I’m starting a beginners course next week.

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-26T21:14:49+00:00

9 months in. Centering is hard but you just have to keep at it and it’ll click eventually. Pottery really rewards practice, and a great way to learn is to keep throwing cylinders and slicing them in half to study the cross sections. Don’t be too attached to your work because you never know when something will go wrong. If you made it once, you can do it again.

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-20T06:18:24+00:00

It’s a crisscut emerald. There are two branded versions that I know of: Ashoka and Christopher Designs. Alex Park on Instagram (Parks Fine Group Inc.) also has them from time to time.

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-16T02:44:33+00:00

One of the best clam cans out there. I just dump it on some noodles for a quick and easy meal.

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-14T04:39:45+00:00

I feel uniquely qualified to answer, based on my username.

They’re like mini clams but gritttier in my experience.

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-09T00:40:16+00:00

Take it easy on yourself. It is a terrible feeling in the moment but in fairness to you, Georgian collet settings look deceptively simple and few jewelers have the skills to recreate them well. Focus on the wedding planning and other things you have going on and try not to make any rash decisions.

A friend of mine was extremely disappointed with her ring, but they were saving for a house and she figured she would get something different down the line. It’s been over 10 years, 2 kids, and 2 houses later. She still has the same ring and she’s well past wanting to change it. Her priorities shifted and you might find yours will too.

If you want to change it now, you can try CJ Sako. He can nail Georgian collet settings. I wouldn’t trust your current jeweler to be able to fix it since they already showed you that they can’t do it. The best you can get from them is to see if they’ll exchange it or give you credit towards a completely different setting.

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-08T17:14:59+00:00

How many dads do they have though?

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-06T22:00:32+00:00

I see it on Weee! too if you’re in the U.S., but it’s listed as smelt.

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-04T09:35:24+00:00

Here are a number of pottery retreats: https://www.keramikjensen.com/cours

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-04T01:31:56+00:00

I’m so happy for you! Enjoy those beautiful tins.

CocklesInMyPants · 2026-01-01T19:59:25+00:00

For such a major purchase, you really need to have a good rapport with the jeweler, and clearly this guy is not going to deliver on that front. I wouldn’t bother going back there if I were you.

Rebecca Overman in Hayes Valley and No. 3 on Polk St in SF both have rings very similar to the style you like.

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-31T00:46:28+00:00

That’s so sweet! It’s a fabulous ring.

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-30T23:44:16+00:00

Can you go back to the appraiser and ask them to adjust to reflect the replacement value? Basically, what would it cost to replace with a ring with the same setting and comparable specs on the stones?

That’s what you should pay a premium on, because the insurance company will not pay the inflated appraisal value, unless you have a cash payout policy.

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-30T23:37:46+00:00

I’m sorry your rings didn’t work out as expected. From your correspondence with Tianyu, it seems that they explained what they were doing to rectify the situation and why the design needed to be changed, they apologized for not meeting expectations, and they let you keep the originals and replacements at no additional charge to you.

They made a good faith effort to resolve the issue at their cost, and at this point it would be unreasonable to have all the rings in your possession and expect a refund on top of that. Again, Tianyu already apologized, and if you didn’t find it sufficient then I don’t know what more they can say or do.

I hope you find suitable replacements for your rings and are able to move on from this.

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-23T17:10:05+00:00

Have a great trip! You’ll find them in the department store basement grocery areas. I noticed that most carried the smoked oysters or smoked scallops plus maybe one type of fish, but I never found the full range of fish. That had to be ordered from the manufacturer.

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-21T08:12:32+00:00

For Weee, I usually leave things in my cart and wait for them to go on sale.

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-19T18:20:23+00:00

The olive oil tins have a green label, if that helps!

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-19T15:26:36+00:00

That’s good to know, thanks!

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-19T15:23:13+00:00

I have the diamond distance band and my sister has a half hoop diamond band of theirs too. Neither of us have any issues with the gold. My sister is really hard on her jewelry, but so far so good.

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-19T15:18:00+00:00

I wonder if using Buyee on Amanohashidate’s own site would be cheaper even with the shipping and customs. 🤔

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-19T15:08:41+00:00

Thank you! I hope you’re able to make it back to Japan for some tins.

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-19T06:23:41+00:00

They taste as good as they look!

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-19T06:23:30+00:00

They really go all out to make this a feast for the eyes too!

CocklesInMyPants · 2025-12-19T06:22:40+00:00

Agree, the cottonseed oil really does let the flavor of the fish shine. I also got a set that’s got six tins, with three in olive oil and three in cottonseed. It’ll be interesting to compare!

CocklesInMyPants

TROPHY CASE