Update:Alabaster Pens

["Patricia Lawson" <patlawson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Group,

Well I did it! I succeeded in making an alabaster pen. I made two actually, and although
they are beautiful, some of you were right when you said that alabaster would be too soft
to hold up as a writing instrument. (:-(  So the pen will be disassembled for now until I
can perhaps find a way to stabilize the small pieces of alabaster. But I did take a
picture of the second pen to show you, so that you can say you have at least seen an
alabaster pen (and I can say I made one!) I wish I had photographed the first one too, it
was made of a very colorful green and rust alabaster, which you can see a sample of in a
bowl that I made from it.

I've gone back to learning to turn alabaster bowls for now, and will try some vases soon.
I read John Elvin's message regarding vases and wanted to say to you John - please DO
consider turning vases! A lathe is just like a potter's wheel, except that your artwork is
turning horizontally instead of vertically. And turning alabaster is in many ways easier
than turning wood. No grain for your tools to catch in.

I've put up a couple of pages of photos of my alabaster pen, and my first two alabaster
bowls. The bowls are small and they are amateur turnings compared to the incredible art of
turners like Max Krimmel, but they are my little bowls and I received a great deal of
satisfaction in working on them. The stone is so beautiful that hopefully it outshines my
lack of experience!

Here's the URL:
First page is the alabaster pen, then click on the link at bottom to see the two bowls.
[URL now obsolete]

Thanks for your help and suggestions along the way!
Patricia Lawson