Thanks for all the kind comments. I would like to share with you the techniques. First, I had a little training in lapidary many years ago - forgot most of it. To figure out how to make composites, I had to start thinking like woodworker. My friend Warren Wright is the expert and has given me many good ideas over the years. Shelly Mixer got me onto HotStuff CA glues. I use the Yellow label glue for all joints and always use gluing clamps - joints are nearly invisible. Throw away your epoxy - can't get the bubbles out and glue lines highly visible.
Cobblestones is on target. I produce stacks of slabs and cut them at an angle on my saw - perfect joints - produce several mini-slabs from one original stack. When domed, you get curved lines, all curving in the same direction. My son Craig dreamed up this idea. To get them to curve in opposite directions, cut and invert half and glue back together.
I have combined many materials to make some interesting composites, but I am constrained to standard shapes by the fact that I am not a silver smith. Many of you will not be so constrained, and there is a world of possibilities out there.
Let me know if you have questions or suggestions.
