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Post by talkingstones on Jun 8, 2013 7:11:56 GMT -5
Hello all of my RTH'ers!!! As has been mentioned to me, I haven't been around a lot of late. Please don't take it personally or think that I got mad at the board change....although it does seem to have glitches... On May 1, I entered a series of juried shows that will be happening at the site of the original Woodstock Festival in September. On the May 31, I received the notice back that I made it into 4 out of 5 of the shows. It's great to be able to do this, but I do have a couple of problems. Basically, my stock is what I have in the Etsy store, about 40 pieces... and that's not going to keep me going through 4 shows, lol! Also, being human, I only have so much energy and so many minutes in any given day. Consequently, I'm trying to make every minute count until I collapse in October when the shows are done. I've got all the machines up and most running or waiting to run at this point and am in the middle of multiple projects all geared at getting stock together for the shows. I'm going to be posting here and on my fb page about the process of actually getting ready for these shows and doing them. I was going to post this in the "Trips and Shows" but that seems to be geared more toward event listings than the process of creating, so I thought this would be a good place to post it. Unfortunately, I'm starting this after the process has actually begun.... and the volume of work with all of this is going to preclude doing a lot of fancy photographic work with the stones, although there will be some as I'll want good documentation on the better pieces involved. Right now I'm doing a lot of point and shoot as I'm working on brainstorming and tumbling in the rotary and vibe and prep work on better cabs.... So, to put this in perspective... These are the shows that I will be going for... bethelwoodscenter.org/community/harvest.aspxUnfortunately I did not make it into the Alpacha Festival... I think if there was one to miss, it was the spitting llamas so I can live with that. That brought my start date to September 8. The photos I made it into the show on were not so great... I think the thing that got me into the show was the Etsy store. If for no other reason than to have an independent, accessible place for people to view my work, the Etsy store paid off on this. The norm for these shows is to be allowed to participate in two of them, at most. That I made four and the surge in shop views in the middle of last month that I saw, tells me that I was seriously reviewed and considered there prior to being accepted into the shows. I was allowed three photos for the entry and was given a place to list my site. They wanted to see what I would be doing for display and the quality of my work, so at the last minute I put these together...    It took every stone I had, wrapped and unwrapped, to fill create that one little display..... The space I have to fill is 8 foot by 10 foot... At this point, I've got a little work to do...  More later! |
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Post by talkingstones on Jun 11, 2013 21:09:51 GMT -5
Bringing it up to date is a bit more difficult... When I found out that I had gotten into the shows, I immediately sent a call out to some of my friends here on the board, because just as much as I needed talking through learning to cab and wrap...and still do, I knew I would need talking through doing the show thing. With that done, I evaluated what I had, finished...not a lot, what I had rough...a lot, and what I had mechanically. I decided that to have this work, I was going to have to use everything I had to my best advantage... so first thing was to pull out the tumblers and get them going. I had quite a bit of slab and scrap slab all over the place cluttering up the shop and my brain, so I decided after seeing Randy's tumble of 600 pieces, and talking with him about it, that this would be a great way to get some low end stock together so that I could focus on the higher end stuff. I spent quite a while cutting and preforming and after really goofing up my first vibe load in far too long, got some advice and came up with 150 pieces. Not my favorite method of producing pieces and I ended up pulling about 20 of them because I really didn't want to let them go that way, but, a great method of doing earring stones and, what I will probably sell the most of, inexpensive pendants... So, first Lot O load...  While that was going, I also began going through everything I had laying around and started dopping for the wheels and starting out on the doming of the cabs...  And going through rough slab I had already cut to see what I wanted to use for what... which I'm still doing... Also, I began gathering all the little scraps all over the place that "I might be able to do something with that someday" and decided that this was the day for that... Those were cut into triangles for the most part and set aside for the next Lot O load. At this point I also received a box of little Apache tears which I started in the rotary tumbler to smooth while finishing the first load in the vibe. Those would be just right for doing inexpensive earrings that I could cage wrap with the possibility of some freeform pendants too... Conrock has a great tutorial on working these stones that I've been checking with as I go and to date, I have just finished the 500 level and they are starting to glow!!! I've never been a big obsidian fan, but these are seriously fun to work with and a very surprising stone!!!   Last but not least, I began working an intarsia as the last show is the "Home Show" and I thought making little stone intarsias to set in easels would be kind of neat and not too far outside of what I already do... So while still in process, this is the first of those pieces...  So, that's where we are now... I just want to say in all of this that there are a lot of you on this board that are right there with me on doing all of this and I really appreciate all of you and all of the help I am getting with this!!! It is a lot of work, but also a lot of learning and growing and I am very thankful for all of you guys being out there to help me on this!!! So it's been quite a week already, so I'm going to bed now! |
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TByrd
fully equipped rock polisher
Have you performed your random act of kindness?
Member since December 2010
Posts: 1,350
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Post by TByrd on Jun 12, 2013 14:35:57 GMT -5
Just one question for you, if you care to answer, do you know how many spaces they have at each of these shows? Just curious, making it into one is neat, but four out of five is awesome, congrats.
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Post by talkingstones on Jun 12, 2013 20:08:29 GMT -5
Hi Tammy! They are allowing a total of 44 artists per show, 10 of which are allowed to be jewelers, so I will have competition. Jewelry was actually one of the bigger categories. You can see the breakdown of what will be offered here: bethelwoodscenter.org/community/harvest/howtoparticipate.aspx Thanks! Cathy |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 12, 2013 20:47:36 GMT -5
CATHY! You go girl!!!! Congratulations I know you are happy and pleased with yourself. Your shows will be big successes, I feel sure. (((HUGS))) |
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Post by gr on Jun 12, 2013 21:30:20 GMT -5
You are going to do great! It's fun to talk to people at these shows and explain your works.
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Post by Pat on Jun 12, 2013 21:35:21 GMT -5
That's terrific!!!
Enjoy the process.
Just getting accepted is awesome.
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Post by Bikerrandy on Jun 13, 2013 17:42:18 GMT -5
I totally missed this post, you're doing some really nice stuff!! And you're doing intarsia? Wow, I gotta start doing stuff too! That one is gotta be sweet, you grind it yet?
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jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,596
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Post by jamesp on Jun 13, 2013 19:04:28 GMT -5
Happy that you are in so many shows.Looking at the merchandise it's not a surprise.
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Post by talkingstones on Jun 14, 2013 8:34:17 GMT -5
Good Morning!!! It's Friday and because there is no three day weekend in this month, I took a personal day. That means this is the start of my three day weekend for this month and everyone in the house has different stuff going on in different places soooo for the next three days, I'm going to rock! Progress at this juncture is that I'm washing the Apache Tears...what a cool stone those are!!!!, and will set them for final polish tonight. Basement is a bit wet right now because it's been raining incessantly for what seems like forever so there won't be any cutting for a few days...  and I've got a ton of cabs to work and an intarsia to grind... gulp. Wish me luck! 9:30 AM and I'm going up to the shop....  |
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Post by talkingstones on Jun 18, 2013 6:51:09 GMT -5
Ok... It's been about a week so it's time to update. The Apache Tears are done and came out well. I've got the next Lot-O load going. I think I'm going to need to go to at least Thursday on 500 with that so it's going to take a bit longer. I've gotten the first intarsia pretty much done. For a first try, it came out pretty well but I do have some filling to do on the bottom and I'm going to be backing it. I used obsidian for the frame on it and really don't like it with that stone. I think with a solid backing I'll be able to pull it off. Biggest thing is that I have the method down. I think the hardest part of all of this has been these past few weeks. I admit it, I'm spoiled and I don't like just chopping stuff up and chucking it in the vibe. Much as it makes me grumpy, it does build stock and fill little 1" cubbies. Still, I don't like doing it and it makes me nuts!!! So, through that process I did a shout out to Tony who has sent some of his now famous rainbow ob.... and some killer pet wood, and to Roy, who sent more pet wood and stinking water plume and actually asked me "Cathy, what do you want?" ... so I told him...everything...on the entire planet that I want...including the Willow Creek mine in Idaho and asked him to fit it into a couple of frb's that would make me smile... and as of this morning, he has just about got them done for me!!! (I still want to see how he fits the mine in there, lol!) For me, that was a very cathartic conversation and, with it I decided that I needed to get the fun back into what I'm doing with all of this. So on Sunday, I kinda puttered around upstairs and pulled some killer pieces out to cut. I found several pieces that really made me smile but I think the Polka Dot agate slab Randy sent a while back really brought me back to why I love doing this so much. For me, the selling end of this has never been why I do this. It's nice when something does sell, but for me, it's all about the rocks. That's what gives me the joy in all of it. Selling is a necessary evil, as far as I'm concerned, that I do need to be able to handle, but mass producing stuff to fill the cubbies just isn't real fun for me. I know that's what I'll sell the most of, but I don't enjoy doing it... even if they come out nicely. So, after this vibe load, I should have enough cheap stuff to be able to be just working good stone in nice compositions... Which is the place where I'm happiest! One thing that I did run into that is kinda strange was cutting some Crayola Jasper that Gary sent. When this stuff hit the saw, it changed color and design. I use mineral oil in my saws and don't know if it was that or the heat of the saw that did it. I was wondering if this has happened to anyone else and what caused it. I actually like the stones better now, but it was very strange and happened instantaneously.   Randy's Polka Dot  My Polka Dot   Crayola Before...  Crayola After...  And since I have room for one or two more AZ Pet wood from Gary...  And Picasso Jasper, Love this stuff!... that I think I got from Stoneview a while ago.  This week I'm feeling a lot more relaxed and moving forward!!! Cathy |
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Post by deb193redux on Jun 18, 2013 8:51:57 GMT -5
those polkadots are very rich and interesting looking
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Post by rockjunquie on Jun 18, 2013 12:20:01 GMT -5
Busy lady! I love the polka dots, too. I like that intarsia. I haven't tried that yet. I need to stretch a little and see what I can do. I hear ya about selling. It's nice to have a hobby that pays for itself, though. I did this for years before I started selling. I hate selling, but when the kids moved back home- I either had to quit my hobby or make the money to keep doing it. And.... well my hobby keeps me sane, so I sell (which, ironically, makes me crazy.... wait a minute.....) LOL! |
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Post by talkingstones on Jun 18, 2013 20:26:13 GMT -5
I'm hoping they come out well, Daniel! Tela, I've been working with Gary here on the board, gr, on the intarsias and a lot of other stuff and he's been wonderful showing me what to do!!! (Not to mention incredibly patient with my hysteria and temper tantrums!) It's not difficult and doesn't require a lot. I picked up a Hi Tech flat lap from John, (jsgems) and worked this on that for the shaping. One of the problems I run into with the picture stones I do is that while people love them, they don't want to wear them...they want to look at them. My thought for the home show is to have these on easels for coffee table artworky collector's item thingies. They do fit the bill for that. On the Genie, I have run into a problem with the closeness of the wheels. These are larger pieces, typically taking the largest size template and expanding out from that. Glad that I got the kit on the flat lap as that enables me more room to work on these and polish them up. It's a lot different from working on the Genie, but once you get used to it, just as much fun. At this point, I find that I'm hoping between the machines on most of the work I'm doing. Each has it's strengths and I think it's learning to work with both for what they are good at that is really helping me!!! I'd say go for it and give it a try!!! |
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Roger
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2013
Posts: 1,487
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Post by Roger on Jun 19, 2013 21:54:56 GMT -5
I have to say I am overwhelmed by the scope of what you are doing lol WOW! You are an inspiration, completely crazy, but inspirational  |
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Post by talkingstones on Jun 24, 2013 7:29:00 GMT -5
Yeah, it's been pretty incredible so far! Very busy week this week. I spent the evenings working on cabs as I've been awaiting material for the polka dots and the intarsia. Roy's boxes arrived on Friday and I am still floored by what he sent!!! One of the things I really love about working with folks on the board here... and I know I've said this before, is that they know my work. The other thing is that they know my disposition and capabilities. These guys have seen me play at my best and screw up at my worst. They know what I enjoy and what I don't... which is why it really is important to post the everything you do...especially when starting out and when you have problems!!! Roy knows that I really have a thing about the stones that I work. I have pretty much always picked my slabs and rocks, one by one, for every detail in them. Having gone through the majority of the good material that I had, and having three weeks before I have to go into wrapping on these pieces, I was in a spot where I really had to trust someone to pick out rocks for me that I would really enjoy working and have outstanding product that I am happy with when done. Roy came through for me... in a way that I kind of didn't expect, but was right for me and really is a ton of fun!!! I bought two mfrb's from him, one of slabs and one of rough. The slabs were supposed to be sure shot stuff that I could work up easily and were gorgeous... which they are! I can use them for borders on the intarsias, cabs, pretty much whatever I want. In the rough box, I told him I wanted color... just easy stuff that I could do in the vibe if I wanted and would be great for quick cut and work. The rough rock looked innocuous enough when I pulled them, but once I started cutting I was floored! The rough he sent is some of the most beautiful stone I've seen and cut... Really incredible pieces and all weekend long, with every piece I cut they just kept getting better!!! I don't think I've even gone through half of them yet... I'm sure I haven't, but I just could not stop on cutting this stuff and I am really looking forward to working it over the next few weeks!!! The thing I really think I appreciate the most at this point with these is that I'm the one orienting and cutting the stones which is reeeeaaally BIG FUN!!!! Anyway, I could go on all day about these rocks but I think pictures speak louder than words so here are a few shots of what he sent! All are taken wet and outside. Cut at least 50 slabs by hand this weekend. Really... It just kept getting better!    
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and I've got a ton of cabs to work and an intarsia to grind... gulp. Wish me luck! 9:30 AM and I'm going up to the shop.... 
