Gems on Etsy: How to Cut a Rock

Gems on Etsy: How to Cut a Rock: " I did this post last year on a jewelry making forum,I figured I would post it here on my blog for anyone interested.  I start w..."

Win a $50 gift certificate to Cabbing Rough!

Flickr Contest

Leopardskin Jasper pendant made by Pennee. You an find this pendant in her etsy shop All Wired Up

When I first started cutting cabochons, they were either for my jewelry creations or for people I knew personally. I was always very excited to cut a stone for someone else because their finished pieces would always be so different from what I imagined when I cut the stone. Since we’ve started selling on etsy, there have been so many stones I wonder about what they have turned into.

So a few months ago we started a contest to encourage artist’s to share their jewelry designs with us. Here’s how it works:
1.) Make something out of a stone you purchase from Cabbing Rough
2.) Upload a photo of it to www.flickr.com/groups/cabbingrough You may enter as many pieces as you like.
3.) At the end of the month, each member of my family gets a vote, even my 3 year old son! The photo with the most votes gets a $50 gift certificate to our etsy shop.
4.) This contest runs EVERY MONTH, so make sure you stop back often!
Although I didn’t think of this originally, this contest page has been a great resource for me. Many times I receive emails from customers wanting one of or stones made into a finished piece of jewelry. I now refer them to this flickr page to browse! So if you enter, make sure you have a link to your online store under your flickr profile, not on your photo (against flickr rules)
Flickr Contest

Mooka Jasper (mookaite)

Mookaite is a stone I have worked with quite a bit. I really love cutting this stone because of the possibilities. The shades and patterns can vary so much, and sometimes the patterns create pretty scenes or eyes.

Mookaite is also known as Mookite, Mookalite, Mooka Jasper, or Mookarite. It is found in Western Australia. The Aboriginal word "mooka" means "running waters". It is made up of chert, opalite, and chalcedony.