bragging corner. make us drool

[CzechWoods]

Namaste !

yeah i know,
bragging is lame, and all, but on the other hand, whom am i kidding ?

bragging can be fun too. dont we all have some great pieces of stones, something unique, or something we got what we hadnt expected to have ? :lookwhats

well time to show off, dont you think ?:idea:

please share your babies and your droolies with us,

so we can all drool and turn colourful in envy....

:lookwhats

[Saleheim]

If only I had a camera...

Just some descriptions then about some stones I have and I consider special.

This beautiful Peridot pendant. It's a rather big (about 3 cm long) crystal with actinolite needles. What makes it special is that it has a beautifull very specific crystal form and it's big for a peridot but also fully transparant. The needles inside only makes it more special for me. I made this into a pendant myself so I could wear it and make it work with me.

A very big Brazilianite tumbled stone (about 5 cm). I love it because you don't hear much about Brazilianite and it makes you believe it's a citrine. Which it isn't.

A big blue sapphire pendant. I bought this stone about two years ago in a auction and it's a 3 cm beautiful terminated dark blue sapphire from Shandong provence in China. I also made this into a pendant myself and wore it many times. It makes me feel cool and collected. ;)

I could go on and on really but I wish I could show them on a photo. Maybe I'll try to get a camera one time and make some pictures.

[Earthy]

ooh i love bragging about my crystal babies :)

And i've also got a picture..the only ones missing from the picture are my crystals i got yesterday, which are Iolite,Chrysoprase and Moldavite :)

[CzechWoods]

ooh i love bragging about my crystal babies :)

And i've also got a picture..the only ones missing from the picture are my crystals i got yesterday, which are Iolite,Chrysoprase and Moldavite :)

wow that is excellent:fpraise: :fpraise: earthy and gems

what beautifuk stones

congrTS ON YOUR NEW STIONES TOO

OOOPS ccaps

(cant type ):awilly: :hehehehe:

[Earthy]

I absolutely adore them Czech :)

[CzechWoods]

I absolutely adore them Czech :)


i so do understand that. your stones are also in an excellent shape and condition from what i could have seen in the poicture, which, if i may add, is not the usual. I have been shown many collections, but most often, at least some the stones are in a poor condition.

how do you care for them stones ?



If only I had a camera...

Just some descriptions then about some stones I have and I consider special.

This beautiful Peridot pendant. It's a rather big (about 3 cm long) crystal with actinolite needles. What makes it special is that it has a beautifull very specific crystal form and it's big for a peridot but also fully transparant. The needles inside only makes it more special for me. I made this into a pendant myself so I could wear it and make it work with me.

A very big Brazilianite tumbled stone (about 5 cm). I love it because you don't hear much about Brazilianite and it makes you believe it's a citrine. Which it isn't.

A big blue sapphire pendant. I bought this stone about two years ago in a auction and it's a 3 cm beautiful terminated dark blue sapphire from Shandong provence in China. I also made this into a pendant myself and wore it many times. It makes me feel cool and collected. ;)

I could go on and on really but I wish I could show them on a photo. Maybe I'll try to get a camera one time and make some pictures.


saleheim, the pendants sound fantaboulous. now i wish you had a camera too. :boing: :boing: :boing:

maybe you can get a chance to get a scan done in a copy shop or at a public librry. i so want to see them _inabox_

[Wolfscout1]

Hey CZ here's a couple shots for ya.
How ya like my small collection of useful tools ? smiles.

[CzechWoods]

yeah right. make me faint

drools himself dry


excellent!!!!!!!!!! exclusive !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wolfsong]

Seeing I have posted pictures of many of my stones here already I though I would share with you a collection I hold just as dear. When I posted the picture of my dragons for lightdragon and dragonsinger dragonsinger commented on my books. I am very proud of my collection and have been working on it for many years. Pictured below are my books which deal with all forms of paganism and spirituality. The only ones not visible are on the botton shelf on the left which contains about 15 books on the subject of paganism in general.

It seems when it comes to nature, paganism and spirituality I just cant get enough. Not only do I try and experience as much as I can as I travel my path but I also love reading up on others' thoughts, paths and experiences as well to keep me not only balanced in my point of view but also keep me grounded within my path.

65840

[1esoteric]

Here are a few I have. I also have three long pillars of Selenite and a little sliver of Kyanite I keep near me.

[Wolfsong]

Those are three amazing pieces 1esoteric. All three look as if they hold amazing energies. I hope your work with the Smokey elestial goes well.

[Earthy]

I also have some larger pieces too.

Czech, i don't do anything special with my crystals..i cleanse them as i should, but i also treat them with much love and give them lots of attention.

[Mistress_Ravenshadow]

these are web cam pics so they arent the greatest quality pics :( but then no pic can do crystals justice IMO they are something that need to be experienced in person where ever possible

[Mistress_Ravenshadow]

here are some more of my collection

[Mistress_Ravenshadow]

last few :)

[Saleheim]

here are some more of my collection
Is that first pic a polished Garnet? If so, it looks stunning. Love the deep red but cannot wear them because of high blood pressure (apparently).

[Cerulean_damselfly]

Czechwoods, I was wondering about your eliestial (I'm not spelling it right). I was told some crystals look different according to the light--so was wondering what some of your favored and
most interesting ones look like now that it is almost summer.

Am trying to find a good time of day to photograph two odd turquoise bits.

Cerulean

[Wolfsong]

Earthy, I sense a great peace and calmness from your stones. Its obvious thier energies feed off the environ you have created for them in a very positive way. They are absolutely stunning.

[1esoteric]

Those are three amazing pieces 1esoteric. All three look as if they hold amazing energies. I hope your work with the Smokey elestial goes well.
Thanks.
I think the elestial is the one I enjoy the most.

[Wolfsong]

Cerulean,

I know you asked this of Czechwoods but thought I would throw in my two cents :)

If you want to take pictures outdoors, unless you want to use shadows to create a distinct feeling for the stone, you should probably take the picture around noon if you can to catch the sun at its highest and limit the shadowing. If this isnt possible you can always align your shot taking into acount the shadowing and aligning your shot to eliminate the shadow altogether. One thing to keep in mind though if you plan on photographing outdoors. Many feel that the sun's light is so intense it shows subtle patterns and color hughes that are not visible under any other lighting condition. For some stones this is definately the case. I have often times seen pictures of stones taken outdoors that when looked at inside look like completely different stones due to lighting conditions. No matter where you go, both inside and outside on cloudy days, you find yourself looking for features plainly visible in the sunny picture that you cannot find now under different lighting conditions.

The other option is to take your pictures indoors using a fluorescent light to take your picture. I use a fluorescent desk light and it works great. Many feel fluorescent lighting reproduces the sun's natural light in a very realistic way. It is for this reason most professional photographers, when working indoors and staging a picture, use either fluorescent lighting or reflected light to take pictures. Reflected light is simply a powerful bulb which is set off to flask into an umbrella which in turn reflects and refracts the light back onto the object being photographed. Fluorescent lighting allows you to capture most of the subtle changes within a stone in a realistic way. The stone looked at at a later date and under most lighting conditions will still show most of what is seen in the picture and for the most part wont leave you searching for those lost details visible in the picture. This will however still happen at times.

In the end it really comes down to how you want to portray the stone. If you want to show it in its finest glory bringing forth every detail that can possibly be captured taking your picture in natural sunlight is the way to go. If you want to capture most of the above but in a more common/realistic environment then fluorescent lighting is probably a better choice.

Not all stones will be effected in the above way but to be aware of it will make your choice of lighting easier and will give you a good idea of what results you will get ahead of time.

I usually use a fluorescent light with the stone sitting on a backround which nicely contrasts the stone. (usually black) My camera isnt that great but by using a tripod my pictures can turn out quite stunning at times. The fluorescent light should be bright enough to avoid using the camera flash... mind you at times the camera flash can bring about a better picture than the fluorescent light.....

More and more now when sellers make stones available they tell you if the pictures were taken under natural outdoor sunlight. If this is the case, most buyers realise that the coloring, hughes and subtle patterns may well not be as clearly defined when they actually get the specimen. In some cases they wont even be visible unless you take it outside in sunlight or reproduce a light intense enough to bring out these things. Reproducing this light is at times impossible and more times than not not practicle. Buyers buying stones which pictures have been taken under fluorescent lighting can feel reasonably assured the the colors and patterns are as close to realistic as possible as long as the picture has not been altered by using a photo program.

All this being said I'm sure others will have differing feelings about this subject.

[Wolfsong]

Did a quick experiment.. below are 3 pictures of the same rock.. left one was taken outside in natural sunlight... middle was taken under fluorescent lighting... right picture is an enchanced copy of the fluorescent picture using Photopaint. Although the indoor and outdoor pictures in this case are almost identacle, showing that fluorescent lighting is very much similar to sun light when taking pictures, the fluorescent picture gives you more options in regards to "staging" the picture's backround in a controled environment and so on.

In this case.. both the fluorescent and the natural sunlight pictures do not do a good job representing the actual shading if the stone in a normally lit room. The enhanced picture is very close to the actual look of the stone under normal room lighting. The third picture is just a tad darker than the real stone but a lot closer than either of the other two pictures.

65897

[Cerulean_damselfly]

Wolfsong, that's great!

Your comparison of a beautiful geode was great--the geode seems to glow, no matter what setting--great pick and pictures!


I did shots indoor around noonish, outdoor around four-o-clock, one in shade, and one in sun.

I have an enhanced phone picture of the turquoise pendent that I took outdoors in shade...a four-o-clock outdoor shot. I enhanced the sharpness and color contrast. The veining of the turquoise on the necklace reminds me of ink etchings of trees or small figures that seem to sparks for imaginative shapes...I find the creative interaction with the 'flaws' and markings to be charming, so it seems magical to me. As if I were looking at shadows silhouetted in a bright sky or under a blue-sea-layer of water.

The ring on top of the turquoise, I saw and the veins in it looked like tree silhouettes against a sky to me.
A little hard to tell--but I do enjoy stones that have the funny flaws that show individuality.

Thanks for the great ideas. When I have time, I think of ways to look at the few stones I have--I have a lapis shaped chunk roughly shaped like a heart that I also like for it's sparkly inclusions and veined, skylike layers of white over blue--like clouds on a globe.

Now I'll look around for geodes that seem to glow and suggest beautiful universes as well.

Regards,

Cerulean_Damselfly

P.S. So many other pictures in this thread are also giving me beautiful ideas. Lovely, what individual picks people have.

[Wolfsong]

Glad I could help... the specimen I used above actually has no cavity so its not classified as a geode. Its a piece of dentric opal from turkey. Some amazing specimens are coming from there right now.

[Mistress_Ravenshadow]

Is that first pic a polished Garnet? If so, it looks stunning. Love the deep red but cannot wear them because of high blood pressure (apparently).
yes its a garnet.. when i saw it i couldn't walk out of the shop without it (which is usually how i aquire most of my crystals come to think of it lol) I have always loved garnets..

[Saleheim]

yes its a garnet.. when i saw it i couldn't walk out of the shop without it (which is usually how i aquire most of my crystals come to think of it lol) I have always loved garnets..
Same here, cannot enter such a shop and leave with nothing. ;)
Garnets attract me because it's almost like they keep a secret and only want to give themselves to those who are prepared to value it. Almost like the red is often only visible when closely watched. Otherwise it only seems a black stone. Love them.

[Pesha]

Pic of my babies are coming. Recharging the batteries for my camera.

[Astara Seague]

funny I never considered taking pictures of my crystals etc, but now I wish I had, I will post some if I can wrench the camera from my hubbys hand:lol:
I do have a lovely Amber gazing ball, and a beautiful crystal ball,I would have to say if I had any favorites it would be them, after all I have so many...:awilly:

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

I can post a pic of my (large) collection once I get home :P I have around 100 or so stones, crystals, and other pretty objects in my Box Of Shiny Things at home.

[Morgandria]

I have too many to go through them all. I love them muchly.

[Shanti]

This is my favorite one that I have:
http://www.mysticwicks.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=27483&d=1093541389

[Pesha]

OMG Shanti that is just gorgeous hun!!

Well I have to go and buy batteries. My battery charger has gone to that happy place for dead technology. May be next week hopefully.

[Earthy]

Earthy, I sense a great peace and calmness from your stones. Its obvious thier energies feed off the environ you have created for them in a very positive way. They are absolutely stunning.

thank you Wolfsong :)
I posted some pics on another site too, and somebody told me that my crystals look happy which is a really lovely thought.

[Cerulean_damselfly]

I like hearing about everyone's 'pretties'. Amazing pictures!

Morgandria, those stones on the 'mandala' seem to glow, what a lovely layout and idea.

Cerulean_Damselfly

[nouveaugoddess]

As soon as l work out how to post photo's l am up for some heavy bragging about my little play pals ! Being ( slightly ) anal retentive , a majority of my crystals are in wooden printers-drawers display boxes on my wall complete with little name tags and their vibrational number ( just like the museum cases l loved staring into as a kid ), but my working stones are kept away to rest between play times . I also use cystals in my art work which l hope to get photos of soon....will be back soon !!!

[Morgandria]

Damselfly: It's one of my own designs - I work with a group of people with particual symbolism in common, so we picked certain aspects as a group and put it together with them. I hadn't actually noticed the "glow" before. Thank you both for the compliment and for pointing it out!

-M.

[CzechWoods]

sorry all, i didnt reply earlier, i have been away from home without internet access, the past days.

well, anyway, thank you all for those breath-taking pictures and amazimng posts. you guys rock :yourock:

besides, i have to get my camerafilms to be developped, i believe i have taken pics of the black rtourmalines already.

if not i will do iot, and also take pictures of some other stunning pieces from my stock and collections.

[Wolfscout1]

CZ,
I had not gotten this one up before lightning hit the old pc.

now i got a new one and a better pic.

Large clear Quartz wand
http://i.pbase.com/g4/04/555604/3/62289621.vyZ6An2H.jpg

[StormVixen]

I have too many to go through them all. I love them muchly.

im loving your winged wolf morgandria... could you let me know where s/hes from purleese...? i will post pics of my crystals once i am back in my room... there mostly boxed at the moment... _inabox_

[Pesha]

WS I love the big crystal!! Looks very powerful indeed.

[Morgandria]

I picked the winged wolf up at a store where I used to live here in Ontario - but they have no web presence. I got lucky and picked up the very last of them, as they were discontinuing the line.

[Merrilyn]

Just an FYI... The winged wolf looks like an M. Pena piece.. Most likely under the Windstone Editions title. I know that Pena had done a winged wolf called Sprit Wolf, which resembles the one mentioned here, though it is actually a large candlelamp. You can see it here...this site has a pretty good variety of M. Pena's work: http://www.armiks.com/windstone/MNH_-_Candleholders_Index_for_/GRH-13__Spirit_Wolf_Candlehold/grh-13__spirit_wolf_candlehold.html
Or check out www.windstoneeditions.com

[Morgandria]

Mine is not a Windstones Edition. It's a very similar Mexican pottery sculpture.
I got a really good deal on it at $12 CDN, and it's twice the size of the Windstone ones.

I don't know where you'd find one my size. If the Windstone wolf makes you happy, go for it. $35 US online isn't bad for it.

[Wolfscout1]

WS I love the big crystal!! Looks very powerful indeed.

Thanks you DS. :fpraise:

[CzechWoods]

http://bestsmileys.com/cartoon/6.gif bumping this thread for the newbies


http://bestsmileys.com/cartoon/6.gif

[nouveaugoddess]

i think l worked out how to upload photos...here goes ! These are some of my lovelies...

[MankyCat]

Nouve, what a great setup! I just kinda put most of mine in a wooden bowl... now will be putting them in several wooden goblets most likely.

I love how you keep yours. Great idea.

[nouveaugoddess]

l also keep my crystals in wooden bowls , and occaisonally glass for charging purposes.Will post some photos of my crystal artwork when l get some new batteries for my camera !

[elfmage]

Namaste !

yeah i know,
bragging is lame, and all, but on the other hand, whom am i kidding ?

bragging can be fun too. dont we all have some great pieces of stones, something unique, or something we got what we hadnt expected to have ? :lookwhats

well time to show off, dont you think ?:idea:

please share your babies and your droolies with us,

so we can all drool and turn colourful in envy....

:lookwhats

Well, here is the majority of my tumbled stone collection... not including bigger pieces or shaped pictures (like wands) or stones currently being used for spellwork. OR the new huge lot of stones I just bought from the collection of a friend!

I also have a lot of spheres and shaped points. And tiny "faery" tumbled stones. I have a lot of stones! :lol: :bigredblu

[CzechWoods]

Well, here is the majority of my tumbled stone collection... not including bigger pieces or shaped pictures (like wands) or stones currently being used for spellwork. OR the new huge lot of stones I just bought from the collection of a friend!

I also have a lot of spheres and shaped points. And tiny "faery" tumbled stones. I have a lot of stones! :lol: :bigredblu

wonderful

excellent i am speechöless

the pic makes me want to dive my hands into them tumblies and cuddle them all

thank you for the droolies

[Wolfsong]

A few days ago a supplier I have dealt with for some time posted this specimen on his site.. It's one I had to have so I bough it. I'm not sure if it has arrived yet but here is a pick of it he had posted. I cleaned the pic a bit last night while I was bored in the hotel.

It's a specimen of flawless Green Cap Tourmaline partially cacooned in white Clevelandite... really cool specimen.

Personally I am a big fan of Schrol Tourmaline but don't find myself attracted too often to the different coloured Tourmalines such as this one.. what sold me on it was its association with the Clevelandite as well as the green cap.

82351

[CzechWoods]

A few days ago a supplier I have dealt with for some time posted this specimen on his site.. It's one I had to have so I bough it. I'm not sure if it has arrived yet but here is a pick of it he had posted. I cleaned the pic a bit last night while I was bored in the hotel.

It's a specimen of flawless Green Cap Tourmaline partially cacooned in white Clevelandite... really cool specimen.

Personally I am a big fan of Schrol Tourmaline but don't find myself attracted too often to the different coloured Tourmalines such as this one.. what sold me on it was its association with the Clevelandite as well as the green cap.

82351

what a remarcable specimen

see how the child and mother stick on the colon f schoerl with a green hat

fantastic

thanks for sharing

[nouveaugoddess]

A few days ago a supplier I have dealt with for some time posted this specimen on his site.. It's one I had to have so I bough it. I'm not sure if it has arrived yet but here is a pick of it he had posted. I cleaned the pic a bit last night while I was bored in the hotel.

It's a specimen of flawless Green Cap Tourmaline partially cacooned in white Clevelandite... really cool specimen.

Personally I am a big fan of Schrol Tourmaline but don't find myself attracted too often to the different coloured Tourmalines such as this one.. what sold me on it was its association with the Clevelandite as well as the green cap.

82351


thats gorgeous !! l ove tourmaline in all it's color forms , would love to get my hands on a piece of red tourmaline...ah , to have dreams *sigh*

[tallwoman.9169]

Can't take pictures, but I have a Tiger Iron the shape and size of an extra large chicken egg. I love it!!!