Monthly Archives: September 2011

Brockway Mountain-Paradise Lost?

A Brockway Mountain Sunset.

What is the most scenic spot you know? If you’ve been on this road, the Brockway Mountain Drive has to be at the top of your list. During the Great Depression unemployment in this area wasa staggering number, 75-80%. This scenic drive was created by unemployed miners digging through the rocky terrain of the northernmost area of the Keweenaw Peninsula ending in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Other New Deal projects were numerous and have contributed to the landscape in the area even today.

The 16 mile long road passes by a huge rock face on one side, with a steep drop off on the other side, in many places. Canopied with trees and unencumbered my man-created buildings, the Brockway Mountain Drive is a beautiful trip. At the summit, nearly everyone stops for a look at the scenery. On our last night we saw two lake freighters while we watched the sunset. From the summit you can see harbors, islands, lakes, trees. It is a priceless view, and it is FOR SALE!

Privately owned, this park-like setting has been used by the public since the road was built, but now it could be cut off to the public and sold to developers. Several organizations have joined together to raise money so that Eagle Harbor Township might buy it and keep it available for public use. The Nature Conservancy and the Audobon Society are adjacent landowners and are partners in the fund raising, along with many others including the Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District and the Kewwnaw Land Trust. The are working to obtain grant and private funding to acquire the top of Brockway Mountain and surrounding 320 acres, and to keep it forever in the public trust.

The tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula is an important migration path for raptors as they move north. You’ve heard the phrase, “as high as the eagle”, well up on the summit that’s where you are!

Bonnie has family photos from the 1940’s of being on Brockway Mountain Drive. The trees are bigger, but the effect is the same-beautiful surroundings. We support the efforts of the local people of Eagle Harbor Township to keep this treasured piece of land available to the public. For more information, visit www.eagleharbortwp.org.

We have sent a check and invite you to help save the view for public use.

KCWC-Brockway Mountain Project

Eagle Harbor Towship

321 Center Street

Eagle Harbor, MI 49950

Did I mention that we drive up there every night while we are in Copper Harbor?! It is the only place for miles around that we can talk on our cell phone! Can you imagine a place where you have to drive 4-15 miles to use your cell phone, and the one spot might become someone’s walled-off castle?

We invite you to help get the word out, and the money in, and save this piece of Paradise.

On the Workbench at Copper World

Bonnie's agate and Datolite. I wonder what color it is?

This past weekend we made it to the Copper Country for one last trip. The colors were not in bloom yet, but we had great weather for a couple of hunts. We found some great Greenstones in matrix at the Central Mine and Bonnie and I both found a Datolite. Bonnie sat down to dig a hole and had worked on it for 20 minutes, searching for the elusive Datolite. She sat down and found one under her knee right out in the open. We have not cut her Datolite yet, but this mine has white, blush green, and some light brown Datolite.

I'm working at Copper World-I Love this place!

I wire wrapped at Copper World in Calumet all day Saturday. I have great fun talking to patrons as I explain the wire wrapping process. I had a great day all the way around. While I was wire wrapping Bonnie went to the beach and found a nice Lake Superior Agate right in a spot that hundreds of others had probably walked over at a public park. It pays to know what you are looking for!

The workbench produced several pendants including two wonderful Michigan Greenstones, a Lake Superior Agate, and a Prehnite.

My workbench at Copper World. Also notice the orange Laker "paint" agate on the bench.

The Prehnite is a cabochon of the Prehnite seam I found at the Cliff Mine and is shown in the blog I posted on August 12th. As I suspected, this apple green Prehnite was loaded with copper. I cut several nice cabs from this rock. I wrapped it in Argentium and double gold filled wire. I think the round shape and the copper inclusions made this piece a standout. What do you think? It will make a wonderful piece for someone.

The finished pendant was just amazing.

On The Workbench (9-13-11)

“Orange-aide” Agate wborangecabs

I’ve been slicing some elite Lake Superior Agates that I recently acquired. As you may know “Lakers” are my favorite gemstones. The colors and variety of patterns and types are incredible. This week I cut some amazing stones including one so unusual it defies description.

I would describe it as a wild orange and black atypical “Laker” that is unlike any I’ve ever seen (and I’ve seen a lot of lakers). To me it looks like orange and black paint dabbed haphazardly on it. Bonnie thinks it looks like Mexican fire opal, it has such a depth and bright shimmer. I saved a piece of the stone to prove it is a Lake Superior Agate. That one agate begged me to wrap it, so this is one of my workbench projects this week.

wborange11

Orange "lakers" on the bench

As you can see the “orange-aide” agate is really fantastic. I decided on upscale wraps that enhances both cabs, yet does not take away the beauty of this agate. I wrapped both these agates in Argentium sterling and 14/20 gold fill, allowing the use of either a gold or silver chain.
This Lake Superior Agate is so stunning that they allowed me to add a bit of “bling” to the top of the pendant, and not take away from the stone in any way. I have always felt that one should never allow a wire wrap to distract from the gemstone. I see so many wire wrappers that do too much wire and cover up the beauty of the stone.

In many cases these “sculpture” people cover a perfectly good gemstone. Most wire wrappers also buy their stones and do not cut them. In most cases the cabochons are as bad as the wrapping. Check the web if you don’t believe me. OK, I’m off my soapbox for now.

wbpendant2

I hope you appreciate my style and stones. Thanks for checking out my blog. wbfinish11

On the Workbench (August 31, 2011)

My 100th Blog!

Bonnie had a great idea last week that I think will be great fun. She suggested that I show you what is on my workbench. I will show you what I am doing both before making jewelry and after my jewelry is finished.

a 3+ gram Isle Royale greenstone

My first post is a very nice fine-patterned Isle Royale Greenstone that I acquired in Michigan’s U.P. This was a rough nugget that I cut in half. I offer many greenstone cabuchons for sale on my website which folks use to create their own rings and other jewelry. A large stone with a great pattern like this I make into my own wire-wrapped creations.

Here I am making this pendant on the beach at Crystal Lake near Benzonia

Here I am making this gorgeous pendant on the beach at Crystal Lake near Benzonia

I cut it in a designer shape and wrapped it in 14/20 gold fill and Argentium Sterling. I was very pleased with the finished product. You can see this Greenstone pendant on my website along with other chlorastrolite pendants.

A gorgeous Greenstone with included Thomsonite. A winner for sure!

A Luminous Superstar Greenstone with included Thomsonite. A winner for sure!