, earlier this week I received a parcel from wonderful Anna O'Neill (I'm sure she is a member here somewhere ), and she managed to tear me away from everything, by sending me something that I was always skeptical about. Mind you I never really disliked opal. Its just one of the things (like white diamonds) for me, where I retreat as soon as I see them as they seem to be higher regarded for their monetary value than actual beauty. In the long run, this (plus their usual small size) turned me off and I stood/stay away from them out of a principle. Now Anna, has send me some sizable pieces that I can truly see myself working with, and while the big one is just blue with a little green/yellow color-play at angles; I simply cant get my eyes of it. Anywhere I stand in the room, even with just a glance, that thing jumps out at you with its seeming internal glow. Its simply mesmerizing. As are the other pieces she send. First up is a piece that has been preformed already, but now I need to step up to the plate and get the shape right and make it my smallest cab ever. The second to show here is coming in at an immense 49ct after basic cleaning. Now this one is definitively for carving, but as I have no clue as to how deep the blue color goes before the black reapers, I'm hesitant to consider carving it for the time being. The black seams do not really follow a pattern, is there a way to figure out how deep the blue goes? In terms of desirability: black does not seem to hinder incredible pricing on OA, but I assume that black is not that desirable? Last but not least is the star (to me) of the lot. After cleaning coming in at nearly 150ct, purely intended for carving. To me, this is a piece in its own league. With Fire Agate we always talk about that internal glow. The big piece here finally truly shows me what "internal glow" really is. And I'm not just talking about a glitter here or there. The whole thick part of it seems to bathed in neon-light under nearly any light-condition. One question in regards to this piece and material. The "dirty areas" on top do have colors from other angles. Is there a way to rub out the "dirt" yet keep the color? I have tried at other spots with 2000 paper, lost the color, yet the dirt seems to remain. Those areas seem to be included in quite a few cabs I saw at OA, but I would like to avoid them if carving this piece.
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Post by kk on Jun 30, 2014 18:49:33 GMT -5
One has to look fairly hard to see anything that still needs to be redone due to the overexposure of the picture itself, and only because you mention that something is amiss.
I like your design. Delicate, yet solid. Traditional flair, yet contemporary.
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Post by kk on Jun 29, 2014 21:31:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the video. Besides showing excellent craftsmanship its incredibly entertaining. We know of both Lin Chau Ming and his friend Li Huan Chu here in Hong Kong, but have never heard of the boy who should be up and coming if he does something that the Chinese can accept. I found the "Judge" extremely entertaining. His face said it all! Thats the only type of face we foreigners get, if we dont show money first. He certainly would not want to give a value on a renowned competition and likely wiggled his way out by suggesting having his son come into the fray. He will have paid the price for that since the video was shown in China. Thats simply not done; messing with another masters work. Unless you can improve it without question or doubt. The absence of closeups after the boy did his bit, and not showing any pieces of his with three colors, suggests that the film-crew was not too impressed. Personally, I adore all three men for their skills. Maybe the boy even more so, for his willingness to create contemporary and new designs, away from the traditional. But the fact remains in China as everywhere else in the world: the money is with wealthy collectors, who are older, and those are still looking for solely classic designs. One thing I hate to see shown in the video, but serves as a good reminder to all people buying Jade. The waxing; to give it the final polish. Waxing should come naturally through the oils of your skin while wearing, not like that on the quick. Its an open secret, and its easier to find waxes to buy in the shops here in Hong Kong than diamond-paste.
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Post by kk on Jun 29, 2014 20:42:11 GMT -5
You are on a roll. Any more coming?
Looks great, and I dare to say, you got a very nice concept going.
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Post by kk on Jun 28, 2014 9:14:23 GMT -5
Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials. Wishing you and your partner all the best for a long-lasting and most of all healthy union. Your pendants are stunning to say the least, and looking forward to see them in use. Freshwater pearls for yourself? Baroque I suppose! Can you already reveal the colour? Looking forward how that evolves.
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Post by kk on Jun 25, 2014 3:53:34 GMT -5
You are in japan this weekend? Just hop on over to Hong Kong for a beer.
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Post by kk on Jun 24, 2014 7:58:49 GMT -5
Wow, you certainly have some good stuff going. And then,..... you stop? ?
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Post by kk on Jun 21, 2014 7:57:05 GMT -5
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Post by kk on Jun 19, 2014 23:38:14 GMT -5
Have left the Guatemalan Jade behind for a while. Still don't know how to frame them. So now lets start with the intended project for the contest. If this does not work out, will still be able to return to the Guatemalan. This now, is Australian Cowell material, so its accepted as the current 3rd. category for Black Jade (Actinolite) As required in the rules, we are supposed to have a few pictures showing us actually working the piece. Here at my usual workstation, while getting the first head into preform. Not getting any younger, so glasses have become a permanent feature while cutting. . Quite like how this material cuts. Its much softer (it seems) as my previous attempts, and looks like to hold edges well. Here is slab, preform, and first preforms of the head. This material cuts very different from any other jade I have worked previously. Much more dust, soft and hard spots, in general much easier on the blades/burrs. I think somehow, its fibers must be finer than the Guatemalan or other material that I cut previously. Could be the Actinolite that people are talking about handling different from regular jade material. But then again, this is only the fifth try in any form of jade or nephrite and only the third material...... And that's where I'm today: Step 2. Deepening and placing of hands. This design will have only 3 hands. Two holding the pipe, and the third holding on to the frame. The reason for the third hand will only become apparent when everything is done and will be an important part of the overall story. There will be a few more pictures till the face and hands are done, but after that the project will fall silent. There seem to be about 40 contestants right now, yet only about 5 seem to chat at all. Everyone else is keeping everything a secret it seems. So when I start framing the girls, I shall do the same to keep some surprises up my sleeve. If someone is really interested in the process as it goes along, just tell me in a PM, and I will keep posting through the PM system to individuals.
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Post by kk on Jun 19, 2014 9:30:55 GMT -5
Looks great. Looking forward to the finishline. Thats a massive project, what tools do you use?
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Post by kk on Jun 15, 2014 17:08:02 GMT -5
Absolutely nice. Love innovative designs. The fish-hook does not get better and the wing is truly unique. Taking old styles and reinventing them is something that is getting harder to do these days. Yet you did it in style, and the results are fantastic.
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Post by kk on Jun 11, 2014 1:36:06 GMT -5
Don't know anything about plants, but the pandas live through the snow. So there must be bamboo that can withstand the temperatures.
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Post by kk on Jun 10, 2014 21:40:28 GMT -5
I think your bail just continues what can be seen in the stone. Everything first very well and I find the overall picture very pleasing.
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Post by kk on Jun 10, 2014 21:22:13 GMT -5
Wow. Congrats on the stand. Looks awesome. But..... Yes, that sphere certainly looks nothing short of amazing.
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Post by kk on Jun 10, 2014 7:57:10 GMT -5
Thank you so much everyone. Its been well received by the recipient. The next one is in the works, but will take a while till Jack gets more time away from his work around his family-farm. Jack usually works with antlers and really excels in his art. This was just one simple try to see how stone on horn would look like. The next one will require him to carve a horse head coming from behind my miner.
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Post by kk on Jun 10, 2014 7:12:48 GMT -5
Our guys here would yell at you via loudspeaker to cease and sit down before even landing, at night that would mean you got a heavy spotlight on you (had that happening on a night-walk with my dogs ) Our laws do not contain the need that an officer needs to give a reason but usually I suppose there is always the possibility to find out through a friendly conversation (even in China with military police who rarely understand a single word English). While I would/will absolutely condemn the guys in the video that Shotgunner posted, I see a no win situation for your case. If there are illegals or other criminal activities going on in that area and something happens to the folks taking the video: It the fault of the police for not doing enough. Making a simple stop and search: Its police harassment! So a no win situation. The thing that I do not understand though is as to why the officer did not insist to go to the car to actually see her ID.
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