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Post by hummingbirdstones on Oct 25, 2023 21:14:12 GMT -5
Tela that is a perfect pumpkin! I love it. I gotta ask though -- how the hell do you wrap with those nails?  I've always had long nails, so I'm used to it.  I have long nails too (not as long as yours, though) and they get in my way if I'm wrapping -- especially if I'm weaving. I end up filing them down a bit. BTW jasoninsd - I hunt and peck while texting too. My thumbs won't work the way you "young kids nowadays" do it.  |
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Oct 27, 2023 11:33:30 GMT -5
I'm glad this is a challenge and not a competition, as I have no illusions who would be holding up the caboose here! Love the submissions rockbrain - that's beautiful work. I love the texture of yours rockjunquie , how did you do it? I'd like to think I came up with this idea on my own to do the coffin once I saw the colors of the obsidian I was working with. But I think the more likely story is that I scrolled past this Oxana Crafts tutorial on YouTube while browsing MichiganRocks videos, and it subconsciously registered. I did later find the video though, and thought I could jump in the monthly wire wrapping challenges with a blatant ripoff of this tutorial. I had to rely on some borrowed half-round from a super nice lady at the Rochester Lapidary Society workshop, and it was already cut into lengths insufficient to do Oxana's design. While I copied her for the first half, I didn't have enough length to do it all. The half-round wrap on the bail is done in 2 pre-cut lengths. That became unfortunately apparent when curving the bail as you can see some separation there. And as you may be able to tell, I cut my square wires way too short to do anything creative. I have yet to condition my tools, and I'm also probably being a bit of an uncoordinated brute, so some of the wires are a bit marred. Brittany and I have company coming tonight from out of town, and one of them loves Halloween and used to wrap herself, hence the time constraint I spoke of in the cab contest thread. I hope to post better versions done with a more relaxed pace some point down the road, but for now, here's my submission!   |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 27, 2023 11:37:48 GMT -5
I'm glad this is a challenge and not a competition, as I have no illusions who would be holding up the caboose here! Love the submissions rockbrain - that's beautiful work. I love the texture of yours rockjunquie , how did you do it? I'd like to think I came up with this idea on my own to do the coffin once I saw the colors of the obsidian I was working with. But I think the more likely story is that I scrolled past this Oxana Crafts tutorial on YouTube while browsing MichiganRocks videos, and it subconsciously registered. I did later find the video though, and thought I could jump in the monthly wire wrapping challenges with a blatant ripoff of this tutorial. I had to rely on some borrowed half-round from a super nice lady at the Rochester Lapidary Society workshop, and it was already cut into lengths insufficient to do Oxana's design. While I copied her for the first half, I didn't have enough length to do it all. The half-round wrap on the bail is done in 2 pre-cut lengths. That became unfortunately apparent when curving the bail as you can see some separation there. And as you may be able to tell, I cut my square wires way too short to do anything creative. I have yet to condition my tools, and I'm also probably being a bit of an uncoordinated brute, so some of the wires are a bit marred. Brittany and I have company coming tonight from out of town, and one of them loves Halloween and used to wrap herself, hence the time constraint I spoke of in the cab contest thread. I hope to post better versions done with a more relaxed pace some point down the road, but for now, here's my submission!   OH NO! I can't see your images.  |
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Oct 27, 2023 12:27:44 GMT -5
Ah shoot, I thought I could get away with HEIC formatted images. I just converted them to a more compatible format. Thanks for the feedback!
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Post by liveoak on Oct 27, 2023 12:38:36 GMT -5
Most excellent iamchris , right in the theme. Pretty darn good for your first cab & first wrap - you jumped right in & swam
Patty
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Oct 27, 2023 13:07:44 GMT -5
Thank you! It looks mostly good in person with the exception of some roughness on the side of the back bevel and some haziness on the front face, depending on how it catches the light. I started off great in initial grind getting all the facet vertexes to line up at edges properly, but must have completely lost it and forgotten about it in later stages while touching things up. The photos I took outdoors for the wrap are much more flattering than the ones I took indoors last night. Taken dead-on center with a flash, it's quite clear I still have plenty of learning to do! But at least I'm having a ton of fun in the process. |
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Post by liveoak on Oct 27, 2023 13:32:53 GMT -5
Heck iamchris , you have to start somewhere- and it's pretty good for a first go.
One thing that helped me with cabbing is a magnifier. At my cabber, in my shop, I like a lighted one- but if you're at a club you HAVE to at least get an optivisor
You can spend a lot of $ on a really good one- but there are cheap ones on Amazon that aren't bad,( I have a couple of them) just make sure the lens are glass. Here's an example of one- AmazonYou'll wonder how you did without it
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 27, 2023 13:59:41 GMT -5
Wow!!! I am so impressed! First cab, first wrap, first challenge. You go! I think it looks really good, too, esp for the first. Look out, here comes Chris!!!! |
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rockbrain
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Post by rockbrain on Oct 27, 2023 15:54:55 GMT -5
iamchris I think the cab and the wrap both look great! Even better that it's your first! I wouldn't worry too much about the Oxana influence going on, I'm trying to shake off a lot of that myself. Plus, I think you develop your own style by copying a bunch of little things from others. There's probably not much left that hasn't already been done. Conditioning the tools helps a lot. That and a lot of practice. I don't have to deal with tool marks much anymore and you don't get much heavier handed than me.
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wargrafix
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Member since June 2023
Posts: 1,089
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Post by wargrafix on Oct 27, 2023 17:30:57 GMT -5
These are some fantastic pieces. The tombstone is very creative.
The pumpkin is a work of pur art. Well done.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 27, 2023 17:50:48 GMT -5
I love the texture of yours rockjunquie , how did you do it? Did you mean the stone? It came out of the ocean like that. It's tumbled by the waves. Cool, huh. amygdule sent it to me. |
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iamchris
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 722
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Post by iamchris on Oct 27, 2023 19:59:16 GMT -5
I love the texture of yours rockjunquie , how did you do it? Did you mean the stone? It came out of the ocean like that. It's tumbled by the waves. Cool, huh. amygdule sent it to me. D'oh! I thought it was cabbed and then texture was added after with a Dremel or something. Thanks everyone for the kind words! Can't wait for the next challenge. Definitely going to get an optivisor, and I'm never going to hear the end of this at home! 😆 But I'm going to love it. |
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 28, 2023 3:25:38 GMT -5
iamchris , all I can say is wow! (At least to start out) And you didn't have an optivisor? And you didn't have the right wire? And the cab and wrap are your first? What you accomplished is downright amazing. Somehow I think we're going to keep seeing extraordinary work from you.
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wargrafix
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Member since June 2023
Posts: 1,089
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Post by wargrafix on Oct 28, 2023 6:19:02 GMT -5
I love the texture of yours rockjunquie , how did you do it? Did you mean the stone? It came out of the ocean like that. It's tumbled by the waves. Cool, huh. amygdule sent it to me. proof that nature is the ultimate artist! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 28, 2023 7:13:50 GMT -5
iamchris - Fantastic first attempt! I am super impressed! I know you took off of a tutorial...and as others have stated, there's nothing wrong with that. When I first started, I followed tutorials...and feel like most of my wraps are basic variations of the same thing. Tela is one of the most creative people I've seen with her wrapping. I always hope when I grow up I can be creative too. However, I doubt the first part of that sentence will ever come to fruition...so likely neither will the latter! LOL
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 28, 2023 7:20:24 GMT -5
iamchris - Fantastic first attempt! I am super impressed! I know you took off of a tutorial...and as others have stated, there's nothing wrong with that. When I first started, I followed tutorials...and feel like most of my wraps are basic variations of the same thing. Tela is one of the most creative people I've seen with her wrapping. I always hope when I grow up I can be creative too. However, I doubt the first part of that sentence will ever come to fruition...so likely neither will the latter! LOL I have faith that you will surpass me. Remember... I've been at it for a LOOOONG time. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 28, 2023 7:29:00 GMT -5
iamchris - Fantastic first attempt! I am super impressed! I know you took off of a tutorial...and as others have stated, there's nothing wrong with that. When I first started, I followed tutorials...and feel like most of my wraps are basic variations of the same thing. Tela is one of the most creative people I've seen with her wrapping. I always hope when I grow up I can be creative too. However, I doubt the first part of that sentence will ever come to fruition...so likely neither will the latter! LOL I have faith that you will surpass me. Remember... I've been at it for a LOOOONG time. In the wise words of that 80s sage George Michael...you gotta have faith! LOL *Bet you're singing it right now! LOL |
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 28, 2023 7:33:42 GMT -5
Since the subject of tutorials has come up, I thought I'd throw in my 2 cents as someone who used to write them.
I don't see anything wrong with using tutorials. They are a great way to pick up new skills. But, they should be used as a jumping off point. Once you get some skills down, you should push yourself to come up with your own uses for those new skill sets.
Also---- ALWAYS, always, always give credit to the artist/tutorial. It takes a long time to develop a new design and make a tutorial. Even if you are just inspired by another artist, it is polite to state that.
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Post by rockjunquie on Oct 28, 2023 7:35:06 GMT -5
I have faith that you will surpass me. Remember... I've been at it for a LOOOONG time. In the wise words of that 80s sage George Michael...you gotta have faith! LOL *Bet you're singing it right now! LOL I am! You bastard! Now I have to play it to get it out of my head. LOL!!!
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 28, 2023 7:48:57 GMT -5
In the wise words of that 80s sage George Michael...you gotta have faith! LOL *Bet you're singing it right now! LOL I am! You bastard! Now I have to play it to get it out of my head. LOL!!!
As long as we're revisiting the 80s this morning! LOL  |
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