YOUR TURN reader comments & sketches NEXT TIME: DESIGN CHALLENGES

YOUR COVER RIFFS: Designs based on Paula Crevoshay’s Lightning Ridge Opal Pendant, July, 2013.

Florence Slagel Plainfield, Illinois Ilene Schuchman Travis Ogden’s twisted Cape Elizabeth, Maine sterling cu , COVER

Ri on a design feature of this piece such as color, YOUR SETTINGS: John texture, form, value, line, Finkey space, repetition, balance, Designs based on a Lightning Ridge opal Apache contrast, unity, or variety for Junction, your sketch. cabochon, July, 2013. Arizone

Elaine Songer Mims, Florida

Sketch a setting for this Florence faceted apatite, page 26. Slagel Francine Plainfield, Hernandez Illinois DEADLINES: Scott, Louisiana NOVEMBER 30, 2013 Email digital scans at 300 DPI or send photocopies of no more than three sketches per challenge, indicating the design factor that is your LETTERS starting point. Sketches will not be returned. Re: “Lost-Wax Casting on a Shoestring,” JEWELRY DEMO

SKILLS August, 2013 • Soldering • Bezel making • Fabrication

TIME IT TOOK Here are a few suggestions to make the project even About 3 hours cheaper. You don’t need the graduated cylinder if you have a digital scale. One ml of water weighs one gram, so all you need to do is weigh the investment, multiply WRITE TO US ANYTIME: the weight by .4, and the result is the weight of water What do you think about needed in grams. Don’t forget to use the “tare” button what you’ve seen and read on the scale. in Lapidary Journal Jewelry You can also make a cheap vibrator to help Artist? debubblize the investment by removing the wheel from your bu er and duct taping a matchstick to the Lost-Wax )( Jewelry artist on a spindle. (All good basement projects utilize duct tape.) Casting SEND SKETCHES & LETTERS After carefully mixing the investment, lightly hold the Shoestring for print or online publication Minimum equipment for maximum result BY FRED SIAS bottom edge of your mixing bowl against the spinning )( Jewelry journal artist lapidary to: KRosenbusch@interweave. 34 com; or Lapidary Journal Jewel- spindle. Be sure to use an unbreakable container. ry Artist, 88 Glocker Way, #299, The spinning matchstick will vibrate the bubbles to Pottstown, PA 19465. the top where they can be removed with a spoon. Be sure to mix a little extra Please include your name, investment. You’ll be amazed by how smooth your investment is without a city, and state, and indicate vacuum pump. “Your Turn” on the subject line Paul Klein

lapidary journal lapidary or envelope. WALHALLA, SOUTH CAROLINA

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