Phoenix rising, Pawancawa jasper/agate/opal mix

Wow, very nice!

Thanks guys, its a fun experiment. I like trying something new and with combos of stone and designs, you never run out of new challenges.

Gr; just take an existing cab, draw some design on it and give it a shot (cameo like), you will see how quickly you can turn an average cab into something special. Can't draw? Use carbon-paper, and then go it on your own.

Right on. Let me go back and find some pictures from two years ago where I started out exactli like that; with borders and lines on usually broken cabs.

Gr: The snake is dated June 2011 and the others are from April, so exactly 2 years ago.









So you see, I have come some way in this time. But I do have to admit that I fell completely in love with this hobby, and I have/had virtually no social or family obligations that would have kept me from doing at least something, every other day.

Tommy: I have been lucky in this regard. The back was planed to have a solid hole going all the way through, but the material is just too nice to waste. So there was no way to get a straight set on the core-drill. I used ball-burrs and with the piece being fairly thick, I was able to open another hole in the center to give me 4 access-points to make it possible. Just needed to keep the pressure forward down and never up. That's of-course easier said than done. Hence, I have kept, and keep quiet about "Aqua" the piece for which this one was practice. That specific material is prone to "accidents" and has given me multitudes of near heart-attacks over the past 3 weeks. By now, its nearly done, but until the hole for the pin to hold another object is drilled, I'm not going to show it as I worry that everything might still fall apart. So in short, I have breakages just like everyone else, but as I do not have to have a single-minded outcome to work towards to, I can usually adjust. Quite often something started turns into something completely different by the time its done. You will see the difference between "Phoenix" and "Aqua" because of all the problems with the other material despite starting with the same basic design. Aqua is a lot more, lets call it, "abstract". But if it works, that one will be mine and mine alone, because its the most beautiful stone I have had the luck of working with.

James, not at all. Until I manage to get crisp features like the ones achieved by the fantastic cameo guys; I'm nowhere close to deserve that kind of praise.

Playing with fire? Aren't you?
Wish I could do some live model sessions, but I think my wife would have a few words to say about that. As wives/girlfriends taking knives and or scissors to their men is something quite common around here, its a risk, better not taken. Re-attachment (if still possible) and recuperation is quite painful, or so I have heard.

you guys kill me.

KK I am noticing the more you do, the more detail you put in. Keep getting better. Me? No carving for me. I'd be embarrassed in your presence!

Jim sent me this image after reading your post. He had to shower himself in icewater.