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Post by kk on Sept 28, 2014 17:57:35 GMT -5
You got some nice pieces there. Why not give it a try with a piece or two that you dont like that much and see where it leads. The practice will get you the confidence to try the better ones. While the pics dont give away much, I think there might be some nice colours in there.
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Post by kk on Sept 28, 2014 9:11:44 GMT -5
Great use of material. I like the wood/stone/brass mixture best.
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Post by kk on Sept 28, 2014 9:02:57 GMT -5
Great trip. Looks like you had fun.
Thanks for bringing us along. Always good to see the trips you folks are on.
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Post by kk on Sept 28, 2014 8:59:12 GMT -5
Thanks for the laugh! Great subject.
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Post by kk on Sept 28, 2014 8:56:16 GMT -5
Looking awesome. Are you keeping one and cut up the other? Would make some stunning cabs.
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Post by kk on Sept 28, 2014 7:12:56 GMT -5
Not sure if this is the right place, but no other category really fits those two. :dontknow: I recently got lucky and someone send me two wonderful and strange abnormalities of nature. First up Slaughter Mountain Odd colour inside out. No valuable colours detected up to now, but large areas of Crackle pattern that I might or might not be able to preserve. Now all the colours have been replaced by actual Fire Agate colours. A bit dark and need sun to shine. But its early days and a lot of changes can happen with every turn. There is a solid layer of colour somewhere about 8 - 15mm into the stone, but we do not need to go there because 80% of the colour that you saw earlier was turned into iridescent colour. Weaved trougout the stone is crackle, mixed with pink, reddish (actual FA colour, not sard layer on top) golden and brown and saw some green. Did the top today and tested several spots for better colour. Top works out slowly but surely. Unfortunately the search for better colour did not turn out as well. Opposite, made a major mistake and at one spot instead of finding bubbles that I saw clearly a moment earlier I went down into empty space. As that was at a prominent location, I will have to figure out a way to either go deeper and find something or find a way to cut around it. The second is Negrita from Mexico. Negrita has the challenge of near black agate covering the fire. So its a guessing-game for every mm along the way. Luckily it seems to have a clear layer just before hitting the colour. It a material that had been on my wishlist since forever. So close and yet so far. I expect to be on those two guys for at least a month or more. Best regards, Kurt
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Post by kk on Sept 24, 2014 7:51:22 GMT -5
Love a lot of them, but for me the Montanas take it all the way.
Unknown 2 looks to me like Polka Dot that I had a few years ago. The layers of jasper seem rather solidly fused with the agate.
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Post by kk on Sept 14, 2014 16:56:27 GMT -5
What material did you use for the owl ? A white jade ? Origin is lost in time, but remember that the owl is common opal.
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Post by kk on Sept 14, 2014 7:03:15 GMT -5
Still not finished, but getting closer. Material is surprisingly easy to work, but having trouble envisioning the dophin coming into the picture from top. Getting a bit better color as I move down the layers. Coveted steel-blue in there. But dont really like that colour. Looks dirty at hand(to me) And last but not least, started a jumbo project. Negrita mine Mexico Nasty business, digging through black agate/sard trying to get to the color. But,...... Looks very promising. Could be a good 4 inches of color if I dont mess up. Best regards, Kurt
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Post by kk on Sept 14, 2014 6:14:59 GMT -5
Interesting material you got there. Keep them coming.
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Post by kk on Sept 14, 2014 6:13:33 GMT -5
Me too. Love the Thundereggs. Morrisonite is always a treat too.
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Post by kk on Sept 1, 2014 20:59:32 GMT -5
Thank you Fossilman It's Unique. You should add your carved mouse to it? You still remember those mice?
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Post by kk on Sept 1, 2014 20:52:57 GMT -5
Never seen anything like it kk. I sure like the way the light passes thru it. Opal is like no other stone and the thin areas really show it off. It is very ornamental. A subject to carve is going to keep me anticipating. I like it just the way it is in it's free form state. Nearly everything I have done to-date, needs movement in order to really see what attracted me to it in the first place. This piece is no different. While not as "in the face" exiting, without being back-lit, it does have some strong color-spots and is still covered in flashes. But they are subtle and come from a variety of angles, so it would still need uninhibited movement.
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Post by kk on Sept 1, 2014 20:27:00 GMT -5
Ohhhh yess, very nice piece. Shape compliments the colour and a super finish. Well worth the trade.
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Post by kk on Sept 1, 2014 20:21:23 GMT -5
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Post by kk on Sept 1, 2014 4:34:23 GMT -5
As the last one went quite well, on to the next one, but this time with some actual carving. Just cleaned off all the sand I can reach today, and somehow, I think a mermaid could be hiding in there. So will see what that leads to.
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Post by kk on Sept 1, 2014 0:09:34 GMT -5
OK finally went on to the eyes. The right one needs to go just a little deeper and just tucked under the brow. Other than that, they seem to fit, physically as well as visually. :occasion14:
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Post by kk on Aug 31, 2014 20:41:52 GMT -5
Yeah gingerkid, Anna just confirmed, it is Lightning Ridge opal. Will start a dully "Black" today that should give room for some type of actual carving later.
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Post by kk on Aug 31, 2014 16:59:29 GMT -5
Thank you for the kind words. I'm not sure as to exact origin, this was mixed with black opal. LR would be my guess. Felt for surface, and bamboo for any nook and crannies. Yes in the set of four pictures: The first looks like a creature of early Halloween, and he last like a creature dancing. A man? have not seen him yet, but there are lots of possibilities to see all sorts of things. Now, the question will be as to how to string it up safely for wearing.
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Post by kk on Aug 31, 2014 9:08:38 GMT -5
A few months ago. I was gifted some opals for carving, and after cleaning up as far as I dared, I left them sit for a while. Last week, I started digging into a piece that seemed good for practice and dug out all the dirt I could get at. Now, I'm left with what I call an Australian Swiss Cheese! After some more cleaning up and basic polish, this is what I'm looking at: And here once more, back and front and up-side down for good meassure It turned out a crazy shape and needs some more actual cleaning after going maybe another round or two at polishing. Its chaotic, and fire covers most surfaces from one angle or another, plus comes in at 20ct. Like it, that one will surely remain mine! Yipie, my first opal done! Finally! Thanks for looking, Kurt
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