glangley

Just a thought from a rookie, God Bless!

Here's an idea from the rookie in Michigan. Give me two seconds and hear me out please... I know alot of people would not, could not, and will not ever dig due to moral/ethical reasons. I tip my hat to those people. I try to walk as straight a path as I can, but honestly... I would be temped beyond withstanding if I ever had the chance. The prospect of pulling something out of the ground that I had never laid my hands on before, what an awesome experience. To unearth something I hadn't held since I was a child, or something of sort my grandfather plinked across a circle, would be more spectacular than I could ever describe. However, to date that opportunity has not presented itself to the extent that I would have to make that decision. But there is one thing that would remove this delima altogether. What if there were designated, and legal places that we set up today where people could come and atleast bring their young kids to dig and have that experience? I know that many marble shows come to the same general location year after year. And I know my kids would love it. And let's not forget there are some wonderful kid's at-heart still out there that would like to do this too. There may be another idea for them. There are many people out there who love marbles. Many associations and chapters across the States celebrate these very beautiful glass orbs or mibs if you like. Is there not a way to get everyone together to make a place in each area where annual digs could be held? You could sell tickets to the dig area? Maybe generate some revenue for your local club in the process? Of course the prices per entry, (say 50 dollars), would have to balance with how many tickets you wanted to sell,(say 50 tickets) and the worth of the treasure they are seeking, (say 2000.00). Even if all the marbles are found, you just gained a club profit of 500.00. But there is that lingering question, "Where are you getting all these marbles to just throw on the ground?" I love vintage marbles, hand made, machine made, you name it. Old or new, if it's glass or clay and round, I can't take my eye's off them! Since many people have something different that they enjoy, you could mix it up. Have an initial donation to help kick this off, would be one way to make it happen. Then your club would keep all the proceeds the first year and use the entire monies gained in the first year to keep it going subsequent years. In other words, your club would gain the funds to purchase marbles for the next year, and this would just continue. Or, if your club has funds to get it started you would have an initial investment, but it would pay for itself after the first year. Enough on this, you get the idea. There is something else to consider. This could start something fun, not only to get the younger generations involved in mibs, but for many people - legally. Imagine pulling out a marble from a show three years ago that was the ultimate prize then but no one found! You would be smiling ear to ear as would I! If it was a one of a kind contemporary? Or a sulphide that turned your eye? How about an Alley? MFC? I could go on and on.. but again I am sure you understand. It would be very fun, for kids and more experienced kids alike. Just a thought. God Bless!

Nice! NIce! Work!!Those are just sweet! What sizes this time? Wow Nice! God Bless

I think it's great that the cullet is being used! I have made some jewlry out of some of the fractured mibs and special ones I picked out from the Friendship Run. I have also used some of the smaller cullet pieces to make pendants and necklaces that my wife and family just love. Until I get my torch going I am limited as to what I can do with a can of map gas! lol But someday I hope to churn out some stuff with the cullet and broken pieces. God Bless! and keep up the good work!!

Floaters can best be expalined by the guy that came up with the idea. He has a few books on the subject floating out there, no pun intended. Psia-anitque should be able to explain them to you specifically. I don't dare show my rookie-ness and try to explain this subject. There is just too much I don't know and would leave out. However, I think that floaters are the hands down best mibs, I just love to have color on the outside, and inside. When you are able to look into the mibs, you enter another world. God Bless!

Hey guys! Those first one's are super cool! When were these colored fritt ones made? They could almost be guinea's! well, maybe or maybe not, but they are still super cool! How many were made? and the most important question, how do I get one? lol If someone would be willing to swap for one, I have many nice mibs from the Friendship run. **sidenote: I have to send some mibs from the friendship run out this week to some great people. Sorry for the delay guys. ** God Bless!

Those are fantastic! I like the green and ox combo! Very Nice! God Bless!

No kiddin? lol That's some awesome tid bit's of info. I read on here someone that had used industrial clear floor polish to get a mib looking better. I tried just some over the counter mop and glow or some generic one like it, on the huge latticino core mib that I tried to restore. It turned out spectacular. Now it sit's in my display case and shine's like a gem. It definately made it more clear and you can see a lot more of the tiny bubbles inside. I am totally sold on using it in the future for mibs like that, which will not be handled much. Like on the kid's movie Toy Story, "It's for display only!" lol Heres a pic of what it looked like before I started.

Hey Mike, what number is that first crazy colored one in coolbreeze's post? That is friggin awesome brother! I can only hope to turn out beautiful mibs like this someday. Still allot of equipment to get but the torch is a Nortel major/minor combo and it's just itching to get fired up! lol God Bless!

OMG! That first one has some crazy colors, I love it!! Mike twisted up those colors I asked him about the other day and it turned out fantastic!! I'll try to post some pic's sometime before I'm dead, lol jk'ng, I'm just a bit lazy under these grey Michigan skies today. But getting that mib in the mail today! WOW, totally a bright spot on the day! God Bless!

I only have two, most of my mibs are displayed in the lids of old plastic peanut butter jars! lol The two I have are the only two I have ever seen while out with money in my pocket. They were at a big antique store in Bay City MI. God Bless!

WOW! Those two tone mibs are outstanding! I love the blue and purple!!! Freaking wonderful!!!! God Bless!

Mike, you are doing great work. And there is nothing wrong with the above, for reals. Some of my best idea's come during my exploration of the universe. And it helps with the constant pain. You keep up the great work! I love your color selection! I do have a torch but I still need to get regulators and gas along with a few tools. Then it's off to some lessons, lol. Any chance you are going to Vienna this year? It's still a maybe for my wife and I but hopefully we can pull it off. God Bless Mike!

Ok, time to show my rookie-ness once again... lol What is an imperial? Japanese? Hope you don't laugh too hard, well you can laugh just not hard enough that it doesn't hinder you typing a response. lol God Bless!

I remember seeing that mib somewhere but I don't recall who made it or where I saw it. Possibly on ebay? or maybe it was one exactly like it?? lol I wish my memory was better! God Bless!

I like them Mike! If you could take the color ribbons of the third one over in the second post, and twist it up like the first two of the second post, I may have to have it! lol How much are you selling your mibs for these days? I am not in a good financial position at the moment, just like most Americans today. But, if you can make one like I described above, and I could swing it, I would love to have one. PM me and let me know please. Thanks! God Bless Mike, and Keep up the awesome work!!

Looks like I can see some striations on the top left, so I'd say oxblood. Top right is not, and bottom is a pretty oxblood. God Bless! Hopefully I spotted the not! lol

Very cool Ric! How many different kinds were produced during the wash? Those are killer! I especially like the first one in both rows! And the second one in both rows! And, well ya the third one in both rows! Well, wow... I like them all! lol Thank you a ton for posting these, they are awesome!

:Emoticon-jawdrop:

Hypothetically, what machine would you like to use? And what kind of tinkering would you be willing to do to test some hair brained idea's I have? lol And... what size are you, hypothetically, thinking about running? God Bless!

Thanks for the info marblemiser! Hey I like that avatar too, what kind is it? That's a neat curly-cue! God Bless!

That is a very cool picture! Does anyone have any mibs that have that puffy cloud-like appearence inside of it? Please post-em if you got-em! Thanks in advance! I am just having marble withdrawls! lol There is only so much you can do after you pour out all your marbles on the floor and roll in them till your tired! lol God Bless!

:Emoticon-jawdrop: You are too funny! You dug cat-eye's up at the Jabo plant?? lol Indeed you did as I watched you dig one up and hand it to me. P.S. I have something ready to go out to you and your brother, just haven't got it in the mail yet, cuz I'm lazy. lol God Bless

Oh no, I thought that was the Edna Ross!?! lol Can someone clarify as I am now totally confused! lol (Granted it doesn't take much to confuse my fragile mind lol) God Bless! P.S. Could someone please post some more pictures of this tank wash Mylee run, please? And also post some of the concurrent runs that I have missed asap! I am in need of a Jabo fix! lol God Bless!

Ron is right on. I love the fact that no two are alike. Even in between familys you can get such differences in the glass and how it comes out, it just blows the mind! I would like to see some mibs in the future along the lines of "less is more". I just love the first ones that rolled off the machine during the Friendship run! Clear base with ribbons of aventurine and mica, then add some thin lines of oxblood and mists of white! Wow! Those are killer!