Monthly Archives: January 2012

Firebrick & Greenstone Pendant

I have a most creative customer (Nelson) who is always thinking outside the box when it comes to jewelry design. His latest concept was a Upper Peninsula representative pendant with an Isle Royale Greenstone placed approximately where Isle Royale is located. Nelson was given the honor of naming this pendant which he called “Yooperland”, so for here on out they will be Yooperland Pendants.

After some thought Nelson decided on a U.P. cut from firebrick. Firebrick has been talked about in my blog before but let’s review: When the copper smelters were build in copper country, they were made of brick. Over the years as copper was smelted, the copper vapors and solids permeated into the brick and replaced everything except the silica materials. After the mines were closed the ovens and stacks were either taken down or fell down. Enterprising individuals then took away some of this heavy material and used it in lapidary projects. Today fire brick is quite scarce, but there are still stashes around. Since firebrick has such a great story of the Copper Country, it makes wonderful conversational jewelry.

This "yooper special" is a wonderful design.

This "Yooperland" is a wonderful design.

I usually coat my firebrick jewelry with a two-part epoxy resin to prevent it from tarnishing. This will keep the “Yooper land” pendant shining with a coppery look.

I used a 30X40mm Blue Lace Agate cabochon as the base for this project. After cutting out the firebrick and prepping it, I polished a wonderful Greenstone. Both of those stones were glued to the Blue lace so it appears as if everything is floating in Lake Superior.

The wire wrapping in gold and silver is quite elegant as befitting Nelson’s Queen. I added additional height to the perimeter to protect the firebrick and the greenstone. I expect Nelson’s wife will have a wonderful birthday gift. She loves U.P. themed jewelry.

I expect to make several more of these before spring. I believe these pendants will be one of our most popular, especially for our U.P. shows.

Nelson wrote me after giving his wife her Yooperland: The YOOPER LAND pendant is OUTSTANDING! I gave it to my wife for her birthday and she loves it. However there is a small issue that I must deal with when we go out in public. Nearly everyone comments on her necklace- BUT the rest of the people just stare. Sometimes I get a little jealous . MAYBE the solution would be a turtle neck shirt!

By the way my wife says “THANKS”

A Celebration of Agates

Before and after

We were pleased when we received an invitation to sell our agate jewelry at the Celebration of Agates Show at the Lindbergh Center at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

The show is July 26-29 2012, and is likely to be the largest celebration of agates ever. There will be displays, sales, and seminars. Check this all out at http://www.minnesotamineralclub.org/2012show.htm

Everyone interested in my favorite agate (Lake Superior) or any other species of agate has to get to this show.

More about this later.

I’ll see you there!

New Year-New Jewelry

As we enter a new year, I look back and reflect on our business in 2011.

The past couple years we were very concerned about the economy, especially being in a luxury business, but we have been pleased. Every year we grow, as you appreciate our unique gemstone jewelry. More people are finding our website, especially our Michigan Stone Jewelry.

I recently cut a large Greenstone in half. This beauty with Thomsonite flowers was the result.

Michigan greenstone pendants and cabochons are our bestselling jewelry, followed closely by our Lake Superior agate jewelry. Where else can you find so many Lake Superior Agate pendants, beautifully wire wrapped? Our state stone is the Petoskey Stone, and I am constantly developing artistic ways to feature them. I seem to have more ideas than time to complete them.

It has been fun to make those custom pieces for people. I get those “can you make this?” calls. I love figuring out how to complete some of these wild requests, and will continue to accept these challenges. We have also custom made jewelry from gems our customers have. Sometimes these “gems” are only gems to the owners, but hold sentimental value for them. I receive stones from customers that want my opinion as to if they could make good jewelry. My policy is always been based on integrity and honesty, and I always give my honest opinion. I would rather not make any money than make them something I personally feel is second rate.

Here is the second half of the aforementioned Greenstone. This on has a surprising and rare clear quartz matrix with Thomsonite and Chlorastrolite floating within.

In 2012 we expect to return to most of our summer art shows. Keep checking the Show Schedule on the home page. We enjoy seeing our return customers wearing our jewelry! We are also in the process of updating and improving our website as well as adding more products. Perhaps you have noticed the new buttons on the home page and the larger product photos in our catalog. Expect improvements in our shopping cart in the near future.

My blog continues to be very popular with rockhounds and jewelry lovers, and I will be blogging daily again this year from the Tucson rock and mineral shows. I will continue to show you what is on my workbench and what is on my mind.

My first pendant in 2012.

Here is my first major piece of jewelry of 2012. This Victoria Stone Pendant came to me in a dream. I wanted an extremely fancy elegant look with Victorian (get the pun?) design. I wanted a piece that a bride might appreciate, or anyone who loves complements. I have decided to produce more of these multi-stone pendants using facetted gemstones. This one features Peridot, Swiss Blue Topaz, and Dark Pink Topaz.

I am currently working on several other pieces in rapid succession, so stand by.

Some of my blog pieces are in the on-line catalog. If you click on the photo and it links to the catalog (be sure to see all the categories on the left) it is available on line. If there is not that piece listed, I may or may not have it in my art show inventory. You may contact me via E-mail or call me about these or similar pieces.