Shinies

[Seolta]

Not all of these still exist, and I apologize in advance for the poor photography...this is what I keep busy at when not making actors wear funny clothes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/IMG_0072.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/IMG_0071.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/IMG_0070.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/IMG_0068.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/IMG_0067.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/IMG_0065.jpg

To be continued...

[Seolta]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/AAAA0016.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/AAAA0015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/AAAA0012.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/AAAA0010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/AAAA0009.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/AAAA0007.jpg

[Seolta]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/aventurine.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/tigerjasper2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/pearl.jpg

I also used to make wands that a friend sold in her shop on consignment:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/oak1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/galaxy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/bloodmoon.jpg
Wish I had photos of the fanciest of the lot...was tipped with sunstone and had little green glass beaded leaves and brass wire wrapped around...took that thing a year to find a buyer, but in the meantime everyone who went in the store had to pick it up and play with it.

[Leffy]

those are too pretty. i WILL raid your jewelry box. allergy be damned.

[Big Otis Landfish]

Oh, man... these look like beauties! I wish the photos were a bit clearer, but you did warn us. ;)


If you make anything new, please post pics (btw, have you tried using the macro function on your camera?).

[Seolta]

those are too pretty. i WILL raid your jewelry box. allergy be damned.
What are you allergic to?(most of these are strung beads; polished stone and glass, with minimal metal) And why would you raid my jewelry box? Most of what I make isn't for me, it's for gifts and for potentially selling...

If you make anything new, please post pics (btw, have you tried using the macro function on your camera?).

Sadly, my camera doesn't speak English, so there's a lot on it I can't do...my camera-phone takes much clearer pictures, but I've got no way to upload 'em to the computer once they're taken.

As requested, though:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/pendants.jpg
(an example of wirework)

[Seolta]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/tigereye.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/purple.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/pomegranate.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/mossy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/bluepirate.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/copperblue.jpg
(note to self: silk does odd things to photos)

[Leffy]

my allergy is really bad. 24 kt gold or titanium only. even simple clasps break me out bad. if its 10kt gold or higher i can wear it up to two or three hours before it hurts. any other metals and it does an itchy burn in under 30 minutes.

i have to put nail polish on my pant buttons.

[Seolta]

my allergy is really bad. 24 kt gold or titanium only. even simple clasps break me out bad. if its 10kt gold or higher i can wear it up to two or three hours before it hurts. any other metals and it does an itchy burn in under 30 minutes.

i have to put nail polish on my pant buttons.

Ah, so metal allergy...hrm...think I had a pattern somewhere for a toggle-clasp woven with seed beads...if not, a nice plastic, shell, or bone button and a loop of beads would do well...*wanders off pondering*

[Big Otis Landfish]

my allergy is really bad. 24 kt gold or titanium only. even simple clasps break me out bad. if its 10kt gold or higher i can wear it up to two or three hours before it hurts. any other metals and it does an itchy burn in under 30 minutes.

i have to put nail polish on my pant buttons.

How about platinum-group metals? Yah, platinum is ridiculously expensive, but palladium is about the same as 18k gold... nice jewelery metal.

[Leffy]

haven't tried it yet.i don't like things THAT expensive.

[reo01]

Oooh I see lots of fuzzy but lovely semiprecious stones there! Very nice work, Seolta!
I guess if I wanna show a couple pics too, I'd be better off starting my own thread, aye? Don't wanna hijack yours... :)

[Seolta]

leffy: boyperson was asking if you were part-werewolf or something... ;)

[Leffy]

is he afraid i'd bite? hehehe nah i just have that whole excess hormone issue that creates the "allergy" to certain metals. i excrete chemicals that when in contact with certain other metals can create a new chemical that my body rejects. so technically i'm not allergic to the metal. i'm allergic to myself when i wear the metal.

[reo01]

Whoa!

[xX-ALTAIR-Xx]

so she does have a weakness! *goes off and rebuilds fort with silver stakes arround the base*

[Plunder Down-Under]

*goes off to build fort out of chairs*

Im not actually attempting to fend off anything, this is just what I do at school

[Crazeyal]

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x272/crazeyal/20030113.gif

[Plunder Down-Under]

... Would it be bad to point out I finished building a couch fort before coming here?

My dog's in it now!

[Crazeyal]

Nah... We kinda already know..

[Plunder Down-Under]

I love building fort type things from my surroundings.

Ooh! A Person fort! That'd be cool!!

[Crazeyal]

uh..

That's an orgy Plunder..

[Plunder Down-Under]

Hmm.. Maybe I shouldt try and get my friends to help me make a people for then.

[Mike Taylor]

Seolta, when you go to make your jewelry are there any particular brands you recommend, or do you just go with whatever strikes your fancy at the moment?

[Seolta]

Seolta, when you go to make your jewelry are there any particular brands you recommend, or do you just go with whatever strikes your fancy at the moment?


I tend to prefer stones and other natural materials to glass, and don't use plastic...beyond that, though, it varies. Sometimes I'll start with a design in my mind, sketch it out or take notes, and then go looking for the appropriate materials, and other times something(like the little white-and-gold glass faces I found a while back) will catch my eye, or I'll get a sudden urge to work with a particular type of stone.

[Mike Taylor]

Cool.

I've finished up some of the costume jewelry for the Space Pirate. I'm using leather cord and metallic beads

The semi-precious stones are not a bad idea. I just have to find some that will fit the cord I'm using.

[Leffy]

know anything about shaping hematite and the best tools for it? its fragil but i can only ever find goofy dorky shapes that are too big, and i'm making a choker.

[Seolta]

know anything about shaping hematite and the best tools for it? its fragil but i can only ever find goofy dorky shapes that are too big, and i'm making a choker.


not really, no...haven't really tried carving stone before. there's a bead shop locally that has small animals carved from hematite(among other things), but I don't know about goofy dorky shapes.

[Leffy]

hematites in big supply down here and if you own a knick knack shop you sell it. downside is these shops all sell the same o, hollowed heart, hollowed star shapes that are always two inches big

[reo01]

Try www.firemountaingems.com leffy...

[Seolta]

and more:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/leaf1.jpg
Copper chain, silvertone leaf charms

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/pearl1.jpg
Green aventurine and freshwater pearls

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/bronze.jpg
Blue/bronze tigereye, sterling wire, silvertone chain, bronze/gold freshwater pearls

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/eyelace1.jpg
Sterling wire, tigereye, silvertone chain; made as part of boss's birthday present

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/pectoral1.jpg
Tigereye, moss jasper, bone; made for SOLAR character who may or may not actually end up being played

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/yellow.jpg
Yellow glass, non-tarnishing silver wire, silvertone chain

[Seolta]

Oh, and Leffy?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/nometal.jpg
8" bracelet, garnet and freshwater pearl with glass seed beads

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/owlofdusk/clasp.jpg
Toggle clasp on abovementioned bracelet, woven from glass seed beads

Not a bit o' metal in the whole thing :)

[Leffy]

how much you askin?

[Seolta]

how much you askin?

For the bracelet? Probably about $12...I also do custom pieces, though pricing on those would depend on how time-consuming it was, and cost of materials. Minus the wirework pieces(obviously), I could replicate most of the things I've posted on here in metal-free versions.

[Leffy]

well this weeks check is spoken for, i'll get back to you about it next week k?

[Seolta]

well this weeks check is spoken for, i'll get back to you about it next week k?


No rush :)

[Leffy]

on the side... if i posted some of my paperbacks on amazon for sale, you think i could sell them? between paying peoples gas, and trying to keep from accidentilly starving myself and my bills, i'm still in need of cash.

[Seolta]

it's worth a shot...I put my textbooks and such up on half.com when I'm through with 'em, and have sold a few that way.

[Big Otis Landfish]

on the side... if i posted some of my paperbacks on amazon for sale, you think i could sell them? between paying peoples gas, and trying to keep from accidentilly starving myself and my bills, i'm still in need of cash.

Gots any Terry Pratchett?

It's tough to find used here, and I want to get Mom started for Xmas.

[Ike]

I've got loads of Pratchett, but I'm in Britain. Is it worth it?
Hope you don't mind me butting in.

[Big Otis Landfish]

*ducks down alley to keep from threadjacking the shiny market*

Probably not worth it for either of us... Amazon's got new Pratchett paperbacks at about $10 CDN and I could order enough other stuff to get free shipping. I've ordered the compact editions out of the UK as a gift, which were worth it since they are tiny!

With the Canuckistani dinar on the up and up, it should be well worth it for the Americans, though.

[Leffy]

um. i have atleast one pratchett i can remember bulk the bulk of my books are supernatural romance. tallied up how many i can bear to part ways with yesterday on my day off as around 120. sadly this is only a quarter of what i own and is actually a testament of my lack of will power and power of clutter, but hey i figure most were originally $7 for me, and are safely selling at atleast $2.50 each, as well as have been kept in pretty damn good condition. most don't even have that telltale corner bending or spine crack look.

i'm very picky about my books.

[Big Otis Landfish]

Coincidentally picked up the two books I was especially looking for at a late night used bookshop yesterday, but I'd still like to get my hands on The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic and Guards! Guards!

[meghasissues]

Coincidentally picked up the two books I was especially looking for at a late night used bookshop yesterday, but I'd still like to get my hands on The Colour of Magic, The Light Fantastic and Guards! Guards!

i have all of those. they're pretty good but you can definitely see how his writing has gotten better.

i'm waiting for a cheap copy of the newest book. we don't really have a big book store within walking distance so i have to wait for the school store to try to get rid of it

[Big Otis Landfish]

i'm waiting for a cheap copy of the newest book. we don't really have a big book store within walking distance so i have to wait for the school store to try to get rid of it

Gots it on hold at the library. ^^

But I want to get my mom going on 'em for xmas, so I want to start her at the start. And wean her off Harry Potter.

[Leffy]

does dumbledore creep you now :P

[Big Otis Landfish]

Not at all... actually finally decided to read the series (still waiting for the last one) - I refused to start until it was finished to avoid pulling a Wheel of Time (been reading that since Plunder was an oocyte).

There was never any reason to think of Dumbledore as straight, so the 'big revelation' is completely meh.

But Pratchett's way better than Harry Potter, so I think I'll start her out on 'Equal Rites' and go from there. She's never really read any fantasy.

[Leffy]

eh. the revelation only upset me because i know that harpy's going to start her bitching again. she was pissy enough over the books turning our children to occult practices now shes going to flip her lid.

[Plunder Down-Under]

Which harpy?

[Mike Taylor]

eh. the revelation only upset me because i know that harpy's going to start her bitching again. she was pissy enough over the books turning our children to occult practices now shes going to flip her lid.

I take it The Harpy is a relative?

[sableagle]

On photography: you want a telephoto lens and a tripod. Macro is great for what it does, but if you get right in with a macro lens on an SLR you have to choose which side of which leg of the ant is going to be in focus.

Imagine, if you will, a pale capital T marked on a piece of paper and pencil lines from the ends of the top through the base of the stem. Where the pencil lines are separate it's out of focus. Where they overlap by less than half their width it's in soft focus and where they overlap by more than half it's in focus. The longer the stem of the T and the narrower the top, the sharper the angle between them and the longer the overlapping part will be. This is your depth of focus.

For a portrait, you will often want to get close and use a wide aperture, as this puts the background way out of focus, making the person the undisputed subject and blurring away fenceposts, For Sale signs and abandoned wheelbarrows. For a landscape, it hardly matters, as you're going to be so far away your depth of focus will be measured in miles. For a garden, you probably want long depth of focus to get it all in. In the case of jewellery, you want depth of focus at least as long as the distance from the front of the item to the back. This may require you to stand at the far side of the room.

If you're a natural born sniper, that's all. If not, you have an exposure issue developing. The amount of light incident on the front lens of your camera from any given point on the item is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, so if you're twice as far away your front lens only gets a quarter as much light. If you're four times as far away it's one sixteenth. Narrowing the aperture also reduces the amount of light you get. Standing back with a narrow aperture will therefore mean you have to hold the shot for longer to let enough light in to actually make a picture. That's what the tripod's for.

Some of those pictures are burned by the flash, too, as it's bouncing right back rather too brightly. For jewellery, you should try to get some tight point lights off to the side, very bright white LEDs or some such, rather than using flash. For portraits, it's better to get a diffuse light source, which is what those big golden reflectors are for.

[Seolta]

Ok, explanation as to the photography: I don't use the flash, if I can help it, because it does tend to bounce light off the pieces too much, particularly the shiny parts, but I don't really have any control over that. My camera is a fairly inexpensive(under $100) Phillips brand digital camera, and for some reason it refuses to speak English. There are no icons on the menu to figure out what's what, and all text and symbols are characters from what seems to be an Asian language. I have no way of telling it even to turn the flash on or off, much less anything about macros or resolution, because I can't read anything on the menu, and I never could find any help on the problem on the company's support site. It has no fancy lenses, just the one that's built in. I've found that it generally will leave the flash off if I use enough other lighting, so I have lamps and such(including an ott-light) nearby to provide said lighting. I do what I can, with what I have, and make my apologies for image quality.

[Crazeyal]

Actually, most cameras have a function for different languages. Do a quick check for the camer's manufacturer, and call the tech line. A live human trumps instructions every time. Explain that the default language needs to be english, and you should be given a quick "push this then this" explanation to default the camera.

[Crazeyal]

Quick thought...

Do you have the instruction booklet? If you find the string of commands, you don't HAVE to read the language. It'll be one down, enter, two left etc etc

[Seolta]

Quick thought...

Do you have the instruction booklet? If you find the string of commands, you don't HAVE to read the language. It'll be one down, enter, two left etc etc


Nope...that's why I went looking for online assistance before, actually...it said the instructions were available online at their website.

[Seolta]

Finally, some decent photos...the boyperson brought his camera when he came to visit, and it works much better than mine (http://iunnrais.livejournal.com/248255.html).

[Crazeyal]

Have you considered an Ebay store for these?

[Seolta]

Have you considered an Ebay store for these?

Coworker suggested trying ebay as well...right now, I'm seeing how it goes with the etsy ("http://griffynsnest.etsy.com) thing, first...have sold one item thus far.

[DarkPirateShea]

Seolta, do you have a scanner?
My mom discovered a while ago that you get REALLY crisp jewelry pictures if you put 'em on the scanner. You can even lay a piece of black cloth (preferrably something thick/matte, like crushed velvet or somthing) on top to create a nice black background.