Sea Turtle addiction Options

[EchoBravo]

It seems after I made the first one (a Petosky Turtle) for my wife, it just got more interesting from there.

Petosky



Adventurine


Tiger eye / Lapidolite on Amethyst


Amethyst




Flourite










Rose Quartz / Peridot / Apache Tears

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[James and Cyndi]

Very cool!

[Denise]

Those are fantastic, you did a great job on them!
Being from Michigan, I am especially fond of your original "Petosky Turtle".

[EchoBravo]

Thanks James and Cyndi.. Thanks Denise.. Yes those petosky stones polish up really nice if you can find the right one. It took me a few trial and errors to find that one. I am still pretty new with the lapidary techniques but have jumped in head first anyways. Something soothing about grinding down rocks into a beautiful polished specimen. I can lose hours quickly when I get into it. My latest dabble is in rings. I found a lady who makes some really nice blank sterling silver rings using the lost wax method. So I had to give it a go. I thought they came out pretty nice.
My first two rings:
pietersite & larimar

[swizz]

Being a Yooper, I'm also a huge fan of the Petosky. All of your pieces are amazing! Very good finish work and an outstanding eye for placement, true artistry.
Have you ever done anything with Great Lakes fossilized Coral?

[EchoBravo]

Being a Yooper, I'm also a huge fan of the Petosky. All of your pieces are amazing! Very good finish work and an outstanding eye for placement, true artistry.
Have you ever done anything with Great Lakes fossilized Coral?

Thanks Swizz.. thats really nice of you to say.. as I feel I need to work more on my patience, but at the same time I do feel I am getting better at the details.
No never seen great lakes coral... but sounds really cool. Now I'll have to go look it up.

[swizz]

So, I did a little quick Google research and it turns out they are one in the same: Petosky

[EchoBravo]

ha ha I noticed that too along with a few other coral species.. so I guess I have.

[EchoBravo]

Thought I would add another turtle made from (montana agate/agatized wood) that was part of a 'free montana agates' post that was posted for members by Denise. A nice benefit for being a member. We walked away with quite a few Montana Agates. Here is my first creation from that pile of beautiful rocks.

[Colorado Roots]

Awesome!!

Great idea and even better execution...fantastic!

[Crusty]

your turtles are awesome! Do you sell them? Got a friend who recently sold her house and is full-time RVing. She has some nice turtle displays she had to put in storage and one of these small ones would be a much appreciated item for her to have in her RV!

[EchoBravo]

your turtles are awesome! Do you sell them? Got a friend who recently sold her house and is full-time RVing. She has some nice turtle displays she had to put in storage and one of these small ones would be a much appreciated item for her to have in her RV!

If you have some materials that you would like to see turned into a turtle, I would be more than happy to make you one free of charge. Just take care of the shipping for me. :)

[Woody]

Hey EchoBravo,

This is a little off topic, but I go to ask. Did your passion for Turtles start in Camp Casey?

Few would ever connect the relevance. It possibly even pre-dates you.

Just poking fun, Woody.

[EchoBravo]

Hey EchoBravo,

This is a little off topic, but I go to ask. Did your passion for Turtles start in Camp Casey?

Few would ever connect the relevance. It possibly even pre-dates you.

Just poking fun, Woody.

LOL! are you asking because Camp Casey was where the 2nd Inf Div new comers had to process through the Turtle farm? Oh the memories.. ha ha.

[EchoBravo]

Turtle for Crusty: (pick one for your friend as I will geocache the other one and post after my vacation)
Not finished yet but if you are like me I love sneak peeks.. :) still need to attach to the leather and some pruning is in order.

Turtle A: Petrified wood with UV light reaction, calcite must have replaced some of the wood (guessing). The head is a MN Superior agate found locally. The petrified wood came from the FREE rockhound stash in Wyoming Denise posted in the Members only section.





Turtle B: Montana Agate body is also from the FREE rockhound stash. The head is another MN Superior agate.








Hope you like them.
Echo

[Denise]

Those turned out great, you do fantastic work! I really like the Montana agate one.

[EchoBravo]

Thanks Denise, you are one of the main reasons that it was even possible for that turtle to exist. :^) That beautiful agate came from that Wyoming stash and it keeps on giving..

[Crusty]

Both are stunning, but that Montana agate is a stunning piece!

[EMac]

As someone who can only draw crooked stick figures, I appreciate the artists out there who can produce beautiful pieces with your hands. Well done on these turtles!

Ever consider making chess pieces in a similar fashion?

[EchoBravo]

As someone who can only draw crooked stick figures, I appreciate the artists out there who can produce beautiful pieces with your hands. Well done on these turtles!

Ever consider making chess pieces in a similar fashion?

Thanks EMac,
Funny you should mention chess pieces.. It's one of my future goals. I have been trying to perfect my lapidary skills as to not waste too much material for when I get to making the chess pieces. I am still trying to figure out which materials to use for the opposing sides (I like unique & uncommon). Like if meteorites weren't soo expensive and rare, it would be cool to see a dinobone vs meteorite set! Have been looking for unique mineral rough in abundance that the colors don't degrade too much from piece to piece and are fairly similar in color. So I have to build up my equipment by adding a large slab saw some day ($$ yikes). It seems it would be the only way to guarantee they all look similar, if I can cut them from one large rock/mineral rough that would be ideal. so YES I have thought about it from time to time.. :^).

Thanks.. Montana Agate is yours Crusty.. pm sent.

[Crusty]

, it would be cool to see a dinobone vs meteorite set!

Thanks.. Montana Agate is yours Crusty.. pm sent.

Now that's funny!

And thank you very much!