Too many dealers don't understand the nuances of "natural", "stabilized", "chalk", and imitation when it comes to turquoise. Other dealers are willing to misrepresent dyed stabilized magnesite as some sort of turquoise. Work with dealers who do honestly disclose all the treatments and enhancements of the ...

 Hi Betsy, Thanks for the heads up on your question. There are some good tips in this in the forum FAQ's at http://cs.artjewelrymag.com/artcs/faq/default.aspx .  Let's see if I can show you how my sig comes out as a link. I'll and extra space behind each "[ " and it should show the code. If not, you can reply ...

 Very impressive work, Rebekah!  How about Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand? The only overseas training I know of may be too limited for your level of study. However, there may be other university connected smithing in Thailand. It is, after all, a hot bed of silver and gold work. Nova Art Lab 16/1 Soi 4 Thapae Road. ...

 The commercial solution to remove fire scale is to "bomb" the pieces in hot nitric acid or to electrostrip the piece. It's a particularly nasty process, best done in a "hood" or ourside. When my wife, Dee, was producing goods for her craft circuit she had a problme with fire scale. We used to do it outside on a hot ...

 Here's an Australian supplier of kilns for glass bead making. http://beadglass.com.au/ http://beadglass.com.au/catalogue/beadglass.htm

 Craigslist for cities near the nephew is a really good idea, Laura. Paragon Kilns are among the most popular kilns. You can browse their  site to see what features  you want. http://www.paragonweb.com/

 Not that I want to discourage spendig your money in the US but, with freight & all, I bet you can buy one nearer to home for the same or less with a lot less hassle for your nephew. Ask about the kinds of kilns you want at http://glassbeadmakers.net/forum/index.php , a forum of glass workers in Australia.

 I haven't dried ours out in years. I just leave it in the closed barrel with soap and water.

 Try some of the places that specialize in silversmithing supplies. RIo Grande, Monsterslayer, Indian Jewlelers Supply, Thunderbird Supply, Stuller, Sante Fe Jewelers Supply or possibly Bella Findings.

 Sorry, dressagewoman, we should have said the "Tucson Show" rather than just the city of Tucson. Every February the City of Tucson is host to some 40 different but interrelated bead, gem,jewelry,  mineral and fossil shows, It's the worlds largest show of this sort and a great place to find beads and gemstones. There is a ...