laurieopal

Here it is and I got a pretty good image of it. My first and possibly my only kangaroo. Click on image to get the right photo quality

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it's is sterling with a gorgeous Ethiopian opal. Height is about 2.5 inches. From the collection of Bayla Fine. The kangaroo was her idea and I'm thrilled.

I'm getting ready for Boskone and am super busy.  I will be putting up a couple of new designs I'll be bringing next time I post

This is a stone, Ray Mine Silica, that I am always inspired to work with. And the work and the stone are very right together
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Click on image for excellent view. It makes all the difference.

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I just finished a lovely opal ring that I'm bringing to Boskone and the kangaroo and the nephrite jade are going in the mail tomorrow.

And I'm working on a new pearl pendant that is also going to Boskone.

And this is a Raven brooch that was just finished that's from the collection of Alisa Deer.  I really love making Ravens.

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And now I'm going back to work.

Boston was really fine. I got some fascinating commissions. saw lots of people i really like, and the weather and the travel were excellent.
I felt very luck, I'm very intimidated by east coast winter weather. I've lived in California too long.

The photo of a fossilized snail some millions of years old with cinnamon diamonds is a commission I brought to Boskone.

Fogcon is this weekend. It's a good thing my cat loves his cat sitters otherwise he would be very displeased. I'm looking forward to Fogcon, It's one of my favorites. But I'm also looking forward after it to lots of time to just work on my designs.

The jewelry is almost all done. I just have to solder a few posts on earrings. I just set a brilliant rainbow moonstone in a ring.

The Boston weather looks OK so far and I'm really looking forward to being at Boskone.

Photos are of a pearl necklace I just finished. The main pearl is even more beautiful then the photo. I've been saving it for a long time for the right design.


And this is the close up.

I just finished setting some new rings, including a rose quartz that is truly rose not pink and a stunning golden sheen obsidian. I'm working on setting several more rings as well. And a wonderfully strangely shaped Oregonite as well.

I've been working a lot of hours getting work done and it will be finished in time. although it always feels pretty intense. There is a very recently cast rainbow moonstone that I'm hoping to have ready and I'm also working on a group of earrings.

And I'm thinking about a ring commission I just got from the Steven Universe cartoon series about a young human-gem hybrid. The gems are aliens with special powers and characteristic derived from specific gems. The ring will be a ruby, garnet and sapphire which have special meanings. I'm excited about doing it.


This is the chatoyant malachite pendant I just finished. I love the way the stone incorporates and reflects light.

I've been doing a lot of carving both commissions and new work for Boskone.

Most recently I've been polishing a small group of designs that were just cast. I always spend a lot of time not just on the visible parts of the designs but on the backs as well. Since that's where the sprues (attachments) go in casting, I have to carefully replicate the textures I carved in the waxes in the parts of the metal that are untextured after the sprues are removed. It's very precise and time consuming but I need the back of the insides to be part of the art.

The backs of the bronzes I'm working on will be bright with some contrast. The fronts of the designs will be patinated and have overtones of copper. Given the technique each one comes out a bit different. There will be photos.

The silver I'm working on is antiqued and then polished moderately bright. I like the detail to show.

I'm also carving two new designs. One is a brilliant chatoyent malachite and the other is a white/clear bubble opal. It's a kind of opal that is new to me. It has bubbles inside that were formed under great heat and tiny occasional flashes of color.

I've got a lot of commissions and several sculptures to make. Unfortunately i need this time for my work, so I won't be at Boskone this year.

I'm going to miss everyone but I will see you next time. Have a great convention!

I just got the first group of new stones to bring to Boskone from one of my two lapidaries. Haven't had a chance to look at them yet.

I'm getting organized for the final work on the jewelry. Hopefully will be done by Friday night so I can start working on the other parts of the prep. Have one final lonely pearl dragon to polish.

The commissions I'm bringing with me are all completely finished.

Pendant below is plume agate and sterling silver. I worked hard to get the setting to subtlety reflect the stone. Actual size is about 2". It's from the collection of Marsha Jones.




Much as I'm looking forward to Boskone. I'm _not_ looking forward to winter.

I just got some beautiful new stones including these. Both of them are about 2.5 inches but they photographed so beautifully large I decided to post them that way.

Getting closer to being ready.  Still have a little jewelry work left and then there is display etc.

I photographed a few of the pendants I'm bringing this time.


One of the most stunning moss agates I've ever seen.



A Jelly fish pendant with an Ethiopian opal and a pearl.  I love the aesthetic of jelly fish

Looking forward to seeing friends at Boskone.  Fingers crossed on weather.