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Post by kk on Feb 9, 2015 4:47:47 GMT -5
Hi there, sorry was absent for prolonged period of time due to school-projects and my addiction to Fire Agate. Now, got a bit more time coming up, and got started on a new project. Last years main undertaking was the Jade contest and with luck, I fared quite alright. This year, I would like to step it up a little and move into an even more competitive event. Past entries at www.iojdaa.com.au/ are an eye-opening experience to behold. I have neither the quality of stone, nor the experience in/with this material to really contemplate a chance of commendations, but I think its an ideal challenge to try and step up. Don't have a picture of the actual rough from last year, but here is the carving blank as prepared and progress on first day.  And my plan for tomorrow  Great to be back cutting something that does not take months.  Thanks for looking, Kurt |
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Post by snowmom on Feb 9, 2015 5:31:17 GMT -5
Nice color, cool idea for a sculpt. this is gonna be great! I look forward to your posts.  |
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Post by Donnie's Rocky Treasures on Feb 9, 2015 8:34:50 GMT -5
That is going to be really nice when you are finished!! Totally looking forward to seeing it finished!
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 9, 2015 9:50:17 GMT -5
Great material! Who doesn't love opal? It will be so rewarding for you, too, to see your work progress so much quicker. And, good for you for challenging yourself with competition!!! I'll be keeping an eye on your project. Good luck and happy carving |
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Post by kk on Feb 9, 2015 10:01:28 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for the kind words. Great material! Who doesn't love opal? It will be so rewarding for you, too, to see your work progress so much quicker. And, good for you for challenging yourself with competition!!! I'll be keeping an eye on your project. Good luck and happy carving Been at it today for about 90 minutes and things progress far too quickly for my taste. Opal is sooo much softer to work, than my usual fare. I literally have to force myself to stop, before a major mistake happens. I'm already starting shaping the chest area even though I only planed arms and tail (removed 10 ct). Finally stopped, and will catch up with sanding before continuing tomorrow. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Feb 9, 2015 10:32:13 GMT -5
Thank you everyone for the kind words. Great material! Who doesn't love opal? It will be so rewarding for you, too, to see your work progress so much quicker. And, good for you for challenging yourself with competition!!! I'll be keeping an eye on your project. Good luck and happy carving Been at it today for about 90 minutes and things progress far too quickly for my taste. Opal is sooo much softer to work, than my usual fare. I literally have to force myself to stop, before a major mistake happens. I'm already starting shaping the chest area even though I only planed arms and tail (removed 10 ct). Finally stopped, and will catch up with sanding before continuing tomorrow. So, what you gain in speed, you loose in control.... that's too bad. I guess it will take some getting used to again. |
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 9, 2015 11:50:07 GMT -5
Wow!!! Those are nice-KK you do great work...Thumbs up
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Post by kk on Feb 9, 2015 17:30:56 GMT -5
Wow!!! Those are nice-KK you do great work...Thumbs up Thank you. Its just one piece. |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,607
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Post by jamesp on Feb 10, 2015 9:02:06 GMT -5
The light angle plays a big role. Lookin great Kurt.
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Post by kk on Feb 11, 2015 8:16:27 GMT -5
I ruined a lot of different types (not expensive stuff) for many years since I started in this Hobby. Up until summer last year I was set in my mind that opal is not for me as I would just waste it. Then along came this material...... Yes, things can still go wayward, but so it does with every material.... Saw two fractures at the edge of the piece that I will have to get out, but other than that I think it worked quite well. The only real worry I got right now is when it comes to thinning out from the back........ Here is an update from yesterdays second day on the wheels.  And in water to have the colour come alive. Hope to see those colours again in a couple of weeks when fully polished up.  I'm told not to show entries around too much before the judging is done (will have to re-read the rules), so this is probably the last show and tell until after the event. But one thing I'm thinking of right now is to give her a second arm and a sea-creature to accompany her. |
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spiritstone
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2014
Posts: 2,061
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Post by spiritstone on Feb 11, 2015 8:20:38 GMT -5
That opal has a very nice soft blue to green glow KK.
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Post by kk on Feb 11, 2015 8:35:17 GMT -5
Yeah, and I like best that she stands out brighter against the background, besides the fact that she changes colour to a shimmer on top that is actually stronger than the bottom, giving the appearance that she is swimming to the surface and hence the top receiving more light. It helps a lot that light can penetrate a good 70%+ of her surface.
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Post by snowmom on Feb 12, 2015 7:57:28 GMT -5
lovely! Can't wait to see it finished and to hear the rest of the story. watching with interest!
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Post by kk on Feb 17, 2015 6:01:23 GMT -5
Hi there, in the absence of an answer from the organizer about publicly showing progress of our pieces, I will continue to show it on forums, for those who voiced interest in the posting last week. First picture here now after today and second in water.   Tomorrow, I hope to get the dorsal fin and second hand sorted out, plus cleaning up negative spaces. |
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Post by snowmom on Feb 17, 2015 7:28:20 GMT -5
I didn't see the dolphin in the first photos, it is an unexpected pleasure to see it here, looks good! still watching!
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Post by kk on Feb 17, 2015 8:23:34 GMT -5
I didn't see the dolphin in the first photos, it is an unexpected pleasure to see it here, looks good! still watching! You did not see it because it was not there. Just decided that the front could turn into a dolphin head a couple of days ago. I'm not happy with the back-end, but the material is just to thin to put a properly proportioned tail-fin. So this will have to do. Lets see, during sanding, might still be able to readjust the angle a little (fin and body). |
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 15, 2015 11:41:31 GMT -5
Where's the Grand Finale (necklace) for your stunning carving, kk?  |
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Post by kk on Mar 15, 2015 17:34:16 GMT -5
Don't have the clasp yet, and still continue to polish. |
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Post by snowmom on Mar 16, 2015 4:20:06 GMT -5
watching with interest, don't forget us! |
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Post by kk on Mar 16, 2015 5:58:09 GMT -5
watching with interest, don't forget us! ok. What Gina is looking for is this:  Half way through polish up to 14K diamond. next I need to go over it with toothpick and then 50K paste. |
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