Alcohol Ink and Faux Bone

Shown are a few alcohol inked tiles of Faux Bone.  There are innumerable ways to apply ink to Faux Bone and the above barely scratch the surface.

The procedure I use for the pendants-in-progress shown in the previous post, is to draw a free-form shape and cut it out, saving the cut out piece.  If this piece is too ragged, I use it to redraw it on another piece of paper and cut that out.  The open piece is moved around on the tile to find an attractive or interesting area.  Then, I tape it in place with one piece of tape.  The other form is place inside the other and it is taped in place.  The open form is untaped and removed.

Next, I saw around the taped on form, moving or removing tape pieces as needed.

Why do all this?  I don't know!  It's just my method.  By doing all this, shapes can be repeated again and again if I want to do that.  Call me crazy, I don't care.  But don't call me late to dinner!

Next post, I will be experimenting again with a different coloring process on Faux Bone with the usual free form shapes.

Until then be well and for American followers, have a Happy Fourth of July!

What I've been doing, etc.

Hello folks, back again with a long overdue post.  A cordial welcome to new followers who apparently found some interest in the blog.

I decided to go back to experimenting with Faux Bone.  One of the experiments resulted in a request for a tutorial, which I wrote, but is hanging in limbo in a "hold and review file.  The way my luck goes it may linger there for an eternity.  I may get paid and again I may not.  I've written another tutorial, but this one, no pay.  Notoriety, maybe.  That I can do without.

My experiments incorporated the use of alcohol inks, trying different ways of application.  Some, but not all are shown below.

And again below, the reverse side of the above.

These free form shapes are cut from 1/16" Faux Bone, and will become reversible pendants.

As shown, they are not finished.  I will drill a jump ring hole, insert an eyelet, and jump ring, then string them.

I've also, experimented with some other types of pendants that I can't show or tell about as these have tutorials written.  When and if either get published, then you can go to the sources and view them.

Anyway, hope you like these as there's some others in the works and I won't bother and maybe waste my time doing tutorials.

Hope to see you soon.

For Your Information

There's been some changes in my life lately and the result of all this means that I probably will not be posting anything for the next several weeks.  No time table.  All jewelry work is on hold.  The Five Tool Challenge entry had to go on hold and won't be sent in as planned.  Too bad.  Wasn't that good anyway.

Thanks for your patience.

Jewelry Tools, What will happen to them later in life?

It suddenly occurred to me the other day that no one in the family would know what to do with all my tools, supplies and equipment, if tomorrow I died.  I also wondered if those who follow this blog have any plans for such an occurrence.  Your heirs, if they have no knowledge of what you have invested in either your business or hobby, could easily lose a considerable amount of money that should rightfully be theirs.

What should one do?  This is what I've come up with:

Make a inventory of everything related to your jewelry making.  How much you paid for each item and its source.  If you have kept all your invoices, that will help if you don't know.  I have a handful of old and somewhat scarce tools which, if an heir did not know that, may let them go for a song instead of what they are worth.  As an example, and I'm not bragging, I have two parallel action round nose pliers made by Schollhorn.  How often do you find those floating around?  To the right person they are worth more than the couple of dollars an heir might realize at a yard or garage sale.  

With the inventory, indicate the general location of the items on the list.  For example:  MY rolling mills are in the garage, covered up and maintained so they are in excellent condition. So their location is listed on the inventory as: garage, on end of bench.  I have a photograph of them to help an heir identify them.

Leave suggestions for heirs on possible ways for them to dispose of your tools, etc.  Sell them on Ebay or Etsy.  A local bead shop may allow putting up an advertisement.  Maybe you have friends that would bid on your things.  I don't know, I'm just sort of braainstorming here.

Anyway, it is something to think about, and I am certainly open to suggestions, as I've only scratched the surface on this subject.

Olio 11

Weather can't make up it's mind.  I guess it wants to try being a Yo Yo.  Up temperature one day, down the next.

Well anyway, here is another oldie for your viewing pleasure.  This one is sold.

Various Blue stones and sterling silver. 

Still fiddling with the Five Tool Challenge.  Very slowly.  Someday, I will post something more interesting.