Yssie's reset thread!

[natsplat]

natsplat - oh, thank you for telling me! Your ring is *beautiful* - I hadn't seen it, I'll definitely have to go back through your posts! I hope you don't mind me using your inspiration pic

Thank you! I only really hang around CS as that's my first love, but I do *sometimes* lurk in other PS forums I snagged the CAD from a Google search for 8-prong settings, so it's not mine in any way - I just thought I'd mention the coincidence I shall have a "proper" 8-pronger one of these days...

Your ring will be an absolute stunner: can't wait to see how it ends up! I think Dreamer's idea of semi-bezelling the outer edges of the end stones for comfort is a good idea aesthetically and practically, btw x

 

[kelpie]

Hunt Country didn't make Haven's ring. I think she's in the midwest and it was her own very talented local jeweler. Hunt Country's methods of fabrication are different from most paths people take here...it's not CAD, it's not forged...it's wax that's carefully sculpted by hand and I quite like the results which are far more refined than CAD and far less costly than hand forged (or even CAD, I think). Not your typical B&M store because Claire is a lapidary too and they have developed some lovely patented cuts for both colored stones and diamonds. I saw that even ID jewelry was carrying the cut they invented. They are working on setting two rings for me which should be done within two weeks!

And heavens their beautiful prongs!


ETA- and the shank of this ring is 18k white gold which has not been plated. It's wearing really well despite me bashing it against some concrete.

 

[yssie]

I really, really don't know! Gives me fits, it does. Yeah, you'd think a wax indicates casting of *some* sort.

Haha, OK, as far as Haven's ring goes- well, that shows how good my memory is... not so much.

Yeah... I'm definitely going to call and ask. I dug through that old 'what is handmade' thread [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/handmade-vs-cad.158047/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/handmade-vs-cad.158047/[/URL] and I realize... I really don't care, at the end of the day, as long as the design is nice and the finish is spectacular. DH feels much more strongly than I do - and even then it's sentimentality rather than practicality. So here's my thinking: I like CADs. They show you what you're getting into before you jump in. But a CAD doesn't show *exactly* what you'll wind up with - you get the overall design, but the nuances of how that design translates into the actual finished polished piece are still up in the air, and sometimes they're changes for the better and sometimes not so much. I clearly see the differences between my own last CAD and the finished ring. Which of course means that to get a finshed piece that looks just like the CAD I like best, the CAD can't look like that! The eyes of someone who hand-finishes a wax and who really knows how the wax model translates into the cast piece would be very, very valuable.. the question then is if Hunt Country has those eyes.



Dreamer You bring up a good point about semi-bezeling the end stones. And I actually think it'd make for a neat look, depending on how it's done - I wouldn't want a smooth modern semi-bezel, I don't think it'd fit well at all with the rest of the head, but something a bit flowery could work beautifully! I'm adding it to my To Ask About list.

Like this maybe?



Hmm. I could be wrong about the smooth bezel looking out of place - what do you think?





natsplat - Your ring is really lovely. Here's the thread for anyone else who might have missed it -https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/danielm-barryb-e-ring-handshots.164649/ It's not a coincidence at all though - I've had that picture saved in my favourites folder since you posted it!



Oh - I just saw that you posted Kelpie, I'm SO glad you saw this thread - I was going to start one asking for you this evening! I love your ring - it's gorgeous, and it looks really well-made and nicely finished - those are absolute musts. Thank you for sharing re. their manufacturing process - I'm very interested to hear that they hand carve the wax. That means I still get an idea of how it's going to look afterward, like with CAD, only if they're that intimately involved in the wax creation they probably have a good feel for how the wax translates into the cast product, and how the wax would need to be changed to get the exact "look" of the wax in the final product. I can't wait to see your other pieces! They told me 8-12 weeks production.

The one thing I'm nervous about is the price. We're obviously prepared to pay more for the time of the designer and the services of the sketches, the hand-carving, etc., but Victor's quote (for fully hand-forged) was stratospheric. WF's was just about what I expected. I suppose we'll have to wait and see!

 

[missy]

Yssie, I have nothing useful to add but just wanted to say I am so excited for you and wish you the best of luck with this project!!

 

[yssie]

Thank you missy!

 

[kelpie]

Yssie, don't let the quality of the work intimidate you, their prices are very good. I'm sure far less than whiteflash charges for a similar piece. They don't know exactly until they weigh the finished piece but they can give you a price range.

 

[yssie]

Yssie, don't let the quality of the work intimidate you, their prices are very good. I'm sure far less than whiteflash charges for a similar piece. They don't know exactly until they weigh the finished piece but they can give you a price range.

Thanks Kelpie - that's reassuring. Would you mind telling me a bit more about your ring?

You mentioned the shank is proving very sturdy - do you feel the more delicate head and prongs are durable, too? Your prongs especially look very delicate. They're so pretty!

How is the finish? It looks excellent in photos, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts, and if you had an appraisal done what the outcome was, if you are comfortable sharing. No troublesome porosity in the crevices and clefts, inside surfaces that are visible when you're wearing the ring also well-polished?

Do you feel that all the design elements are well-placed and precisely formed and finished? What I mean is - in the detail of the gallery of that ring for example there are lots of curving crossbars, lots of empty space, is each element precisely delineated, and evenly formed around the ring? So the prongs crossbars clearly start and end, and are well-shaped from all angles and the same from both/all sides, the place where empty space starts and ends is precisely defined, the details of where one element ends and another starts are clearly marked out, either by physical spacing or by engraving/indenting/whatever - no gloops of metal anywhere...

How closely do you feel your final wax represented the final product? Were you able to see the wax in-person?

If I have certain things I really want - a certain "look" of the prongs, say, do you have any recommendations for the best way to communicate that? Powerpoint, chatting by phone, drawings, scads of photos, or something else - or any or all of the above.?


Obviously since you are going back with more projects you are happy with the quality of service

 

[Haven]

Kelpie--Your ring made me gasp out loud, not something that happens very often while I'm reading the computer! It is gorgeous. And those prongs, OY, I need a drink.
Their process is really interesting. I would love to see someone carving out a wax model for a ring, I can't even imagine what that would be like!

And you're correct about my ring. My jeweler is Matt Burdeen of Burdeen's Jewelry here in Illinois.

Yssie--Say the word and I'll sketch away for you! (However, your sketch looks great to me, I must say.)

As for the hand-forged route, I do think you're going to have less control once you sign off on the design concept and it goes to the artist. I'm a pretty hands-off person, myself, so perhaps I could have had more input and updates about my ring as it was being created, but I just didn't ask for any of it. It was a very quick process: I brought in the sketches, Matt and I talked, he made suggestions, I said "I defer to your opinion in all matters" we shook hands, and we left! I freaked out about some detail here on PS, I can't remember exactly what, but I think it was something you pointed out to me, Yssie, about which components were rose gold and which were platinum. So I did make one phone call, Matt confirmed that it was as I hoped it would be, and then the next I heard from him my ring was done and I went in to trade in my original ring for the new one. I will say my heart was POUNDING on the ride over there, because I really didn't know if it was going to be the ring I pictured in my mind. Luckily, it was. It worked because I knew Matt and his work well, and he knew me and my taste, so I trusted him to do right by my new stone.

But, I'm a very hands-off person in general. If you went the hand-forged route, I'd want assurance that you can be involved in every step of the process.

Whatever you do, I'm excited for you!!!!

 

[yssie]

Kelpie--Your ring made me gasp out loud, not something that happens very often while I'm reading the computer! It is gorgeous. And those prongs, OY, I need a drink.
Their process is really interesting. I would love to see someone carving out a wax model for a ring, I can't even imagine what that would be like!

And you're correct about my ring. My jeweler is Matt Burdeen of Burdeen's Jewelry here in Illinois.

Yssie--Say the word and I'll sketch away for you! (However, your sketch looks great to me, I must say.)

As for the hand-forged route, I do think you're going to have less control once you sign off on the design concept and it goes to the artist. I'm a pretty hands-off person, myself, so perhaps I could have had more input and updates about my ring as it was being created, but I just didn't ask for any of it. It was a very quick process: I brought in the sketches, Matt and I talked, he made suggestions, I said "I defer to your opinion in all matters" we shook hands, and we left! I freaked out about some detail here on PS, I can't remember exactly what, but I think it was something you pointed out to me, Yssie, about which components were rose gold and which were platinum. So I did make one phone call, Matt confirmed that it was as I hoped it would be, and then the next I heard from him my ring was done and I went in to trade in my original ring for the new one. I will say my heart was POUNDING on the ride over there, because I really didn't know if it was going to be the ring I pictured in my mind. Luckily, it was. It worked because I knew Matt and his work well, and he knew me and my taste, so I trusted him to do right by my new stone.

But, I'm a very hands-off person in general. If you went the hand-forged route, I'd want assurance that you can be involved in every step of the process.

Whatever you do, I'm excited for you!!!!

Well, Haven... guess what I just did?

Yup. I called Burdeen's. And they do do out of state work. I talked to Rick (and told them your ring had inspired me to call, so I hope you don't mind!)

Your ring is gorgeous - and equally importantly to me, precisely made (glad you posted so many pics btw, among other things great for info-gathering purposes ), I would love to have the option of working with them. I can say with a certain amount of surety that once I've seen example of work of the right style that makes my heart melt, I'm that much more inclined to just trust in the magic of the artist/bench. Yours has the same graceful curves and swoops that I'm looking for, so I have no reason not to believe they fully understand and can replicate that specific aesthetic upon request, if that makes sense?

I did confirm that they are willing to work with nickel-alloy white gold. Rick asked for as much detail as I could give him about what I was looking for, so - I did just that. And now I'm nervous!

 

[Haven]

Oh my goodness, this is exciting!!!!

I don't know Rick, I wonder if he's a new employee.
Is it weird that I'm kind of nervous, now?

I'm trying to remember what I paid for my setting, and what they quoted me. The quote was $900 more than the end cost, which made me very happy. I can't believe I don't remember. I'm sure DH will, though. It cost less than $2,000 in the end, I'm pretty sure.

I have no idea what a handmade setting should cost, keep in mind. I just knew I wanted Burdeen's to make it, so if I'm a fool and overpaid, so be it. I'm happy with the result. If you end up going with Burdeen's, and they want to see my ring again for some reason, I'd be happy to relinquish it for a while. I sent Matt a link to my thread with the hundreds of pictures, so he has those, as well.

Edited to add a missing word.

ETA:

P.S. I have about a thousand more pics that I never posted. I think I'm obsessed. Let me know if there's a particular angle you need. It's really becoming a problem. I forgot my camera at DH's uncle's house last week, and I had this terrifying thought that he might look at the pictures and think I need to be put away in an asylum. There are probably 200 recent pictures of my ring on there. I can't explain it. It just looks so captivating all the time, yet I'm still unable to capture the magic on camera. But it's not for a lack of trying!

 

[yssie]

Oh my goodness, this is exciting!!!!

I don't know Rick, I wonder if he's a new employee.
Is it weird that I'm kind of nervous, now?

I'm trying to remember what I paid for my setting, and what they quoted me. The quote was $900 more than the end cost, which made me very happy. I can't believe I don't remember. I'm sure DH will, though. :cheeky: It cost less than $2,000 in the end, I'm pretty sure.

Haha I'm sure mine sympathizes completely Though he'd better not be right now, given that this is his idea!

I had no idea how much this sort of thing should cost either, before I started reaching out to vendors a few days ago. Heck I still have no idea, what quotes I do have are all over the place! I'm still waiting on three - Green Lake, though LGK's review has put them at the bottom of my list, Hunt Country, and now Burdeen's. The budget will kinda depend on what sorts of numbers I get back, I guess...

You don't need to be nervous! They did earn the rec, afterall

And thank you for your (second) generous offer! I definitely don't plan to part you from your ring - there are enough pics just on PS to construct a 3D mold all over again just from them I should think! Though... I totally get not wanting anyone else poking about the camera - I'm well beyond the point of denying the addiction. Affliction? If I go with them you can count on me asking you to stop in and peek for me (if they're actually local-local). With said camera

 

[Haven]

Oh, if you go with Burdeen's there will be a picture taking fest. You can bet on that.

When we decided to upgrade my ring, the one thing I felt a bit lost on was how much a setting should cost. I remember DH staring at me incredulously when I told him I couldn't even give him a ballpark estimate before we went in to talk to Matt about the setting. He basically said "You talk about diamonds down to the hundredth millimeter, but you don't know how much a setting should cost?!?!" I was pretty much like "Yup! That's about it." It is strange, isn't it?

ETA:

OH! I was so wrong. DH just responded to my text about the setting.
We paid $2,900 for the setting in the end. The estimate was $3,800. Yowsers, that sounds like a lot. I love the way my memory altered the price so very much. Wow. I still think it was worth it. Now I'm just shocked that DH so readily agreed to the entire thing.

Man, I'm certain I misrepresented the cost in threads about handmade settings. I was thinking $1,900 before I heard from DH. Sorry to anyone who was mislead by me in the past.

Holy bananas!

 

[yssie]

I'm laughing out loud

Well, we'll see I suppose! No point in getting worked up either way until I know something for sure, right?

 

[Bliss]

Yssieeeeee!!!!!!!!! Your reset is going to be BEEEAUUUUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!! I am lusting after YOUR setting and my diamond is the same size so.... I will stalk Voldemort's site in case for you change your mind!!!!! Yours is the PERFECT ring and now maybe it'll be even MORE amazing so I can't wait to see!!!!!

 

[yssie]

Yssieeeeee!!!!!!!!! Your reset is going to be BEEEAUUUUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!! I am lusting after YOUR setting and my diamond is the same size so.... I will stalk Voldemort's site in case for you change your mind!!!!! Yours is the PERFECT ring and now maybe it'll be even MORE amazing so I can't wait to see!!!!!

Bliss!! Haven't seen you around these parts in a long time - how are you?


Thank you! I sure hope it will

Hehe we don't have to call it that anymore, there's a whole forum for selling stuff now! Under Pricescope Cafe


Hey wait a minute... you're in NYC... right? Do you have plans for Oct 16th in the afternoon? 'Cause if not, would love to meet you *and* your bling at the GTG

 

[kelpie]

Yssie, don't let the quality of the work intimidate you, their prices are very good. I'm sure far less than whiteflash charges for a similar piece. They don't know exactly until they weigh the finished piece but they can give you a price range.

Thanks Kelpie - that's reassuring. Would you mind telling me a bit more about your ring?

You mentioned the shank is proving very sturdy - do you feel the more delicate head and prongs are durable, too? Your prongs especially look very delicate. They're so pretty!

How is the finish? It looks excellent in photos, but I'm interested to hear your thoughts, and if you had an appraisal done what the outcome was, if you are comfortable sharing. No troublesome porosity in the crevices and clefts, inside surfaces that are visible when you're wearing the ring also well-polished?

Do you feel that all the design elements are well-placed and precisely formed and finished? What I mean is - in the detail of the gallery of that ring for example there are lots of curving crossbars, lots of empty space, is each element precisely delineated, and evenly formed around the ring? So the prongs crossbars clearly start and end, and are well-shaped from all angles and the same from both/all sides, the place where empty space starts and ends is precisely defined, the details of where one element ends and another starts are clearly marked out, either by physical spacing or by engraving/indenting/whatever - no gloops of metal anywhere...

How closely do you feel your final wax represented the final product? Were you able to see the wax in-person?

If I have certain things I really want - a certain "look" of the prongs, say, do you have any recommendations for the best way to communicate that? Powerpoint, chatting by phone, drawings, scads of photos, or something else - or any or all of the above.?


Obviously since you are going back with more projects you are happy with the quality of service

No problem, Yssie. I don't think the ring is delicate...it's quite heavy. I severely damaged my engagement ring (needed new shank) the same night I banged up this ring so I've learned the value in a heavier ring and that "heavy" is quite different from being bulky. The finish is really good. I do see some slight asymmetries in the gallery grill work between opposite sides from being hand carved, one side is a little crisper than the other but it's a really complex design. I'm going to post a picture of the less refined side and you can see it's still quite badass. I think if you specify that you are OCD and you need it to look perfectly symmetrical through a loupe they can accomplish that with extra attention. I don't want to pay for that kind of perfection for a cocktail ring but I think they are capable of it...the ring was well under $1000 a year ago and I think few other jewelers could do that nice a work at that price point. My other ring is a simpler design and I don't see any asymmetries though there is a tiny pit of porosity inside the shank which isn't a problem but it would bug me if it happened on the outside. Definitely no gloops of metal where they shouldn't be even though the wax was cut then soldered in two pieces to make a two tone ring. The wax is close to the final ring, they just finished the other half of the gallery work after I approved the wax in person. I did not give much input into the design at all...he does a better job of coming up with these things than I do so I can't say how closely he came to my vision. It is a much more stunning ring than I could have imagined going into it. Since I didn't want to control the design closely and I visited the store in person I don't know the best way to communicate specific details remotely though I know they told me they've gotten a lot of business from pricescope readers since I posted that ring so they must do that. I'm sure my jeweler is reading this thread going "OMG, powerpoint presentation!?!?!". I'm sure he'll indulge you though. My input into this ring was: showed a pic of the "bones" of a ring I liked, said I wanted something "sinister" with super sharp elongated double claw prongs, and a rose gold head. I let him do everything else and I wasn't involved again until I approved the wax. I have an appraisal but it's from them.

ETA- each of those pics is a different side, the difference being the sharpness of the point on the fluer de lis motif.

 

[kelpie]

Kelpie--Your ring made me gasp out loud, not something that happens very often while I'm reading the computer! It is gorgeous. And those prongs, OY, I need a drink.
Their process is really interesting. I would love to see someone carving out a wax model for a ring, I can't even imagine what that would be like!

!

Haven, can we charter a mutual admiration society for eachother's rings? We will sip hot totties and congratulate ourselves on our good taste.

I'm so obsessed with yours!

To show me the layout or starting point he just sent me pictures of my spinel he's setting slapped into what looks like some ring a preschooler would make out of clay. Ha, I can't post them until I have the finished product to show what it becomes when he's done!

 

[kelpie]

MMMMMmmmm. I like those Hunt's prongs! Absolutely lurvely.

Now that I'm off work, this was the full GLJ story: they've been a love/hate relationship with me. I brought them that triple halo setting my OEC came with. Asked them to engrave it. They said, sure, come get it X date. I did. They said, "Why are you here?" when I showed up. Explained I'd come to pick it up. They said, oh, we will call you when it's ready, don't know why you showed up without that call. It will be ready in two weeks. Mind, this was an engraving-only job- the whole deal took over two months I believe. So I came by two weeks after. (I can't recall if I called first or not- I kind of think I did. Several not returned phone calls in the whole time line too.) They said, oh, we aren't done. (I live about 60 minutes lousy driving away.) I said, OK, I'll wait. Four hours later they finished, I spent the time wandering around the lovely Northgate area $500, c. 2007.

The next project, I asked them to set some Ashas into bezel studs for me, engrave the sides, and millgrain them as stated on the work order. A month later I showed up, they were indeed in bezels with millgrain but no engraving. They had put the posts at the very top edge of the bezels. They were absolutely unwearable- the posts in studs, in my mind, should be smack dab in the middle, yes? No.I can't say it had ever occurred to me I needed to specify where the posts were located so I could, you know, actually *wear* the earrings. $400, c.2008. That was the last project I did with them. My usual bench guy relocated the posts for me (for free) eventually- I would've gone with him in the first place if I had realized that GLJ wouldn't bother to engrave the earrings, like I'd asked.

Their melee is also not set very delicately IMO- lots of metal and space between stones going on. It drives me batty because I'd love to have their amazing engraving but they also are not so awesome with the listening and communication. And for being CAD/cast, they're very absolutely top of the price range for it.
.

Ugh! So sorry LGK, that rang so close to home for me. Add destroying the customer's stones they've painstakenly selected and this is my experience with Quest Jewelers. So glad I took a chance on Hunt Country in the same vicinity, a literal "gem" of a place in a one stoplight town.

 

[yssie]

Thank you so much Kelpie, that was really helpful.

Yeah - porosity issues anywhere, and asymmetries/disparities in finish would definitely bother me, but that is an incredibly low price - and of course I'd be willing to spend more for the time and effort it would take to ensure the perfection I want. "Crispness" is actually the perfect word. Your ring is stunning despite the asymmetry - and they definitely captured your ideas of 'sinister' and 'long clawed prongs'!

I'm really glad to hear that you think they would be open to discussing what sort of finish I want - I'd bring it up with any potential jeweller anyway, but it's good to know it isn't likely to drive them off! I love both those designs, too. From all the pics on the website and your pics they look like another vendor I feel I could 'trust' to put all the elements together into a design that achieves the right overall look and feel


Edit - Yikes, I'm adding Quest to my Beware list

 

[kelpie]

Thank you so much Kelpie, that was really helpful.

Yeah - porosity issues anywhere, and asymmetries/disparities in finish would definitely bother me, but that is an incredibly low price - and of course I'd be willing to spend more for the time and effort it would take to ensure the perfection I want. "Crispness" is actually the perfect word. Your ring is stunning despite the asymmetry - and they definitely captured your ideas of 'sinister' and 'long clawed prongs'!

I'm really glad to hear that you think they would be open to discussing what sort of finish I want - I'd bring it up with any potential jeweller anyway, but it's good to know it isn't likely to drive them off! I love both those designs, too. From all the pics on the website and your pics they look like another vendor I feel I could 'trust' to put all the elements together into a design that achieves the right overall look and feel


Edit - Yikes, I'm adding Quest to my Beware list

Yeah, just be really upfront with them about how particular you are and I would trust them to make the call on whether they thought they could do the job to your liking. Even if the ring cost twice as much as mine did for the extra effort, I have a feeling it'd still be less than whiteflash.

 

[yssie]

Kelpie I just called in. They seem to understand what I mean perfectly, in terms of perfect finish Ed will work on it personally. They're going to compose my quote with my expectations in mind.

 

[kelpie]

Kelpie I just called in. They seem to understand what I mean perfectly, in terms of perfect finish Ed will work on it personally. They're going to compose my quote with my expectations in mind.

Sweet deal. They know me and how picky I am so just tell them to multiply me by ten!

 

[yennyfire]

Yssie, I have to say, I am a little sad that you are going to be doing a reset. Your ring has always been one of my favs. However, I certainly understand wanting your ring to be perfect FOR YOU. That's what matters most of all and I can't wait to see what you come up with! I know it will be stupendous!

 

[yssie]

Yssie, I have to say, I am a little sad that you are going to be doing a reset. Your ring has always been one of my favs. However, I certainly understand wanting your ring to be perfect FOR YOU. That's what matters most of all and I can't wait to see what you come up with! I know it will be stupendous!

Thanks yenny I'll be saving my current setting, and I have plans to get some stunning garnets for it. I posted the story in a couple of threads, but I'd rather not muck this thread up with the details. It was... a surprisingly emotional realization, for both of us. And proof is in the pudding - or in this case DH listening in while I talk to vendors, or confessing to peeking at PS at work Things seem to be working out well, and I'm very glad we've got everything resolved.


Kelpie -

 

[yennyfire]

I caught some of it Yssie, so I'm glad that it's all working out for you and I know that your new ring will be TDF. I guess I'm just going to have to start saving for a "lil sis" version of your 3 stone ring for my right hand!

ETA: I hope that I didn't upset you...that wasn't at all my intention.

 

[yssie]

I caught some of it Yssie, so I'm glad that it's all working out for you and I know that your new ring will be TDF. I guess I'm just going to have to start saving for a "lil sis" version of your 3 stone ring for my right hand!

You mean there's room in your head for anything at all other than your almost-home-oval right now?


ETA - no, you didn't. I fully expect that a lot of people are scratching their heads going WTH, especially if they don't know the reasons. Which isn't exactly flattering I guess, caring so much about what sort of picture I paint of myself... oh well. It is what it is, and now that I'm done exploding I'm determined to enjoy what is, ultimately, a sweet deal in pretty much every way

 

[yennyfire]

Touche...snort!

ETA: we cross posted. If people are scratching their heads about you, then you know they're scratching their head about me. I guess we are two peas in a pod! Hey, as long as I'm a happy pea, I don't care what anyone else thinks, lol!

 

[dani13]

Oh, Yssie, I'm very excited for you!! I adore your current ring, but I know your reset will be TDF!!! Can't wait to see the end result!!!
Good luck!!!

 

[yssie]

Touche...snort!

ETA: we cross posted. If people are scratching their heads about you, then you know they're scratching their head about me. I guess we are two peas in a pod! Hey, as long as I'm a happy pea, I don't care what anyone else thinks, lol!

Hehe happy peas. That made me smile - I would love to share a pod with you yenny


Thank you Dani!! I'm really looking forward to getting started - though I think choosing a vendor is not going to be easy!

 

[MissGotRocks]

You've got quite a list of vendors but I think it's great. You will have left no stone unturned and there will be no wondering down the road if so-and-so could have done a better job. It's also great to have different renditions - ultimately all the best points of all quotes will be incorporated into one ring - it's just a matter now of who does the job!

Exciting times!!