One of what has become a favorite mineral of mine is this semi precious Imperial Spider Jasper. It is a rather rare Jasper. I have never even seen it before.
While visiting another lapidary up in Bonners Ferry Idaho, he reluctantly parted with a very small piece of this fabulous material. It was enough to make just a few cabs. I was left with one small slab of it once I cabbed those. I was sure it would be the last of this mineral I would ever see.
Then upon a second trip to visit him, he was kind enough to part with a nice large piece.
As I am posting this blog entry, it is in the saw being cut into slabs. The picture below is of the one small slab that I had left over from before. The piece that I thought for sure was going to be all I would ever see of it again.
Here are a couple of cabs examples I cut from the first piece.
I do not have a finished piece of jewelry to show just yet.
I have signed up for a beginners Silver Metal Clay class that starts on the 31st of this month. I am very sure that this will be my mineral choice for the cabochon I use in the first metal clay piece I make.
I am really very excited about the metal clay, but that is for upcoming blog entries.
I am going to be cabbing more of this up and it will be available in my store inventory very soon. Otherwise if you are a designer of custom gemstone jewelry and would like to design a special piece around this mineral, feel free to contact me for special requests. Prices are very reasonable.
Hope you enjoyed looking at this Spider Jasper!
{ 0 comments… add one now }