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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 8, 2024 17:09:51 GMT -5
I'm still working on a project for the Feb challenge. I was sick as a dog for about 3 weeks, but I got some of it done before I left it off. It took forever to design it out. It's 2 parts. By the time I felt better and more motivated, I realized that it's just not coming together the way I hoped it would. Both parts have gone through the tumbler and they sit waiting for me to finish it. I'm just a few little things away from it being done, but I just can't find the enthusiasm to finish. I will finish it. If I wasn't so committed to it, I would scrap it. Bummer. You ever get stuck like that?
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titaniumkid
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2023
Posts: 512
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Post by titaniumkid on Mar 8, 2024 19:12:43 GMT -5
It would be cool if there was a sad button instead of a like. Yes! This is so frustrating and its hard to know if it's worth persevering (and hoping it turns out) or starting again. I haven't had this happen with rocks (because I tumble rather than do fancy projects), but I write and I currently have a novel two chapters away from being done and for various reasons I left it and moved on to something "shinier". Now I've come back to it because it's haunting me and I'm so unhappy with how it's turning out that I'm forcing myself to finish the bloody thing, knowing that I will probably rewrite it from the start in the future. It's such a slog to push something through to the end when it isn't right, but finishing can be more important than perfectionism. I hope your project delights and surprises you  |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 8, 2024 19:32:00 GMT -5
It would be cool if there was a sad button instead of a like. Yes! This is so frustrating and its hard to know if it's worth persevering (and hoping it turns out) or starting again. I haven't had this happen with rocks (because I tumble rather than do fancy projects), but I write and I currently have a novel two chapters away from being done and for various reasons I left it and moved on to something "shinier". Now I've come back to it because it's haunting me and I'm so unhappy with how it's turning out that I'm forcing myself to finish the bloody thing, knowing that I will probably rewrite it from the start in the future. It's such a slog to push something through to the end when it isn't right, but finishing can be more important than perfectionism. I hope your project delights and surprises you Thank you so much!!
I write, too. I'm stuck on one myself. It's a vanity thing for my progeny. My life story. I have 3 kids and 3 grandkids. I am a mother first and always. So, it's been really hard for me to decide how much of my kids should I put into the book. As a result, I'm stuck at the point where my son is born. I just can not figure what way to go with it. So, it sits, but I am determined to pick it up again.
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 624
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Post by ThomasT on Mar 8, 2024 20:41:44 GMT -5
You're probably doing good.
Finishing any work gives me a great sense of satisfaction even if it's not perfect... I learn from that one and then make a new plan.
One of my old buddy's always told me, 'Recognizing the problem is half the battle'.
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Post by liveoak on Mar 9, 2024 7:05:33 GMT -5
Move on to something else that feels inspiring & you have more enthusiasm for !
Maybe you'll get back to that one, or not.
Sometimes you just have to walk away from something.
If you force it, you likely won't be happy with the outcome.
Best to use your creative mind on something new ! 
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 9, 2024 8:17:27 GMT -5
Move on to something else that feels inspiring & you have more enthusiasm for !
Maybe you'll get back to that one, or not.
Sometimes you just have to walk away from something.
If you force it, you likely won't be happy with the outcome.
Best to use your creative mind on something new ! 
Patty
I'm as stubborn as I am creative. LOL! I'll get it done. Maybe I'll even end up liking it. If I hadn't put so much time into it, I might shelve it. |
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Post by liveoak on Mar 9, 2024 8:31:44 GMT -5
I'm as stubborn as I am creative. Sigh.......
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 9, 2024 8:34:05 GMT -5
I'm as stubborn as I am creative. Sigh.......
Patty
No hope...... |
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 9, 2024 10:57:59 GMT -5
Just finished it. I got some crappy pics. The bail would be 3 copper rings IF I were to finish it, which I won't. I don't like it. It would look better hanging, but my light tent is buried. My vision for it was much better. But, at least I got it done. LOL! The stone is a gorgeous gel lithium silica. I didn't have the tools I wanted, so I made do. I didn't anneal the copper, which I should have, but... well my big torch is packed, so the back piece has some waves in it. Not too bad, though. I wanted to do some pierce work on the back, but I didn't trust my rusty sawing skills enough to not mess it up.
All in all, I could have done better. I'm late, but I finished the Feb Challenge. |
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Post by liveoak on Mar 9, 2024 11:19:25 GMT -5
I like it- it has interest.
I don't particularly love the copper rings at the top, but maybe you're right it would look better hanging.
Laying there, they have no tension on them & look floppy.
I do like the hammered texture around the stone, it nicely draws further interest to the stone.
I think it's a keeper.
Patty
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Post by liveoak on Mar 9, 2024 11:23:58 GMT -5
I was too busy focusing on the sheet metal that I didn't remember to comment on the wrap itself. I really like the cross-over at the bottom and the curved wires going over the top.
But I really just had a laugh at myself, since the back of the stone is covered by the sheet, there's no chance of a photo of the stone - especially since you already showed the back of the sheet 
Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 9, 2024 11:27:43 GMT -5
It's not attached at the bottom, so it swings freely which I kinda do like. It makes a nice chime sound.
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Post by liveoak on Mar 9, 2024 11:33:10 GMT -5
Movement is good, chimes are even better
Patty
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Post by susand24224 on Mar 9, 2024 16:58:44 GMT -5
Hmm, so much has occurred since the first question! And yes, I have had the same happen to me, the most recent wrap I did, now that I think about it, to say nothing about the earrings I followed it up with. I am finding *most* of these challenges to fall into the "not quite right" category for me and it's not surprising. Usually I dump a bunch of cabs out and say "Aha! I know what I want to do with that." But the challenges don't quite allow that spur of the moment process at times. So I've learned to look at what I don't like from the standpoint of what I've learned, both good and bad. Looking at yours, I echo Patty with liking the accent wires across the front--such a luxury to not worry about breaking up a pattern. I love the textural impact of the copper background, as well as the color variation. I'm with Patty on the copper rings--I think they add clutter, although she is right that perhaps hanging that wouldn't happen so much, and they may match the darker portion of the copper, which I can't tell from the photos. Plus, that great silver "dome" that you added alleviates some of the copper ring issue. I love that the pieces move, and also like that there is a small sound produced. How much better can you get, and what would you change/keep next time? Those are the important questions, not necessarily whether you like what you created.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 9, 2024 17:52:06 GMT -5
How much better can you get, and what would you change/keep next time? Those are the important questions, not necessarily whether you like what you created. Thank you so much, Susan! Closing with those questions was perfect.
I would change several things. The bar across the top was not supposed to be so high and it messes with the overall proportions. I couldn't find my parallel scribing tool, so I eyeballed all the measurements on the copper. Next time, I'll get a scribe. The bump on the top was supposed to hold rings as a bail. It's too large. I also placed the copper rings in the wrong places. In general, I would tweak a number of things.
I like the wrap. I did something new which I will do again. In fact, if the bar wasn't so high, I might just take the copper off and leave it at that.
Thank you again for such a thoughtful response. It got me thinking. |
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,980
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Post by khara on Mar 9, 2024 18:12:31 GMT -5
I like it.👍 I think it should be finished with the 3 bail rings. The idea of the wire wrap hanging hinged from the top only in front of the copper backing is really neat.👍
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 9, 2024 18:20:00 GMT -5
I like it.👍 I think it should be finished with the 3 bail rings. The idea of the wire wrap hanging hinged from the top only in front of the copper backing is really neat.👍 Thank you! I liked the idea, too. It was the execution that I think needed work. |
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ThomasT
has rocks in the head
Member since June 2022
Posts: 624
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Post by ThomasT on Mar 10, 2024 12:41:27 GMT -5
Very beautiful work.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 10, 2024 13:18:37 GMT -5
Thank you. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Mar 10, 2024 15:42:08 GMT -5
Tela, I really like it. It has a tribal feel to it. Consider fabricating a bail for it to hang from that takes up some of the excess space there.
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