Hearts in Stone, lapidary art Options

[Denise]

Good eye Astrobleme! I need to get me one of those stereo microscopes, great close up picture!

Here is a beauty that was just finished and shipped out. It's a cool piece of Chrysoprase with some very interesting inclusions.
Both sides are finished, but I can't decide what side I like better. Dan drilled the hole and set the setting for it.

Here are both sides pictured.........






I think it turned out great!! I hope she likes it.

[swizz]

She is gonna LOVE it! You guys did a great job on this and I am very appreciative!

Here's a shot that displays it's translucency before I ship it off today. Thanks!!! It is beautiful, well done!

[Denise]

Your very welcome Chris! Great picture of it back lit, it shows the inclusions great.

Here is a Australian boulder Opal heart (32x32) that I just finished. I'm not sure what I will do with it yet though....... I might add it to the "Treasure Chest" prizes. I'm still trying to decide. It even has the hugs and kisses symbols on the left side.......oxo
I will try to get a picture of that side later.

Front....



Back....



Something about making hearts sure makes me feel really good.

[Denise]

Here is the side view.......sorry for the bad pictures, my picture taking has been really off lately.
The top o is cut off in the pic, but its complete.

I forgot to mention the two love birds I see in the stone. The one in flight is on the side between the o and the x, and the other is sitting near the upper top left looking right of the front of the heart. Can anyone else see them or am I just being silly?

[swizz]

My brain sees something completely different there.
I see a woman's figure like a carving or statue on the front of an ancient sailing vessel.
The figure's waistline begins at the top of the blue X... where it changes color. Torso is a bit deformed but she appears to be facing right pointing her chin high.... the top of the yellowish material being her head.


Regardless, that is a beautiful piece!

[Denise]

Thanks Chris, that one was added to the "CP Treasure Chest" as the newest item for choices.

I try to see the lady that you see, but everytime I try to see her head, I see Homer Simpson's head facing right with his mouth open about to eat a square doughnut with a hole.

Here is a fantastic piece of Colorado petrified wood from colo_heff that will be made into a 32x32 heart. This one will be fun to work!

[Denise]

Here are three Wyoming Jade hearts CP's grandpa was working on a long time ago. Both sides are worked and the edge comes together great. They almost look like heart guitar picks. These are very special, not only because his grandpa made them but he and his partner were the men who discovered Jade in Wyoming.

[Denise]

Here is a banded Fluorite heart I made Dan's mom.
This stuff is fun to work but so soft it is like butter on the diamond wheels. Took a great shine and feels like a piece of candy in hand.

[Denise]

Here is one I recently finished. Sweet little Opal I hand shaped and polished with Diamond hand files and wet dry sandpaper. It measures approx. 10x10 mm.
A firend of ours saw it and thought it would make the perfect ring, so she is going to have it set for herself.

Here's to lovin' Opals!

[Denise]

Here is a cool 26x26 mm petrified wood heart from South Park Colorado that I made. It is a matching stone from the guitar I am making. I also have a standard guitar pick that will also match. The darker patterns in the stone are translucent when held up to the light. Pictures of both sides finished.....

[Denise]

Lee won the seasonal drawing and chose the large boulder Opal heart pictured above in several pictures!
It is a great heart and it's good to see it get a new home. Congratulations Lee!!

[Denise]

I love making hearts in stone! I was looking over a few very tiny pieces of Opal that I had. I flattened a back side to a few and dopped them to toothpicks with superglue. Looking over one I said, "this one would make a great little heart, I would just need to work it by hand still on the stick!" I looked over at Dan and he replied "no you can't" and then smiled really big. That would be way too hard to do babe, you can barely even see it now let alone work it to a polish."..... He really knows how to inspire me. He knows I hate being told that! Sorry, just a girl. By far the smallest heart I have made yet! By the end of the day, I had not only made it a 3.17 x3.17 mm (1/8 x 1/8 in.) polished heart, but I took pictures!

The larger one measures 6 x 6 mm. Still not the best Opal pictures but hopefully practice will help. Both polished on the back sides also! The smaller one in this picture looks like a shot from space if you look at the larger image for more detail.


They will make great little inlays for something I think.

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[Denise]

For anyone interested in this thread......Another Opal heart (5 x 5 mm) with a tiny circle. Not a perfect heart shape but i thought I would share a picture with everyone. Both are polished on the back sides also.

I have to admit....I could not have made any of these smaller Opal hearts without my 20x loop. Work it a bit, look at it through the loop.....over and over. How else could I see if there were any scratches while I work it?

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[Voltaire]

Welo?

[Denise]

Yes those are Welo. I love Opals!! Here are a few Australian boulder Opals. Holes drilled and ready to be set.

Front and back side.....

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