Another Newby Q? How to make good magic items?

[RAF]

Thanks for the reply on the Sea question, Zurai...

Another question...I can make Trinket magic items at the beginning of the game, but as the game goes on, I never seem to be presented with the ability to make better ones (Lesser magic and above)...What am I missing? I have my mages or pretender try to make them at a lab, but only get the lowest level stuff?

BTW, this is a really superior game, can't put it down (considering it's 2:20 AM local, that's not a surprise, I guess)....

Thanks for the help!

Raf