Blue, Blue, Blue

Thank you. I'm self taught and have preferences for shapes. I like to work in a range of 25-45mm in height. I don't like circles and ovals. The standard metal templates offer a square, rectangle and 24x40 and 30x40 pears. I had some plastic templates from the Houston Mineralogical Society that had a small tongue and a short shield. I would make a free form when a scrap lent itself to an odd shape or the original preform fractured. I was making a lot of pears.

There was a discussion here about templates so I ordered a 8.5x11 template with shapes that I liked from the Gem Shop. There are at least 12 shapes from the template I can choose from in addition to the ones I already had.

I am a lot better at finding patterns in a slab than cutting. The more shapes available the more ways to frame a pattern. I've never been really happy with my technique and cutting skills but the additional shapes have taught me how to refine my technique along with making a lot of cabs. The best way to learn technique is with circles and ovals which I avoided. I've learned to work as if I were cutting those shapes no matter what shape I choose. I am able to work with more confidence and don't spend as much time fixing things.