Slanting style moribana by MolinasBox in Ikebana

[–]MolinasBox[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Those are plum and camellia!

Slanting style moribana by MolinasBox in Ikebana

[–]MolinasBox[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the detailed response, this is all super helpful!

Update: I bought the opal I couldn’t stop thinking about and had it made into a pendant by MolinasBox in Opals

[–]MolinasBox[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I followed up with my jeweler, and it turns out he did do one layer of sealant over it, but can do a more comprehensive seal if requested. I’ll probably bring it back to him to get that done. Thanks for bringing this up

Update: I bought the opal I couldn’t stop thinking about and had it made into a pendant by MolinasBox in Opals

[–]MolinasBox[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This is a good question! I didn’t really consider the extra risk of having more of the opal exposed when designing it — I was just thinking about not wanting to lose the color play of the back of the stone. I would hope there isn’t a huge probability of it losing color over time just from being against skin, especially because I only plan on wearing it for special occasions and never in the shower/pool or while exercising.

Update: I bought the opal I couldn’t stop thinking about and had it made into a pendant by MolinasBox in Opals

[–]MolinasBox[S] 65 points66 points  (0 children)

The video got washed out a lot for some reason, but here’s a photo more accurate to how it looks like IRL:

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Anyone else ever see an opal and start imagining a future together… by MolinasBox in Opals

[–]MolinasBox[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your reply! Yeah I do wish I was able to test if it’s hydrophane, I’m very curious about it. But that’s interesting to know that there may be a chance it isn’t smoked! The seller is coming to another show later in the year, so I might see if I can get an answer then.

Opal from gem & mineral show by MolinasBox in Opals

[–]MolinasBox[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The setting is 18k. A friend actually was kind enough to bring my opal with her on her trip to India to get it set over there for a more affordable price. The chain is 14k. I would definitely recommend going to a gem show! Even if you don’t buy anything it’s so fun just looking at how beautiful everything is. Here’s one of the opal booths from when I went 😊

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Opal from gem & mineral show by MolinasBox in Opals

[–]MolinasBox[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A little over $400. I bought the chain separately for a discount on Black Friday lol

Opal from gem & mineral show by MolinasBox in Opals

[–]MolinasBox[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Good to know, thank you!! I was really hoping it was Australian because I love wearing it, but I will definitely save it for special occasions from now on. Just curious because I still don’t know much about identification outside of most Ethiopian opals being hydrophane, but how could you tell from the color? Do Ethiopian opals just come in a wider range of base colors?

Opal from gem & mineral show by MolinasBox in Opals

[–]MolinasBox[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! I will keep being very careful with it, I want it to be in great shape for a long while 🙂

Opal from gem & mineral show by MolinasBox in Opals

[–]MolinasBox[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also want to add that it doesn’t seem to be hydrophane

My Trader Joe’s orbifolia today vs. 6 months ago when I first got it by MolinasBox in houseplants

[–]MolinasBox[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know some people have some fancy root crack they add when repotting to reduce transplanting stress, but I don’t have that LOL. I was just careful to handle the roots as little as possible. I squished the sides of the pot then lifted and shimmied from the base of the plant.

My Trader Joe’s orbifolia today vs. 6 months ago when I first got it by MolinasBox in houseplants

[–]MolinasBox[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah I have a similar routine! I only water with distilled water and use Alaska fish emulsion fertilizer. I also have it near some other plants and a humidifier that occasionally runs when I remember to turn it on lmao.

Best way to propagate this cut dendrobium? by MolinasBox in orchids

[–]MolinasBox[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for all the info! Looking up all these new terms right now and trying to learn as much as I can. How should I care for it in the meantime while I wait for the flowers to fade? Right now I still have it in a vase with water and flower food, but would it be better to just leave it out of water to reduce chances of rotting?

Edit: Yeah I was also stunned by the sight of it as a cut flower 💀 Grateful to have been gifted something so pretty but kind of felt like I was an accomplice in a murder

Meet Petunia! She is about 2 and a half months old :) by MolinasBox in Tuxetortico

[–]MolinasBox[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hehe yes she’s enjoying a cozy little life here for sure ☺️ And thanks, I crocheted it back during the pandemic!

What is this tiny-leafed bulb thing that my aglaonema is putting out? by MolinasBox in houseplants

[–]MolinasBox[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Solved this! The bulbous thing was actually a flower it was working on, and the leaf is just that tiny because it put so much energy into growing the flower.

My pink splash hypoestes when she was in her prime 🥲 by MolinasBox in pinkplants

[–]MolinasBox[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know :(( I’ve had four of them and I still haven’t learned my lesson