Sunny
@sunnywanders.bsky.social
Rockhound, software engineer, seeker of joy, Vikings fan, hooman to 3 beasties, and just generally a giant nerd
Copper sure shines up pretty. Running it thru the tumbler with steel shot removes burrs and work hardens things a bit as well as shining things up. These are the chains and stars I made last weekend. Making chain is a good fidget while watching TV or drinking beer with pals
#silversmithing practice
#silversmithing practice
April 24, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Copper sure shines up pretty. Running it thru the tumbler with steel shot removes burrs and work hardens things a bit as well as shining things up. These are the chains and stars I made last weekend. Making chain is a good fidget while watching TV or drinking beer with pals
#silversmithing practice
#silversmithing practice
Can't wait to cut some cabs from these! 🧵 2/2
April 13, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Can't wait to cut some cabs from these! 🧵 2/2
Went to the gem and mineral show this weekend at the Crystal Community Center and scored some awesome slabs... An older gentleman was retiring and had $1/2/3 bins. Got all of these for $26 total 🧵 1/2
#lapidary #rockhounding
#lapidary #rockhounding
April 13, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Went to the gem and mineral show this weekend at the Crystal Community Center and scored some awesome slabs... An older gentleman was retiring and had $1/2/3 bins. Got all of these for $26 total 🧵 1/2
#lapidary #rockhounding
#lapidary #rockhounding
Made a copper ring last night, first time trying kumihimo with wire. Used a silver flower to hide the join and got a little messy with the solder. I wish there was a good copper colored solder! I think this would be a good spinner on a fidget ring. May make a few in sterling. #silversmithing
April 13, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Made a copper ring last night, first time trying kumihimo with wire. Used a silver flower to hide the join and got a little messy with the solder. I wish there was a good copper colored solder! I think this would be a good spinner on a fidget ring. May make a few in sterling. #silversmithing
Results of this week's meeting fidgets... Keeping my hands busy helps me stay focused during meetings so this week I made rings in the morning before work and wove them into chain during meetings when I wasn't busy taking notes
April 13, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Results of this week's meeting fidgets... Keeping my hands busy helps me stay focused during meetings so this week I made rings in the morning before work and wove them into chain during meetings when I wasn't busy taking notes
This morning's #silversmithing practice - still needs some cleanup. The aventurine is one I purchased from a local rock shop and sliced and put a shoulder on.
April 5, 2025 at 7:57 PM
This morning's #silversmithing practice - still needs some cleanup. The aventurine is one I purchased from a local rock shop and sliced and put a shoulder on.
Love this one, even though I had to make it smaller than I hoped because of a fracture during cutting the preform. I love the process - found it on the beach on Friday, slabbed it yesterday, shaped it today. Sometime this week I'll set it into a pendant or bracelet.
#rockhounding #lapidary
#rockhounding #lapidary
March 31, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Love this one, even though I had to make it smaller than I hoped because of a fracture during cutting the preform. I love the process - found it on the beach on Friday, slabbed it yesterday, shaped it today. Sometime this week I'll set it into a pendant or bracelet.
#rockhounding #lapidary
#rockhounding #lapidary
One hour at the cabking and I've got 6 stones to work with this week. The green aventurine and the yellow were just slices from already tumbled stones, so I only needed to put a shoulder on them. The other one I shaped.
#lapidary #rockhounding
#lapidary #rockhounding
March 31, 2025 at 12:24 AM
One hour at the cabking and I've got 6 stones to work with this week. The green aventurine and the yellow were just slices from already tumbled stones, so I only needed to put a shoulder on them. The other one I shaped.
#lapidary #rockhounding
#lapidary #rockhounding
The little aventurines I bought at the little rock shop down the block from me sliced nicely #rockhounding
March 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
The little aventurines I bought at the little rock shop down the block from me sliced nicely #rockhounding
March 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Cutting done, time to choose some for shaping. Some I'll just put shoulders on and leave free form, some I'll shape up a bit. #lapidary #rockhounding
March 30, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Cutting done, time to choose some for shaping. Some I'll just put shoulders on and leave free form, some I'll shape up a bit. #lapidary #rockhounding
Some stones out of my box of tumbled stones that I might try to shape up today for jewelry. I need some inspiration for #silversmithing
#rockhounding
#rockhounding
March 30, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Some stones out of my box of tumbled stones that I might try to shape up today for jewelry. I need some inspiration for #silversmithing
#rockhounding
#rockhounding
Took a couple slices off this morning, the rest will have to wait. It was slow going and my little 6" HiTech was getting a bit warm even with plenty of water after slicing several smaller stones and this bigger one a couple of times
#rockhounding
#rockhounding
March 29, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Took a couple slices off this morning, the rest will have to wait. It was slow going and my little 6" HiTech was getting a bit warm even with plenty of water after slicing several smaller stones and this bigger one a couple of times
#rockhounding
#rockhounding
Another fun one. I love the color and it's hard to tell in the video but those little flashy bits are silvery. Not sure if it is mica or pyrite in that spot?
#rockhounding
#rockhounding
March 29, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Another fun one. I love the color and it's hard to tell in the video but those little flashy bits are silvery. Not sure if it is mica or pyrite in that spot?
#rockhounding
#rockhounding
Couldn't resist this one. The lighting isn't great here but it has a bit of red and green on the outside. Please ignore my atrocious manicure! #rockhounding
March 29, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Couldn't resist this one. The lighting isn't great here but it has a bit of red and green on the outside. Please ignore my atrocious manicure! #rockhounding
First #rockhounding session of 2025. No agates, but found quite a lot of nice jasper and some other fun stones
March 29, 2025 at 1:38 AM
First #rockhounding session of 2025. No agates, but found quite a lot of nice jasper and some other fun stones
More slices from tonight, this one is a Botswana agate from some rough I bought. It cracked during tumbling so I sliced it up. I also sliced some fancy jasper and a few other local finds but the light is awful for photos right now
#rockhounding
#rockhounding
March 26, 2025 at 2:03 AM
More slices from tonight, this one is a Botswana agate from some rough I bought. It cracked during tumbling so I sliced it up. I also sliced some fancy jasper and a few other local finds but the light is awful for photos right now
#rockhounding
#rockhounding
Smithing has taken a backseat to introvert exhaustion from the new job. I tried tonight but had no plans and the creativity just wasn't flowing so I sliced up some stones instead. This was my favorite, an agate I found at the dog park last summer. #rockhounding
March 26, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Smithing has taken a backseat to introvert exhaustion from the new job. I tried tonight but had no plans and the creativity just wasn't flowing so I sliced up some stones instead. This was my favorite, an agate I found at the dog park last summer. #rockhounding
Goal reached! Post 320 Auxiliary has made 3000 paper poppies since February. The poppies will be used to raise donations for veterans, active duty service members and their families. Even more important this year with the cuts happening at the Veterans Administration and other govt services. 🧵
March 12, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Goal reached! Post 320 Auxiliary has made 3000 paper poppies since February. The poppies will be used to raise donations for veterans, active duty service members and their families. Even more important this year with the cuts happening at the Veterans Administration and other govt services. 🧵
False spring turned into the biggest snow dump of the season overnight. Glad we've got warm temps coming to melt it all fast! Thankful for L, who offered to use his big snowblower to do my drive. My little electric doesn't like this heavy wet snow
March 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
False spring turned into the biggest snow dump of the season overnight. Glad we've got warm temps coming to melt it all fast! Thankful for L, who offered to use his big snowblower to do my drive. My little electric doesn't like this heavy wet snow
today's #silversmithing project: carnelian agate post earrings. Need to do some solder cleanup still but need to get the right bits.
March 3, 2025 at 9:13 PM
today's #silversmithing project: carnelian agate post earrings. Need to do some solder cleanup still but need to get the right bits.
Slava Ukraini!
In September 2011, the City of Hopkins, MN officially formed a sister city relationship with Boryspil, Ukraine.
To our Ukrainian brothers and sisters we send our love and hope.
In September 2011, the City of Hopkins, MN officially formed a sister city relationship with Boryspil, Ukraine.
To our Ukrainian brothers and sisters we send our love and hope.
March 2, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Slava Ukraini!
In September 2011, the City of Hopkins, MN officially formed a sister city relationship with Boryspil, Ukraine.
To our Ukrainian brothers and sisters we send our love and hope.
In September 2011, the City of Hopkins, MN officially formed a sister city relationship with Boryspil, Ukraine.
To our Ukrainian brothers and sisters we send our love and hope.
Hello makers! Hopkins MN American Legion Auxiliary is hosting a market in May and we are looking for vendors! If you are interested please email barbwaller@comcast.net for info and to reserve a table!
March 1, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Hello makers! Hopkins MN American Legion Auxiliary is hosting a market in May and we are looking for vendors! If you are interested please email barbwaller@comcast.net for info and to reserve a table!