NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 13, 2019 12:21:51 GMT -5
Well, here we go again! I have somehow found the time to create another amateur batch of wraps, and apparently feel compelled to publicly display them too.
I will try to keep the comments to a minimum on this also.
P019 - Lavic freeform, with silver. Starting to wrap freeforms now. Some are challenging. This was tumbled, and then untouched. Please ignore the huge imperfections of the rock. Hehe.
P020 - Anniversary Agate, with silver / gold. Don't exactly know the name of this Agate. The freeform is very chubby like a big jelly bean. Hard to wrap, but it got done. My bail accents are starting to get very guady.
P021 - Lavic brechiated, with silver / gold. A very small and mistake (thin) cab, I tried to use anyway. Wife calls it the "cockroach with big eyes". I guess that is endeering. There is actually not a flaw on the outside of the rock. It is clear agate intermixed with the rock, and the camera angle that maks it looks like caverns or vugs in the rock.
P022 - Bacon Agate crest, in silver. The rock looks amazingly fractured, and it sort of is, but it doesn't come apart at all when cutting or grinding. A very nice type of stone to work with. I made about 10 mistakes on this one.
P023 - Colorado River rock of origin, I don't know what this is. It is blue-ish, but camera does not pick it up. A medium freeform stone, this has been the hardest one to date to actually get in the wire wrap.
P024 - Unkown el-cheepo rock, wrapped in silver with beads. I bought this from the teacher at the rock class where we learned a donut patter, for 5 dollars. The whole thing is unusual, and my wife rejects it outright. It is not even allowed to be seen next to my other attempts. Says it looks like a spider web. I guess it sort of does.
P025 - Amethystine done in solid silver. The rock is very dark brown in real life, and the facture cannot be seen. Gave this to my niece last night, and it is a small stone that I got the wrap perfect on. I like working with solid (harder) silver.
P026 - Unkown Colorado River green rock, in gold / silver. This was a tumble that came out almost exactly like this. I had it on the grinder for 5 minutes to make it a bit more symetrical. Green, like this olive green is almost nowhere around where I live. And I have never found another piece like it, in my 6 trips to the Colorado to pick up rocks. Rare.
Well, that is it for now. My sister's 50'ith was last night, and she got 9 wraps, and appeared to be happy with them. I was happy to have been able to create something(s) from nothing(s), in time for the occasion.
Thank you for stopping bye!
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Post by miket on Aug 13, 2019 14:22:30 GMT -5
Seriously, you're doing a great job with your wraps. I'll bet your sister liked them, too. I don't mind the "spiderweb donut" I actually think it's pretty cool. Your wraps don't seem amateurish at all. I just finished my third try at wrapping and am torn between posting it on here or not. Maybe that would make you feel better about yours!  Anyway, we're definitely our own worst critics. Keep up the good work. |
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 13, 2019 18:38:07 GMT -5
I’m really impressed with your wraps. I still haven’t attempted wraps except for groove wraps. I thought your donut spider web story was funny so I read it to my wife and showed her the picture. She rejects it too, by the way,
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 13, 2019 19:05:47 GMT -5
Please stop berating yourself. Your wraps are coming along very nicely. You just started for heaven's sake!
What I will say is I really think you need to get yourself some half-round/half hard wire for your bindings. It will make your life so much easier and make the wraps look that much more professional. 22 gauge for the binding wire.
I like the donut wrap (I think it's low grade rhodonite). I think it would have looked better had you stuck with silver for the whole thing. Not rejected by me.  |
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pizzano
Cave Dweller 
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,390
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Post by pizzano on Aug 13, 2019 19:44:25 GMT -5
I agree...!
I, by no means, have an expert (or any qualified opinion, for that matter) on your art......but my wife does........she pops in and out of here occasionally, to see what I've posted and to give me a hard time about "catching up" to the masters here......LOL
She passes on many of my flats and polished stones, to a couple of friends who sell their wraps on eBay and at local gem & jewelry shows........The only thing she's noticed, and it's the most difficult aspect of wire wrapping, is that there is to much "air" between some of the stone and the wire.. and sometimes there is to much "metal" to stone ratio.........that's a personal preference.......!
That's it........she's even suggested that I "sell" some of my Lavic and and other quality "local" material to guys like you........LOL....I've toned that down by showing her what and where you've collected.........Silence...!...LOL
Given the time (in hours) you've been at this wrapping thing (and I trust the NevadaBill chronology), and what I've learned from my wife's friends........you are blessed my friend.......!
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Post by MsAli on Aug 13, 2019 21:57:19 GMT -5
I agree with Robin. Stop berating yourself!
There are people who wont even try!
I like the spider and agree it would of been even better in all silver.
Cant wait to see your next group
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Post by fernwood on Aug 14, 2019 4:04:01 GMT -5
I too like the spiderweb. Also the blue one. The blue would be great with a high patina silver instead of the copper, I think.
Keep posting your wraps. You are doing well on them.
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MommaGem
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 312
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Post by MommaGem on Aug 14, 2019 11:16:20 GMT -5
Fabulous work! I especially LOVE what you did with the donut!
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 14, 2019 15:49:17 GMT -5
I think you are making amazing strides! For as long as you live, there will be people knocking what you do, so for Pete's sake, don't do it to yourself, too.  You have everything to be proud of. I especially like the Colorado River rock. I really do not like the donut, but I have seen very few that I like. Just not a fan of donuts, though you did do a godd job with it.
Keep it up- looking forward to the next batch!
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Post by nowyo on Aug 14, 2019 19:15:30 GMT -5
All very nice. Amazing strides in a short time.
Russ
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 15, 2019 17:38:38 GMT -5
Thank you folks. I have limited internet access and time where I am at, so I can't really read all of the replies and properly respond to anything just yet.
I appreciate the comments and look forward to reading in a day or two.
I made another one a couple of nights ago. I got a really nice Chrysocolla and Malachite rock to use too. I made a pretty bad mess of it, but I will post that in here as well. Just need another day or two. Thank you all, and sorry about that.
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Post by drocknut on Aug 15, 2019 17:56:52 GMT -5
I agree with the others, you are doing great and learning as you go, that's the best way to do it.
I had to laugh about the cockroach comment from your wife. It does look like bug eyes on that one. Keep wrapping and showing them off.
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 17, 2019 11:14:30 GMT -5
Thank you folks, for all of the kind comments. It really gives me encouragement. I see others work here and I really see pieces that are crafted from extensive amounts of experience, creativity, with smooth lines and tight wraps. I need to take your advice. No more beating myself up on mistakes and practice rocks. I have a perfectionist problem, but I promise to try not to bring it to these posts. Interesting. My dad used to collect some gemstones, and rocks. My sister inherited all of it. While visiting I got to see some amazing creations in Rhodochrosite, Lapis, Septerian Nodule, Malachite, etc. I brought my wrapping gear, and a bunch of crappy rocks of my own, and planned on passing time one day by wrapping one with my sister. When she produced this rock:  It was the only cabochon that she had. I have seen Malachite and Chrysocholla, but never like this one. Here is a better look:  So, she asked me to wrap that one. So, here is the one I made from it.  It was turning in to a mess, and I was about to give up on the bail and unwrap the whole thing. I deliberately put the larger binds in the E, S, and West positions, which made it look uneven. And not symetrical. Even my sister looked at it like I wrapped it wrong. But this is what I intended to do. It took about 2 hours.  The rock is the star of the show. He bought it about 30 years ago. I bet even if I get out to the "Magic Mountain" place in Arizona some day, samples like this would be gone. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 17, 2019 11:35:44 GMT -5
That's a beauty, and really like what you did with it! The spelling on the plastic bag was a bit off, though (should have been "cuprite" and "tenorite" for the last 2 - sometimes hard to figure out what those miners and sellers are trying to say).
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Post by Jugglerguy on Aug 17, 2019 12:18:12 GMT -5
Wow, that's a really cool stone and a great wrap.
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Post by miket on Aug 17, 2019 12:19:42 GMT -5
One of the most beautiful cabs I've seen.
And you did it justice, sir.
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 17, 2019 14:59:53 GMT -5
Beautiful cab, Bill and you did it proud with your wrap!  |
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NevadaBill
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2019
Posts: 1,332
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Post by NevadaBill on Aug 20, 2019 13:53:39 GMT -5
That's a beauty, and really like what you did with it! The spelling on the plastic bag was a bit off, though (should have been "cuprite" and "tenorite" for the last 2 - sometimes hard to figure out what those miners and sellers are trying to say). Thank you very much for clarifying the Cuprite and Tenorite as the remaining two primary elements represented on this stone. I will certainly be passing this information on to my sister right now!
Considering the hardness (or lack thereof) of the stone in general, I am pretty impressed with the shine they put on to it. Much better than any of my work.
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Post by MsAli on Aug 20, 2019 16:00:05 GMT -5
The stone is incredible and I love the wrap you did.
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You have everything to be proud of. I especially like the Colorado River rock. I really do not like the donut, but I have seen very few that I like. Just not a fan of donuts, though you did do a godd job with it. 
