My new Diamond Pacific Xpert seems like a great machine. It produces the cabs wonderfully, and because I have used the Genie for 10 years, there is little or no learning curve. My unit is #8, and I am very pleased with it. I would recommend the machine to anyone.

I lined the Xpert up to the right of the Genie and am planning on putting worn wheels on one side of the Genie and polishing wheels on the other side. Some of the stones, like opals, require worn out wheels to work properly. I think it will be nice to not have to change out any wheels.

I’ve just cut and polished a large quantity of greenstones, mostly small, but many are old material from Isle Royale that would make great rings for some lucky individual. Greenstones seem to rising in popularity and I have recently finished a couple custom pieces that where well received by the owners. I have the largest selection of Isle Royale Greenstones on the Web for sale, and I get many hits in that section.

I have a couple new Greenstone products coming out in a few weeks. I’ll post them, when I make them.

I will post a few more pictures of recent pendants I made from the rocks I bought in Tucson. Some of these are not on the website, but may be available if you call. I will be selling loads of new stuff at this year’s shows, so check our show schedule on the home page and stop and say hello. Two shows just added are the Tulip Festival Show in Holland and the Ludington 4^th of July Show. I expect we will also be in the Alpena area this summer. Follow our link here or check our show schedule on the home page.

Another change this year is the price of gold and silver (ouch). I am trying to keep the cost down, but it is hard when I am paying three (almost 4 times) what I paid when I started making jewelry. I still refuse to cheapen my jewelry by using substandard metal. I think my loyal customers will realize what a great values they still get from us.

Unfortunately we still have too much snow to go out rock hunting, but we did sign up for the Copper Country Mineral Retreat, put on by the Seaman Mineral Museum in Houghton. I would recommend this opportunity to search the various scrap rock piles of the Keweenaw. You WILL find something, and I see remarkable treasures found every year. Think about a big bulldozer turning over a rock pile exposing material that may not have been seen for 100 years, then releasing us rockhounds onto the pile. It’s just like an Easter egg hunt for adults. Visit www.museum.mtu.edu Click on the Copper Country Mineral Retreat.

I hope you liked this small sample of my new stuff. Come see us this year; check the “Upcoming Shows” list on the home page. I love it when someone comes to one of our shows and tells me they like my Snob Blog.