[Allicat]

Well, I haven't made it entirely yet, but here are some shots of the project in progress.

I've been wanting an octopus ring for some time. They're strangely graceful creatures and absolutely perfect for jewellery. My Dad has access to the equipment and materials necessary to create jewellery through contacts in his job, so I asked if it would be possible to design a ring. We sat down and discussed it, then made the basic ring shape in soft wax. We took an impression of this in a moldable rubber then removed the wax and piped a material called Duralay into the mold. This is a substance which smells like epoxy resin. It comes in two parts which, when mixed, sets quickly into a plastic-like material in the shape of the mold.

Once this was done I sketched out what I'd like the ring to look like:

(Points if you can spot what's missing!) and drew the basic shape onto the Duralay ring, which Dad then shaped for me. Once that was done I could begin to build the octopus up and give it some texture.

Here's where we are at the moment:

(The red is the Duralay and the green is molding wax)

It's just got to be sent off and cast now. More photos to follow!
_________________
He who does not eat cheese will go mad. ~ French proverb.

Keeper of the fallen leaves. 'Cos they're still pretty.

[Asa]

Those inner feely-things?

This is so cool, it's awesome to see a project from the ground up like that. Thanks for sharing!
_________________
Self-styled Forum Grandmother, because I hand out nicknames and hugs whether you want them or not. ^_^

Keeper of the Library and the Gateway to Haven

Nem: "It's the sort of face you just know is getting ready to poke you with something sharp."
BS: "...then insist you eat a brownie."
__________________
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended...
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

[Tinu.]

That's really awesome! I can't wait to see what it will look like when it's done!

Also: Well, you only have seven legs drawn and labeled, but that might just be the "angle." Hmm . . . no mantle? I suppose that would look a little odd on a ring. I had to check wiki to make sure that octopi even had a mantle. It was what I thought of first, but I've only ever dissected squid, and have only ever seen an octopus once. My younger self would be appalled. >>;
_________________
Keeper of Gaia and all the books on Earthsong

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

[Allicat]

Points for Nu! I drew it all out and then realised that there was only seven legs and I can't fit another one in without ruining the design. I figure he was in a fight at some point

Nu, about mantles: octopodae have a mantle, but it's quite a detailed thing to draw and add in to the ring. As you probably noticed, the ring itself didn't have nearly so much detail as the drawing, but it wasn't practical to put it in the wax. The same goes for the suckers on the tentacles. I quite like the minimal detail. It's more stylised.
_________________
He who does not eat cheese will go mad. ~ French proverb.

Keeper of the fallen leaves. 'Cos they're still pretty.

[Asa]

Well maybe it's behind the body? You could probably carve out a couple lines in the wax on the inside to suggest a leg...
_________________
Self-styled Forum Grandmother, because I hand out nicknames and hugs whether you want them or not. ^_^

Keeper of the Library and the Gateway to Haven

Nem: "It's the sort of face you just know is getting ready to poke you with something sharp."
BS: "...then insist you eat a brownie."
__________________
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended...
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

[Rama]

That is one awesome ring design.
Do post pictures of the finished thing, because what I can see looks really cool.

Isn't one of the octopod arms actually genitalia? If someone asked about the missing one you can tell them that you don't wear smut jewellery.

[Allicat]

Bahahaha! Excellent, Rama. I don't know if it's true, but I like your thinking!

Asa, we did think of doing that, but a) I ran out of time and b) the red substance is very tough once it's set. Unless I added some wax on the inside and compromised on the size of the ring it would be difficult to do. I might just keep it as a test for anyone looking at it. With the career I've chosen, I'd hope people notice!
_________________
He who does not eat cheese will go mad. ~ French proverb.

Keeper of the fallen leaves. 'Cos they're still pretty.

[Asa]

Well yes, but how many people stare at your hand a finger long enough to notice? Especially when the ring will be circular and part of it will be hidden anyway. I like Rama's answer ^_^
_________________
Self-styled Forum Grandmother, because I hand out nicknames and hugs whether you want them or not. ^_^

Keeper of the Library and the Gateway to Haven

Nem: "It's the sort of face you just know is getting ready to poke you with something sharp."
BS: "...then insist you eat a brownie."
__________________
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended...
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

[Allicat]

I work with pedantic marine scientists. There is a chance they'll notice! Maybe I'm the only one who'd count though...
_________________
He who does not eat cheese will go mad. ~ French proverb.

Keeper of the fallen leaves. 'Cos they're still pretty.

[Asa]

Well that's true. There's no accounting for that pedanticness of some folks for their chosen field... Myself included.

Either way, it'll be an awesome ring and I can't wait to see the finished product.
_________________
Self-styled Forum Grandmother, because I hand out nicknames and hugs whether you want them or not. ^_^

Keeper of the Library and the Gateway to Haven

Nem: "It's the sort of face you just know is getting ready to poke you with something sharp."
BS: "...then insist you eat a brownie."
__________________
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended...
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.

[Tinu.]

Actually, Rama's right (according to wiki). In certain species one of the male's tentacles serves as genitalia. So just make sure your ring is a boy octopus, and the joke should go over pretty well.
_________________
Keeper of Gaia and all the books on Earthsong

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

[Allicat]

Bahahahahahahahaha! So I unintentionally made a child friendly octopus? Awesome!
_________________
He who does not eat cheese will go mad. ~ French proverb.

Keeper of the fallen leaves. 'Cos they're still pretty.

[Tinu.]

Not unintentionally, I think. I believe that your inner child is alive and well and has strong opinions on smut jewelry.
_________________
Keeper of Gaia and all the books on Earthsong

"If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid."
~Einstein

[Rama]

Oh, there is more! When I looked into it, some octopod males actually loses their hectocotylus (that's the wang-arm folks) during mating. That's okay though, since it grows back in time for the next mating season.
In some others the hectocotylus is hidden, so it seems that it only has seven arms.

So either you've got the child friendly variant, the sneaky one, or the one that's just got laid.


It's possible that you already mentioned it, but I can't find it, so I'll just ask; what material are you planning on casting it in?

[Asa]

^_^ You can be very amusing, Rama. Your post just made my day.

Sorry to hijack the thread for a bit, then we can go back to our regularly scheduled programming. Rama, what's happening with Naomi's character sketch?
_________________
Self-styled Forum Grandmother, because I hand out nicknames and hugs whether you want them or not. ^_^

Keeper of the Library and the Gateway to Haven

Nem: "It's the sort of face you just know is getting ready to poke you with something sharp."
BS: "...then insist you eat a brownie."
__________________
If we shadows have offended,
Think but this and all is mended...
Give me your hands if we be friends,
And Robin shall restore amends.