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Post by kk on Mar 31, 2016 20:36:31 GMT -5
The coral flower is so beautiful! Does heated amber smell like pine tree resin? Adrian This type goes actually one step further; not only is the smell there, but the material somehow is able to excite taste-buds. It actually allows you to taste the resin (the more included the stronger the sensation, so I presume its the dark sap).
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Post by kk on Mar 31, 2016 20:25:26 GMT -5
Hi there, hope you dont mind me adding pics to your fantastic post (if not appropriate, please just delete) Different continent, same scenario. We had the longest, coldest (for us) and dimmest (least sunny days) winter on record. Now slowly things come back to what we are used to. Cotton tree flower National flower: Bauhinia Cought those two fellows enjoying themselves in the sunlight (last Sunday) Kingfisher is just a bit out of range for clear picture (about 120 yards away) As said, things finally come alive here and blooms are everywhere Does not mean air-quality is better too. Last but not least; does anyone recognize this plant? Krista (my daughter) took seeds from what we presumed where dandelions in Austria last year. We germinated some in November and planted. Grew one flowering stalk and started an avalanche of plants sprouting downhill here in the village. Leaves seem to be similar, but the flower is absolutely not. So no clue what we started here.
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Post by kk on Mar 31, 2016 20:05:52 GMT -5
Off the chart work. Kids fighting over that one. Fantabolous work, showing what ingenuity and real patience can achieve. And James, there are quite a few pieces that they will fight over......
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Post by kk on Mar 31, 2016 20:00:40 GMT -5
The third looks like Dendrite Agate from Turkey. The second, concur with Obsidian. Have seen something similar before.
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Post by kk on Mar 31, 2016 11:36:14 GMT -5
Though the amber is a bear to work, it looks like you are winning. Its nearly done. If no stupid mistake happens I should be able to have a showing tomorrow. Will continue to lament the fragility of amber, but carving it? That's actually no different than most materials. Right now, its just a matter of getting it polished up.
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Post by kk on Mar 29, 2016 21:02:38 GMT -5
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Post by kk on Mar 29, 2016 9:06:44 GMT -5
Yep privacy is a problem, but the way I understand it, if you are on the net, anything is available to anyone who wants to snoop into your business. I just keep anything that I don't want to get out off my computer, and FB nothing intensely private will ever be posted.
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Post by kk on Mar 29, 2016 8:31:06 GMT -5
People either love it or hate it. FB is basically the fastfood of the internet. I must admit, I spend a lot more time there than on forums these days, but that's only because there are to few people talking to me on forums. The number of people on FB at any given time, gives a better chance for interaction.
Security: I see a lot of people getting hacked, but have never ever had a single problem myself in 8 years on it. Just ensue that you admit only friends that are in your circle of interest and keep the spammers out. Thats sometimes impossible, but you can bann the few that make it through screening. Business: A lot of interest-groups/pages will allow you to present your ware for sale. Others will not. I'm just a show off and do not sell, so can't help giving advice on how to sell.
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Post by kk on Mar 29, 2016 8:22:04 GMT -5
]Bet you two wizards would get along just fine. Carvers, knappers, tumblers, cab makers should mix with silversmiths. Silversmith can make such creations shine-pun. I wish..... Its sooooo rare to get anyone to collaborate. Trying to find someone to come up with a viable design for my dragonfly now for 3 years.
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Post by kk on Mar 29, 2016 2:42:22 GMT -5
Hmmm Tokai. Enjoyed that little treat a long time ago.
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Post by kk on Mar 28, 2016 23:24:03 GMT -5
Easter has come and gone. Sun finally returned, so time to shift into high gear. Tried the coral first as a cab from a cut-off Hard as hell and easy to shape, so tried carving something easy Then it was high time to get trying on amber. Really wanted to try since a very long time. Had no idea that that stuff is so incredibly sensitive to heat. Have by now wayyyy too many fragments laying around, and that just from trying to cab. So without changing any tools or usual way of doing things, I went on and slowly results come in first two attempts to carve Not finished, just re-did the Yin/Yang and one of the fish again a few minutes ago. There is a strange attraction to the colour when those things are done. Cant really explain it, as I don't really like the colour overall. But its somehow a warm colour that creates points of interest and endearment. So on to something a bit more elaborate Got a completely new form of respect for Preciat Carlos Preciat and Przemysław Kuś who turn out masterpieces with ease. This material is not easy to work at all and needs patience above and beyond what we normally practice. Will not become one of my favorite materials, but will still try a few more, just to prove that I can work with it without having to buy specialized equipment. As said above, hats off to Kus and Carlos who turn out such wonderful delicate pieces every-time they show us something.
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Post by kk on Mar 28, 2016 23:11:11 GMT -5
Absolutely stunning. Why are we not seeing more of his work?
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Post by kk on Mar 18, 2016 17:38:09 GMT -5
Quite a lot of things to like here. For me, th Atlantisite stands out simply because its such a strong colour. Got some here, but somehow, the colour at hand is not one of my favorites. I prefer the darker version.
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Post by kk on Mar 17, 2016 8:14:20 GMT -5
Happy St Patrick Day to all of you out there celebrating it. May the Irish Luck be with you on all your undertakings.
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Post by kk on Mar 14, 2016 21:51:29 GMT -5
I was curious how durable the Indo coral is. If anyone can kk can. Have had some that fell apart fairly quickly and crumbled. But the stuff I got this time is looking good. Was originally after the amber, the coral came as a bonus to counter shipping-costs.
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Post by kk on Mar 14, 2016 8:54:00 GMT -5
Curious to know how the coral carves Kurt. I left amber in the greenhouse and it seem to be melting LOL. Usually, my biggest problems are in the basic cutting-stage as my way is fairly unstable at hand. So most losses are incurred right there in the beginning. This piece thus far has given me zero concern and have not seen the slightest splinter come off.
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Post by kk on Mar 14, 2016 5:48:12 GMT -5
I'm still fascinated and frustrated by how to work the amber. Got some carving preforms done up to 600grid None of those is expected to survive what I got on mind, but gotta try. Something I wanna try next weekend, Indonesian Coral And last but not least finally underway after a disastrous waste of time yesterday (managed to have absolutely nothing to show after trying 3 different things and everything turned into rubble). For a monthly challenge Moss Agate Would have loved to enter something into this months contest, but everything that comes to mind right now too far from the set rules to even start pleading.
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Post by kk on Mar 11, 2016 21:32:08 GMT -5
Wow, lovely piece. Wonder if the growth rings would remain when cabing?
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Post by kk on Mar 9, 2016 1:52:44 GMT -5
Have you tried heating the material before cutting ? That might help combat the crumbling. Not a severe amount of heating, just enough to make it very warm to the touch, by playing a hair drier over it. Maybe use a fine tooth jewelers saw ? Heating would be one of the options. But,.... all the baltic stuff is altered in one way or other already, so I rather take on all the troubles and keep it as natural as possible.
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Post by kk on Mar 8, 2016 23:12:24 GMT -5
Amazing little critter, but I wouldn't have the patience for that. Too many opportunities for disaster. I didn't realize Amber was so unpredictable. Darryl. Sure they are, but there are lots of materials out there that present similar challenges, and yet we take our time and chances.
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