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There is something warm and delicious about amber, the fossil resin of ancient pine trees. A carved piece of amber catches and plays with light, and has a smooth, sensuous feel. It is soft (2-3 on the Mohs scale) and relatively easy to carve - you can use everyday tools and do it by hand, or use a flexible-shaft machine, as I will describe here. It helps to not get too attached to a piece because amber is brittle and can chip or break, and it cannot take heat.
This is one of my favorite materials, and this excellent 2 part introduction to this material by Eugene McDevitt on the Lapidary Journal site, got me excited! I prefer the matrix-bound stone, for it's unique beauty, but this series shows what is possible from this wonderful material -- Ed.
Not really bead making, but if you've ever wondered how they make the Gemstone Boxes, or have wanted to try it, here is a great introduction! -Ed.
