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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 8, 2012 20:10:55 GMT -5
Put some flat rate boxes together of a mix of slabs, take some pictures and sell them here in the buy sell area. Might free up some space for ya
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 8, 2012 13:18:26 GMT -5
You did a very fine job on that one. I like the way you shaped the stone and the beading goes well with it.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 8, 2012 3:24:30 GMT -5
Nice cuts...how bad was the flooding out there?
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 8, 2012 1:17:43 GMT -5
VERY well done!!!
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 8, 2012 1:16:17 GMT -5
I imagine that the price this stone could garner is dependent on many details e.g. type of metal used & design.
Bezel or prong setting would work well for a pendant design and a protected type of setting for a ring I imagine. I have advertises this stone for sale on my Facebook page. Solid Opal is getting premium prices right now because there just isn't a lot out there. Visit any major department store jewelry display and you will see very little, if any, solid opal. What you will see a lot of is synthetic opal, doublets and triplets. I hope that helps ltpaulbtv
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 8, 2012 1:02:39 GMT -5
Nice ones Tammy. I hope you sell them all and get a bunch of orders!!
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 8, 2012 0:50:10 GMT -5
Helen, I never made the assumption that Obama would force people to join the Union. I have no idea where you got that from. What I mentioned is what happened here where I am at as a consequence of the stimulus package. Non-union construction companies could not bid on government jobs....period...that is what happened....it put me out of work....I found another way to support my family...would have been illogical for me to sell my house and move to find work elsewhere in light that housing prices had hit rock bottom. I just did what a lot of Americans do.....dust ourselves off and continue on the best way we know......I also NEVER seen anywhere the suggestion that every American must join a Union to get a job. Not sure your motive for putting that out there.....as I said before I usually do not comment on political issues because things can get ugly and I really do not like to invest my time in pointless endeavors...have a great day.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 7, 2012 21:52:01 GMT -5
Thank you everyone.
Chuck,
You can expect to pay $2 and up per gram for decent Australian opal. The sky is the limit depending on quality and type. The rough this one came from was $5 per gram for the rough.
Jason, This stone ROCKS in hand!!
Jan, I did buy other rough of various types of opals.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 7, 2012 5:24:20 GMT -5
Love em!!
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 7, 2012 5:19:35 GMT -5
Don't get me wrong...I liked prevailing wage...but I always wonder how they come up with the amount for the wage....because I never knew anyone who made those wages except owners or government workers....
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 7, 2012 5:12:25 GMT -5
I usually do not get involved in politics but I would like to share this. One thing that really bothered me is that there was this stipulation in the stimulus package that made it so only union contractors could bid on school construction jobs. I know this because I was a commercial carpenter for a non-union company. I loved the school jobs because we were paid prevailing wage. Once the Obama stimulus deal went through we didn't get anymore school jobs because our company was not allowed to bid. Before that we built over half of the schools and modernization construction around Bakersfield and the surrounding areas....needless to say I was laid off from a job I had had for 8 years of non-stop work....these past two years I have really had to hustle and find work were I could and sell rock. I guess that is why that SEIU union guy spent so much time at the White House while all that stimulus stuff was going on. Hrm... that's terrible Chris. I am not sure how the stimulus worked for school jobs, nor did I even know about stimulus for school jobs. Did a quick google and found this: money.cnn.com/2009/01/14/news/economy/school_stimulus/index.htmI have NO IDEA how union jobs work, because Florida is a non-union state. Nor do I know how stimulus money from the Fed works, because our Gov Rick Scott sent every penny allocated to Florida for the high speed rail back to the Fed, despite our 11% unemployment, nearly all of which came from the construction industry. (and I voted for him...but I don't make the same mistake 2x). I'm not sure about schools. Dumb question... why can't your company sign up with a Union? I don't know how that works, but if you were getting those contracts before, and a Union company is required... wouldn't it be easier to just become a Unionized company? Or, as an experienced Contractor, having worked on the schools, why can't you apply for the Union and apply with the company NOW contracted to build the schools, since you've been laid off? You have 8 years experience doing the work that they newly started to do. If the company just got that work and never had it before, you sure they aren't hiring? How do you join the Union? My husband's cousin was renovating schools and doing school work, and his company was not Union (no construction in Florida is Union), and they are still doing that. I don't have any idea if that's from Federal money, but given our crashed real estate prices, I don't think our counties could afford ANY renovations, so I'd think it must be. I wonder about that stimulus requirement... if Florida isnt' required to provide Union contracts, there are no construction Unions, why would they require it in California? You SURE that isn't a state requirement? You know what I would do? I'd write a personal letter to Obama and tell him that you had that work for 8 years, and with his Union requirement, they won't hire you, AND won't let you join the Union. Ask HIM to help you join the Union so you can feed your kids! I've read that he sometimes reads and responds to personal letters, you have nothing to lose. If it's true that Unions are REQUIRED, it may make him rethink how screwed up stealing the work from a company doing it to give a company who wasn't doing it. Make sure you mention your children and how hard it's been to feed them since they took your work away. Before you do this tho... make very sure that that was part of the stimulus itself, and that your company didn't just lose the bidding because they weren't competitive, or graft from the replacement company to grease the palm of the schools, or state/local requirement. So many times people blame things on the Federal Gov't, when it had absolutely nothing to do with them. But if you find out that it DOES, write the letter both to him and to your state congressman and Senator. That's what you elected them for right, to HELP constituents? You are a constituent, and the worst they can do is ignore you and do nothing. Well if you don't tell them, they're doing nothing anyway, so what do you lose, an hour of your time writing it? I have never understood why people do not complain to the source when they hit personal difficulty caused by the source. You have been treated unfairly, I'd find out how that happened, and when I found the cause, I'd let them know and ask them to fix it. The reason your husband's cousin was still working is because as you said your Governor did not accept any stimulus money...would have put a lot a people out of work and could have helped imbed union power that is obviously unwanted in your State. I have been in construction for over 25 years. I started out as a union carpenter. All the union ever done for me is take my dues. We no longer need unions in this country. Anymore they are just a political/social tool. The market in my area was considered too small for the unions at one time. They built most of the schools in the larger markets. Once the stimulus package went into effect and the company I worked for could no longer bid, the union moved in. Yes we could have become a union shop but by doing that we would have actually brought home less of our earnings after the union took their cut. Make no mistake, I could have joined the union. No one did not allow me to join. It would have cost right around $2000 to join plus monthly dues and deductions for various things including the unions political activities. I chose not to join...been there done that....and it cost me and when I thought I could depend on the unions promises they basically closed the door.....no need for me to beg for help from the government...I am an American, I just figured out another way to keep my house and feed my kids.....I just switched gears and did something else.....had no time to write letters and hope some government official would get me out of the mess they created...I just got myself out of it..thank you for your suggestions...good night
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 7, 2012 3:18:14 GMT -5
I usually do not get involved in politics but I would like to share this. One thing that really bothered me is that there was this stipulation in the stimulus package that made it so only union contractors could bid on school construction jobs. I know this because I was a commercial carpenter for a non-union company. I loved the school jobs because we were paid prevailing wage. Once the Obama stimulus deal went through we didn't get anymore school jobs because our company was not allowed to bid. Before that we built over half of the schools and modernization construction around Bakersfield and the surrounding areas....needless to say I was laid off from a job I had had for 8 years of non-stop work....these past two years I have really had to hustle and find work were I could and sell rock. I guess that is why that SEIU union guy spent so much time at the White House while all that stimulus stuff was going on.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 6, 2012 15:03:01 GMT -5
Your too funny Diane....thanks everyone!
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 6, 2012 15:00:58 GMT -5
Just finished these ones up this morning. Started last night. Last Chance Canyon Moss Agate Mexican Opal Anniversary Plume Agate
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 6, 2012 2:01:53 GMT -5
Pretty cool Woody.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 6, 2012 0:52:24 GMT -5
Yes finished stones and rough are pricey right now. All the opal miners are now gold miners!
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 6, 2012 0:51:10 GMT -5
Better than the first one I did!! Well done.
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 6, 2012 0:49:50 GMT -5
Lets see if this posts this time.... From the rough I got at the AOS opal show on Saturday 12.5mm x 8.5mm x 2.99mm 1.7ct
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 5, 2012 17:59:07 GMT -5
Here you go Steve So I started to take picture of this show and my camera died and I forgot to pack backup batteries. At least I got some photos of Stan McCall's pendants and some of the cut stones he offers. I will post an opal I cut today from some rough I got from the show. Here are the photos I managed to get. OPAL GEM SILICA PENDANTS
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Post by christopherl1234 on Nov 5, 2012 14:40:10 GMT -5
Nice ones.
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