micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Jan 18, 2016 0:28:41 GMT -5
@arrowheadave - it looks like a bank of thunderclouds lining the horizon. Super cool.
(PS I don't know what thunderstorms look like because we so rarely get them here. I claim poetic license.)
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2016 6:03:10 GMT -5
@arrowheadave - it looks like a bank of thunderclouds lining the horizon. Super cool. (PS I don't know what thunderstorms look like because we so rarely get them here. I claim poetic license.) thank you.i think it looks like if you were surfing inside a barrel wave Dave |
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Post by orrum on Jan 18, 2016 7:57:06 GMT -5
It's a dust devil in powdersnow! Great cab!
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Jan 18, 2016 15:46:26 GMT -5
Here's a pretty plume agate from catmandewe . I think it's Graveyard Point but I'm not entirely sure. Preform still wrapped in tape, hot from the box.  Trimmed  Pyrite inclusions  Cold from the wheels  Backlit  Shazam.  |
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cwdiver
having dreams about rocks
Work is just Surface Interval
Member since October 2015
Posts: 57 
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Post by cwdiver on Jan 18, 2016 19:50:17 GMT -5
My entry for January. The theme for this month inspired me to do something with this colorless skinned agate . 
The slab and preform. 
The finished cab plus backlit. Love the polish on agates this my second cab I have done. 
The finished cab has a clear pearl look with translucent edges. Pleased with the way it turned out. Thanks for looking.....Gary Now off for three weeks to shed some rust and work on a tan. |
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Post by glennz01 on Jan 19, 2016 1:19:51 GMT -5
Great cabs everyone. As some mentioned earlier, we use color a lot so it can be challenging to find something colorless. But even without color everyone can create masterpieces. This goes back to how my prior art teacher taught us... first with the absence of color making the design the most important aspect. I can't wait to see everyone Else's cabs that haven't entered yet. cwdiver one thing I was always telling myself when I started making cabs is to keep challenging oneself trying new things. That saying has helped me out a lot to learn and gain experience, It is a reason I started the themes apart from making these contests more fun. I found that the more I challenged myself, the easier simple cabs became and the harder cabs started being made faster (my heart shapes). Now I just need more time to myself to finish mine -,- |
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Jan 23, 2016 16:59:34 GMT -5
OK here's my entry to support the contest this month. It's a fantastic prize but I'm not doing it for that - on the odd chance I win I will figure out how to donate the prize to a noob. I bought this slab as Indonesian stick agate - several years ago before Turkish stick agate became all the rage. It's been sitting in my to-be-cut bin and was literally the ONLY slab I could find that fit the colorblind theme. You don't realize how dependent on color you become until forced to look for the absence of it. Looks like the themes are working.  |
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Post by glennz01 on Jan 23, 2016 21:54:27 GMT -5
OK here's my entry to support the contest this month. It's a fantastic prize but I'm not doing it for that - on the odd chance I win I will figure out how to donate the prize to a noob. I bought this slab as Indonesian stick agate - several years ago before Turkish stick agate became all the rage. It's been sitting in my to-be-cut bin and was literally the ONLY slab I could find that fit the colorblind theme. You don't realize how dependent on color you become until forced to look for the absence of it. Looks like the themes are working. Thats partly the idea behind this theme is exactly what Tommy said. I'm kind of hoping I have a 2 day weekend so I can get some things done including my cab that ive started. As for all the themes, we have had lots of participation so i'm under the impression people are having fun with it, I hope  |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
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Post by Tommy on Jan 27, 2016 10:02:05 GMT -5
As for all the themes, we have had lots of participation so i'm under the impression people are having fun with it, I hope It adds an interesting wrinkle. If you really want to level the playing field, my former rock club does a "shape of the month" contest (ie: Jan = oval, Feb = rectangle, etc.). For instance I can't compete with someone like Roger and others who produce bad-ass needle sharp points which are very impressive compared to my typical rounded tips freeforms or ovals. The question then becomes do we really need to level the playing field or shouldn't the more skilled artists be encouraged to put those skills on full display and win? BTW, I think your "animal shapes" theme is going to have crickets chirping on that contest. As they say on Shark Tank ... "I'm out..." |
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Post by glennz01 on Jan 27, 2016 12:29:43 GMT -5
As for all the themes, we have had lots of participation so i'm under the impression people are having fun with it, I hope It adds an interesting wrinkle. If you really want to level the playing field, my former rock club does a "shape of the month" contest (ie: Jan = oval, Feb = rectangle, etc.). For instance I can't compete with someone like Roger and others who produce bad-ass needle sharp points which are very impressive compared to my typical rounded tips freeforms or ovals. The question then becomes do we really need to level the playing field or shouldn't the more skilled artists be encouraged to put those skills on full display and win? BTW, I think your "animal shapes" theme is going to have crickets chirping on that contest. As they say on Shark Tank ... "I'm out..." I think that is next month for hearts if I recall. I know that I won't win because i'm not as highly skilled as others yet, but I participate anyway as a learning experience. Other people (new or intermediate or oldies) should participate for the fun of it and to learn as well. As i said the prize should not matter, and we had a great turnout a few months back that didn't have a prize... As for animal shapes I know it can be done the bird is from cobbledstones and I made the horse head with satin finish   |
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Jan 27, 2016 13:19:12 GMT -5
I'm not interested in making animal shapes, and I don't have the tools to do. I think it also edges too far into carving territory.
I would not participate in that theme, and if other people say that they won't either, we should come up with an alternate. Maybe something more general like freeform or asymmetric.
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Post by glennz01 on Jan 27, 2016 13:33:19 GMT -5
I'm not interested in making animal shapes, and I don't have the tools to do. I think it also edges too far into carving territory. I would not participate in that theme, and if other people say that they won't either, we should come up with an alternate. Maybe something more general like freeform or asymmetric. If a majority of the people actively participating don't like it i'd be open, however both of those examples were made on a standard bench cabbing machine with regular wheels. It is a challenge but it can be done. |
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micellular
has rocks in the head
Rock fever is curable with more rocks.
Member since September 2015
Posts: 640
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Post by micellular on Jan 27, 2016 14:05:21 GMT -5
I'm not interested in making animal shapes, and I don't have the tools to do. I think it also edges too far into carving territory. I would not participate in that theme, and if other people say that they won't either, we should come up with an alternate. Maybe something more general like freeform or asymmetric. If a majority of the people actively participating don't like it i'd be open, however both of those examples were made on a standard bench cabbing machine with regular wheels. It is a challenge but it can be done. Thanks for deigning to consider our opinions, Lord Glenn. |
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unclesoska
freely admits to licking rocks
All those jade boulders tossed in search of gold!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 934
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Post by unclesoska on Jan 27, 2016 14:17:08 GMT -5
No way is that horse head considered a cabochon.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
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Post by Tommy on Jan 27, 2016 15:23:35 GMT -5
No way is that horse head considered a cabochon. Maybe the horse's ass would? haha I have a cab that turned out looking like a cow pie, maybe that would qualify. Glenn - again not to beat a dead horse (pun #1) or start another jump on Glenn thread, but I think you have a tendency to miss the big picture. On one hand you are asking for participation and on the other hand you saddle the contest (pun #2) with a 'niche' design theme that most of us won't participate in. No amount of rah-rah cheerleading or "this is how it's done" pictures could or will ever inspire me to create an animal shape. I bet if you did a poll (please don't) and asked cabbers if they had ever intentionally created an animal shape cabochon the answer would be very very small. I would say ditch the idea while you still can and put up something a little easier and within reach of most cabbers even if it's outside their comfort zone - like what was suggested by micellular - freeform or asymmetric (uneven sides) etc. |
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Post by captbob on Jan 27, 2016 16:46:05 GMT -5
ooooh... I like that "freeform or asymmetric (uneven sides)" idea. Seems the majority make the standard oval or round cabs here.
I don't cab, but I sure would enjoy seeing what different shapes folks would come up with if oval and round were out.
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Post by glennz01 on Jan 28, 2016 1:37:51 GMT -5
No way is that horse head considered a cabochon. Maybe the horse's ass would? haha I have a cab that turned out looking like a cow pie, maybe that would qualify. Glenn - again not to beat a dead horse (pun #1) or start another jump on Glenn thread, but I think you have a tendency to miss the big picture. On one hand you are asking for participation and on the other hand you saddle the contest (pun #2) with a 'niche' design theme that most of us won't participate in. No amount of rah-rah cheerleading or "this is how it's done" pictures could or will ever inspire me to create an animal shape. I bet if you did a poll (please don't) and asked cabbers if they had ever intentionally created an animal shape cabochon the answer would be very very small. I would say ditch the idea while you still can and put up something a little easier and within reach of most cabbers even if it's outside their comfort zone - like what was suggested by micellular - freeform or asymmetric (uneven sides) etc. Next months theme will be hearts, as for the animals I created a theme thread and someone thought the animals would be cool (only 1 person). I forget if there was another response to the animals n that thread or not. I ask that further theme discussion be brought to that thread. |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,989
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Post by Tommy on Jan 28, 2016 7:35:01 GMT -5
Next months theme will be hearts, Actually next month's theme as I read it is Valentines colors (or hearts) which perfectly illustrates my point and I'm going to let you figure out all by yourself. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2016 7:46:52 GMT -5
Couldn't agree more Tommy,if the theme is to over the top,it will discourage rather than encourage.i do a little carving from time to time and I get very little satisfaction from it,I myself would not enter a heart,therefore discouraging me from entering.
Dave
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Post by kk on Jan 28, 2016 8:29:36 GMT -5
Something to think about from a creative, but marginalized minority.  I love contests as they challenge one to do things that we where not able to acknowledge before we tried. BUT,....... I / we can't do that! Where have I heard that before? The only cheerleaders here, are the ones holding everyone back on a standard curve. Thats the bread and butter for an industry, but has nothing to do with free-spirited creativity. BORING Now, I know that will offend a lot of people, but....... 1. Most of you folks have too much variety of materials available. 2. Since you started you where told that you needed to get a big machine, Kingcab, Flatlaps,... etc.. You obliged to the masses, now you are stuck with fabulous material and machine for one single purpose, yet have the ability to do it rather quickly. Those of you who know me, know that I owe my whole being in this hobby to all the incredibly friendly cabers interacting with me over all those years. Without the generosity among cabers and rock-hounds, I would never have been able to advance to where I am today. But you also know that I will always champion borderline creations, as I personally do not see any reason to be in this hobby to constantly repeat the same thing over and over again (mind you, I hold perfection in cabs in highest regard and fully respect the skills needed to create them). Freeform is fine, but ask yourself: are you going to actually vote for a true freeform? By following and participating in contests regularly over nearly six years, I learned and gained a lot of skills, but I also observed, that I needed to be in every contest simply because of challenging myself to do better with every piece, rather than winning. With freeform, winning was never an option, due to the extreme bias ingrained against them, from the majority of voters, when it comes to an actual vote. I have never been bitter about that fact, simply because I'm in for the personal challenge, not for winning. We have such a huge pool of talent here, its sad to see that so few people follow their heart, instead of constantly listening to "I can't do that" cheerleaders. Will miss this months challenge as my black and white challenge for the month is nowhere close to a cab. But shall be back for the heart-challenge next time round. And when Freeforms are welcome let me know and I shall gladly be part of the game. |
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