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Post by NatureNut on Aug 16, 2009 19:42:53 GMT -5
Today was my son's birthday. Although I had gotten him something I wanted to make something special for him. When I fished for ideas, he told me he doesn't wear jewelry. But he did mention that he had just gotten some books for summer reading. When I looked up his birthstone, it was Sardonyx. Saw a pic on Wiki and was surprised to see that Sardonyx is a red banded Agate or Onyx. It sure looked familiar so I looked in my agate box and saw something from MJ that looked darn similar to the Wiki pic. Go figure. So, I started with a two-sided cab:  Lori was so very kind to share some copper wire with me this week, so I put it to good use and made him a birthstone bookmark with round copper wire (not sure what gauge) and sterling half-round for the binding. Yes, I did pound it as flat as possible to fit comfortably inside a book. Both sides:   He loved it! ;D Thanks for checking it out! Jo |
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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 16, 2009 21:38:44 GMT -5
Now THAT is a cool idea! Do you flatten the long tail completely, or just enough so it's not so round? Does the wrap stay pretty well when you pound it? It looks very labor-intensive, but it's quite attractive. Good job!
Tom
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 16, 2009 22:00:45 GMT -5
Hi Tom, I mostly flattened the tail. But, if I had the proper pounding surface, and more time (was under the wire) I would have liked to fan that tail out more. It did stay together pretty well. The binding on the tail wanted to unravel, but with a little finesse, it crimped back into place. I used a rubber mallet and then a hammer with the piece wrapped in a towel.
Took some quick progress pics if you are interested (mostly so I could remember how I did it, LOL).
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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 16, 2009 23:41:31 GMT -5
Jo, I would think that I'm not the only one who would love to see your progress pictures. Please do post them!
Tom
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Post by superioragates on Aug 17, 2009 6:50:10 GMT -5
So very pretty, what a perfect gift for the reader!!
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Post by MyNewHobby on Aug 17, 2009 10:45:34 GMT -5
Those are neat!!!!
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GlamRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 105
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Post by GlamRocks on Aug 17, 2009 16:17:47 GMT -5
Hi Jo,
That's a really cool idea, I like it muchly! It's a very lovely stone and the wrap is very neat and tidy. Excellent job, and he'll enjoy it everytime he reads! Excellent!
Cheers,
Harry.
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SteveHolmes
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2009
Posts: 1,900
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Post by SteveHolmes on Aug 17, 2009 20:54:06 GMT -5
That is sweeet Jo....and I really like the idea. It's so cool the ideas and creations everyone comes up with here. Thanks for sharing.
steve
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NDK
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 9,440
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Post by NDK on Aug 17, 2009 21:09:16 GMT -5
A keepsake for sure Jo! Beautiful work.
Nate
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NorthShore-Rocks
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since December 2008
Posts: 1,004
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Post by NorthShore-Rocks on Aug 17, 2009 21:33:00 GMT -5
Very creative Jo! He'll think about his Mom everytime he reads for years to come!
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 18, 2009 7:12:34 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! As promised, here are the progress pics. I'll let the pics do the talking with minimal narration, if there are any questions, just ask. I was just following my nose here, so if I made it again, I'd probably do it a little differently, as I'm sure anyone else would make variations and improvements. Three copper wires, bent in half one is mucho long, they have notches for prongs.    Second binding    Fitting the cab into the top, bending prongs out, making wire flush around the cab, taping it to the cab.     Bending bottom up   At this point, I was told that I had to start dinner, LOL. I was looking at it saying, "Now what do I do?", I wanted to weave copper between the four hanging wires to make a nice flat bookmark, but ran out of time, so I bundled them all together and just bound the top with silver (under the cab), and then continued down with copper. I stopped before the end and made the fantail, bending them back on the other wires and then continued the binding down, switching to a silver binding at the end. So rushed for time that I didn't take pics of this, but, you can follow your nose too on this. Finally, I pounded it as flat as possible. First with a rubber mallet and then with a big hammer keeping the bookmark inside a towel (careful not to hit the cab with the hammer).   And that's it! |
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Post by tkrueger3 on Aug 18, 2009 12:04:16 GMT -5
Jo, thanks for posting the progress pics - I've already gotten at least 3 hints from them that never occured to me before! The biggest hint being the way you taped everything to the cab before you even started on the pigtail. It never even occured to me that taping might be a good way to do the bail and wrap without needing 14 hands at once!  Way cool! Tom |
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Wolfden
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2007
Posts: 1,368
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Post by Wolfden on Aug 18, 2009 12:48:11 GMT -5
Great idea Jo
Wolf
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Post by sitnwrap on Aug 18, 2009 18:15:55 GMT -5
Oh boy! something new to try. That is great gift. I love ideas with wrapping that are not gender specific and a book mark would be a perfect gift for my brother. Thanks tons for sharing.
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Post by NatureNut on Aug 18, 2009 18:32:40 GMT -5
Lori (and all),
If you find a better way to make the pigtail flat, will you please share it? I ran outta time and had to go cook the birthday dinner.
Thanks!
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Saskrock
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2007
Posts: 1,852
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Post by Saskrock on Aug 18, 2009 18:42:44 GMT -5
Neat idea Jo. Almost but not quite enough to get me back on paper books. Just need to come up with one for ebooks now.
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Way cool!
