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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 22, 2019 21:15:32 GMT -5
I just finished this lepidolite pendant today. I had messed up a pendant I was making for someone that had a border, so I repurposed the setting by cutting off the border. The lepidolite is high quality, gemmy stuff that we had gotten from a sphere maker. Vince offered to cut the cab to fit the existing setting and this is the result.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Jan 22, 2019 21:41:59 GMT -5
That's very pretty! The little balls make a basic shape into something special that will "stand out from the crowd". Just curious, about how many soldering operations were required for all of the balls surrounding the bezel? It looks like it might have had the potential for some frustration. "Now, stay, &$@#$&@$!!"
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 22, 2019 21:48:43 GMT -5
Actually, I tried soldering them on all at once and failed miserably. So each triangle got soldered on separately and some of them didn't all catch the first time and I'd have to redo a ball. Pickle, rinse, repeat. Spent all day yesterday doing the balls (and making more balls when a few flew out of my tweezers into parts unknown).
Today I did the bail, antiqued it and gave it final polish.
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Post by lpl on Jan 22, 2019 21:57:14 GMT -5
Wow! That's a lot of soldering you did there! Totally worth it...it's a beautiful piece, and I really like lepidolite. Very nicely done.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 22, 2019 22:01:57 GMT -5
Thank you, John!
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Post by MsAli on Jan 22, 2019 22:33:57 GMT -5
You're work is incredible and thats a beautifulstone!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 22, 2019 22:41:56 GMT -5
Thanks, Ali!
I need lots more practice. Always room for improvement. The balls look cool, though, so I'm glad it worked. I wasn't sure when I came up with the idea that I'd be able to pull it off without melting the whole blasted thing.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 22, 2019 23:12:11 GMT -5
I love it! The setting is so cool and the stone is special, too.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 23, 2019 9:34:12 GMT -5
Thanks, Tela!
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jan 23, 2019 11:45:07 GMT -5
That's really gorgeous - I love the balls and that lepidolite is out of this world! I've never seen any near that nice before.
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Post by toiv0 on Jan 23, 2019 12:24:10 GMT -5
Nice work, glad it came together. I would have went bonkers to get them even. The lepedolite is unique. Shows up pinkish on my monitor.
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,979
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Post by victor1941 on Jan 23, 2019 17:12:48 GMT -5
This is a very nice and distinctive piece that shows a lot of skill. Well done!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 23, 2019 17:57:50 GMT -5
Thank you, all!
Bluesky78987 The lepidolite came from a sphere maker. I saw the sphere he made out of it and begged him to sell me some off-cuts. I had been wanting to get some for a long time to try it and was really fortunate to be able to buy this quality. It really is beautiful rough.
toiv0 The stone is actually a grape purple. Vince took the pic last night under my bench light and I think between the bulb and the light being reflected off the sparklies, it blew the color out.
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Post by beefjello on Jan 23, 2019 18:48:30 GMT -5
Wowzers Robin, that's a gorgeous piece!
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 23, 2019 19:14:23 GMT -5
Why thank you, kind sir!
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Post by mohs on Jan 23, 2019 19:38:25 GMT -5
brazing triangular balls shape a subtle moving trick i can only imagine And the places unknown ? You’ll be finding tiny balls for years
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hummingbirdstones2
fully equipped rock polisher
Vince A., 1958-2023
Member since August 2018
Posts: 1,461
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Post by hummingbirdstones2 on Jan 23, 2019 19:50:21 GMT -5
This lepidolite is so translucent it lets a lot of light in. The rough chunk does look darker / more saturated.
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Post by toiv0 on Jan 23, 2019 19:51:24 GMT -5
Thank you, all!
Bluesky78987 The lepidolite came from a sphere maker. I saw the sphere he made out of it and begged him to sell me some off-cuts. I had been wanting to get some for a long time to try it and was really fortunate to be able to buy this quality. It really is beautiful rough.
toiv0 The stone is actually a grape purple. Vince took the pic last night under my bench light and I think between the bulb and the light being reflected off the sparklies, it blew the color out. Either way it is a super nice stone.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Jan 23, 2019 20:35:27 GMT -5
Thank you so much!
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mossyrockhound
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2011
Posts: 1,278
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Post by mossyrockhound on Jan 23, 2019 20:47:02 GMT -5
Wow Robin! What a gorgeous piece of work! You and your husband make a great team. It will be a heirloom for sure. Great job getting all those little spheres soldered.
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