Category Archives: Wire and Gemstone Jewelry

Valentine Jewelry 2023

***Warning***: This **Brown Rhodochrosite** should not be worn if you do not want to be noticed.

It’s never to early to start thinking of a Valentine gift for your Valentine.

I recall when I was in grade school; so far back that most of you were not yet born.

One of the memorable events, I remember, was celebrating Valentines Day by exchanging Valentine Cards with others in my 3rd or 4th grade class.

The exchanging of cheap cards helped make for a happy classroom. I came from the poor side of town. We lived in the shadow of a Giant Paper Mill smokestack. This was good, because the rotten smell would mostly drift over our house and settle on the rich side of town. My best pal, Bill, and I played in the paper bails. A paper bail was about ten foot square, they were “stacked” haphazardly, inviting kids to make forts and hideouts in those bails. We sometimes found Valentine (and other) Cards in those bails. When Valentines Day came, I always had nice cards to give out. I, of course, never told anyone where I got the cards; after all, it’s the thought that counts.

I’m sure most kid’s parents bought them cards to give to the other kids, but my (paper bail) cards were always well received, and mom did not have to buy any cards for us boys to hand out. I had enough found cards to share with my three younger brothers. Paper bails were not a place for my younger brothers to explore, but most of the time I liked my younger brothers, and by sharing my found treasures, I felt good.

**Green Petrified Wood from Hampton Butte, Oregon**.
What make this unique is its’ color and it is the only Petrified Cedar found on Earth.

Today, Valentines Day is so commercialized by the Card Companies, Candy Companies, and jewelry Stores (of course). Don’t get the wrong idea. We promote local jewelry stores and often do custom cutting for them. I’m referring to big box jewelry stores who offer you aisles and aisles of diamonds.

**Fluorescent Sodalite in Granite**
This Yooperstone has a hidden surprise. I coupled this with some nice facetted Garnets. Adding the Garnets with the black Granite helps the ordinary looking stone stand out.

When a UV light illuminates the Sodalite, this Yooperstone **really** stands out.

Some of these slick TV ads promote Diamonds or colored gemstones. The subliminal message, in the ads, is that you are cheap if you don’t buy multiple Diamonds for your love. Most people reading this blog know that Diamonds’ inflated values are controlled by one central cartel based in South Africa. The world of stone is so much larger, we love to offer variety!

**Pallasite** **Meteorite from Symchan, Russia**
Olivine (a relative of Peridot) inhabits some Symchan Meteorites. When you shine a light up through the Meteorite, it looks like a yellow-shaded stained glass window. Olivine included Meteorites, are classed as Pallasite Meteorites because they contain Olivine.

**Shot Copper**
Copper Ore containing “Shot Copper” is occasionally found in the Keweenaw Copper Country waste piles. This Ore was hard enough to make a pendant from. Location found was in the Kearsage Lode near Calumet.

Snob Appeal Jewelry is a small business, based in a small town, in Northern Michigan. We do not use common gemstones that you see at every jewelry store. Our jewelry value is in memories, not costs. Most of our stones are much more rare than what you find in every jewelry store in the country. Our rare and unusual pendants always create a special feeling.

My wife Bonnie liked this **Snowflake Obsidian**
Could Lady Liberty be wading in the Michigan Snow Drifts?
Since she is not wearing a Carhartt Parka and a Story Kromer hat; probably Not.

**Crinoid Stem**
These Devonian Fossils are found in the same area as Petoskey Stones. It is more common to see them as little straw-shaped rings in our fossils.

In every case, our jewelry’s intent is to create a feeling of love, and that you are giving or receiving something that no one else has. We are surprised by people around this great country, having deep feelings about our Great Lakes Rocks & Minerals. Instead of common Diamonds, Rubies, and Sapphires, we have Lake Superior Agates, isle Royale Greenstones, Petoskey Stones, and Pudding Stones. We have hand made pendants, made of rare and unusual gemstones, from around the world. Our Etsy site features amazing beadwork as well as wire wrapped pendants. We’re not making millions of dollars, but we’re creating thousand of memories.

**Pink Amethyst Lace**
A very striking scenic Mexican Agate.

Valentines Day is very special to us, because a gift of our jewelry brings love and elation to others. Our jewelry is long-lasting, and evokes memories for our customers. We put love in every piece we hand make. We believe in buying locally, when we can, and we believe in honestly, Integrity, and fairness. Bonnie and I appreciate everyone that supports our small business, and are proud of our reputation. Over 1000 one-of-a-kind pieces are available on our websites.

**Patricianite**
Patricianite is a beautiful stone found in the Keweenaw Peninsula. It is comprised of Prehnite, Chlorite, and visible Copper. This stone was found at the Cliff Mine. Lots of Copper in this one!!

**Ammonite**
Ammonites thrived in the seas millions of years ago **(Devonian**–**Upper Cretaceous**,) but were pretty much wiped out 66 Million years ago, along with the Dinosaurs. They are Cephalopods, related to present day Squids and Cuttlefish

**Lake Superior Agate**
This Agate is special because the eye on the right side is clear crystal, and allows you to look down inside of the Agate. I cannot show this uniqueness with a picture. One you have to see in person.

Here in our blog and on Facebook we try to show you new jewelry that is available to purchase. Sometimes new jewelry is put into out inventory to be sold at art shows. Some jewelry is sold at our Snobappealjewelry.com website, and some at our ETSY site. Some jewelry is available at retail outlets, like Copper World in Calumet, Michigan. If you see any piece of jewelry you are interested in, contact us at Snobappealjewelry@yahoo.com. We can tell you (in most cases) where a piece of jewelry is, or if it was sold. Some pictures in our blogs are “linked” to that particular piece of jewelry.

This blog is to wish you a happy Valentines day, and we are so happy you can purchase jewelry from us, instead of rooting thru paper bails for Valentine cards.

All the jewelry in this blog is available as of the date published.

Lavish Wire Wrapping of Distinctive Gemstones

Wire wrapping theory; according to Don

My consideration, before making a piece of jewelry is fairly straightforward. It mostly involves the feelings that emanate from a stone, and the enthusiasm, on my part, to proceed. As an artist, I practice seeing what a finished pendant could look like at the conclusion of wire wrapping. Also certain stones “Speak” to me, and tell me what they need.

Being able identify a finished cabochon, while looking at a rough stone has advantages. Rough stones often are cut with a finished piece of jewelry already in mind. The stone that speaks to me one day, may not be the one that speaks to me the next.

I sort through many dozens of stones, until a particular stone stands out from the rest. Once a gemstone is chosen, I can totally concentrate on a pendant until it’s finished. Bonnie knows that my concentration is so complete, that when she talks to me, I often do not hear her. She has learned that if I’m deep into my work, it might be best to not talk to me until I’m done.

Enjoy some new pieces of jewelry

Please enjoy some recent Pendants from 2023. This group is comprised of whatever stone grabbed me. There is no rhyme or reason why I made them. Let’s just say I was having fun flitting across the world of semiprecious gemstones.

Green Petrified Wood from Hampton Butte, Oregon. Green Petrified Wood is found in other places, but this is the only place in the world that the Petrified Wood is from Cedars.
**Verdant Cedar** ***Petrified Wood Pendant***

An Actinolite Mix from the North Shore of Lake Superior.
***Drone View*** **Actinolite Pendant**

Lake Superior Agate. This one is a banded fortification type (AKA Candy Striper).
**Pastel Candy** ***Lake Superior Agate Pendant***

A dime-sized Thomsonte from the North Shore of Lake Superior
***Soft Honey***

Sonoran Sunset (or Sonoran Sunrise), is a beautiful combination of blue-green Crysocolla and Red Cuprite. The stone got its’ name from the Sonora Desert of Northern Mexico, where it is found. I created this piece as a unisex Pendant. This one is reminiscent of the Southwest and Mexico.
**Desert Illustration** ***Sonoran Sunset Pendant***

A beautiful example of a Copper Agate found in Mine Spoil piles, and on the beaches near the Kearsage Lode in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Bands of Copper replaced some banding in normal banded agates.
***Copper Swathes*** **Copper Agate Pendant**

Found on Lake Superior’s Northern region, this unusual Thomsonite stands out.
Light pastel colors permeate the White Thomsonite. I love to create pendants from rare and unusual stones, and this hit the mark.
***Thomsonite Spree*** **Pendant**

Where to find Snob Appeal Jewelry

The pendants shown may be inventory stock or posted on our ETSY site (snobappealjewelry/etsy.com) or our http://snobappealjewelry.com e-Commerce site. You can also find our jewelry at Copper World in Calumet, Michigan www.calumetcopper.com.

By selecting favoured (Fancy spelling to match our Pendants) Stones and designing masterful Pendants, we invest in our treasured clientele. If a piece of jewelry makes us happy, there’s a good chance the recipient will also be pleased.

I really had fun with this blog, and hope you enjoy it.

Amazing 2023 JEWELRY

Between Christmas and New Years, the holiday rush is over. It’s a great time to create a few new wire-wrapped stone pendants. All I have to do is look thru a few hundred cabochons and see which ones inspire me. Guess what? I found some. So these are the first half dozen pendants that I created in 2023. There are links to the product page, when you “click” on the pictures.

Coober Pedy, in Australia is very famous for Black Opal. This Electric Blue doublet is very fine. A doublet is a slice of opal epoxied to a matrix stone.
*Blue Radiance* *Coober Pedy Opal Pendant*

Fire Agate is amazing material that requires careful cutting. Quality Fire Agates have Iridescence Botrioidal inclusions in Brown Quartz. The trick is to carefully remove the brown Quartz, so that the maximum iridescence shows through, I ruined a lot of Fire Agate before my skill level blossomed enough that I now know where to stop cutting the brown Quartz, and get the most from this Gemstone. This piece of Fire Agate was mined from Slaughter Mountain, Arizona, and the rough was acquired at the Tucson Gem Shows a decade ago.
*Supernatural Fire Agate Pendant*

Leland Blue Stone (Slag Glass from Leland Michigan). “Leland Blue” is a very popular material from the old Smelter in Leland (NW Lower Michigan). I cut this one as a Quarter-sized heart.
*Blue Glaze Leland Blue Pendant*

I’m glad I purchased this Catseye Jade a decade ago. Mined in Siberia, this gemstone, due to Russian embargo. is now very scarce. The gemstone shows a distinct “Cats-eye”, as the stone is moved with light shinining on it.
*Intimate Glow Cats-eye Jade* *Pendant*

Ocean Jasper from the NW coast of Madagascar has always been a popular lapidary material. Circa 2000, it was intoduced in Tucson. Gene Mueller (The Gem Shop) had the good stuff back in the day. Old stock, like this, was mined out around 2006, so the heyday was short.. Particularly popular was the material with orbicular inclusions, like this stone.
*Spherical Galaxy Ocean Jasper Pendant*

Drusy (Druzy) Quartz in comprised of natural Quartz pockets; some left in their natural state, but the majority of Drusy is manufactured in India, using dyeing and/or Titanium Deposition. This deposition creates fantastic colorations and flashy gemstones. This is a gemstone you wear when you want to be flashy.
*Frosty Glacier* *Druzy Pendant*

I hope you enjoyed this selection of brand new wire-wrapped stone pendants. We appreciate our customers, and hope you enjoy your new jewelry in 2023, and beyond! Thanks for shopping our small business.

Marra Mamba vs Binghamite

Did you ever think about how similar Marra Mamba Tigers Eye and Binghamite are? NO, you mean you haven’t? It’s amazing to me how unrelated rocks, that came from places so remote from each other, resemble each other. Let’s first look at Binghamite, then talk about Marra Mamba.

Characterstics of Binghamite

Binghamite/Silkstone Is a highly sought after gemstone material from Minnesota’s Cuyuna Iron Range. The mine where Binghamite was found is long closed, and even the spoil piles are depleated. Binghamite can still be found at swap meets and rock & mineral Shows. Binghamite is also sometimes known as American Pietersite, because of its’ silky chatoyancy. My opinion is that it has the appearance of fine Tiger Iron from Australia more than Pietersite from South Africa. Pietersite generally contains no iron and loads of chatoyancy. Tiger Iron, Marra Mamba, and Binghamite, all contain the iron element, and in my opinion have much more character than does Pietersite.

A flashlight on the face of this amazing Binghamite shows the “glow” of the Goethite and the Hematite in this gorgeous pendant. Binghamite, like this beauty, are very difficult to find.

Do Old Collections Yield Rare Stones?

Purchasing old collections is a wise investment most of the time. When you find things like high grade, picture Binghamite, in an old collection, it’s a special day. Every time I looked at one particular little slab of Binghamite I found in an old collection, I saw new things. I thought I would bring this Cab to the top of my “make jewelry” list; but guess what? I put it in a “safe place” and forgot about it for 10 years! I rediscovered this shiny stone, and put it in a tray to travel to Florida with us this winter. I placed it on my work bench, and looked at it for a couple months. This Binghamite Cabochon was begging me to make it into a pendant, all that time. I cut and polished it with My Pixie Machine out on our picnic table. Man, that stone sparkled in the sun. I cut and shaped this slab into a square picture, a Magical and Ethereal Cabochon indeed.

Binghamite is a rock containing Chalcedony (a form of micro-crystalline Quartz). In the case of Binghamite the Chalcedony contains fibrous iron oxide, Hematite and/or Goethite. It has been explained to me that Binghamite is a Chalcedony replacement of Fibrous Goethite-Hematite. It’s hard to get my head around how this causes a play of color not unlike Tiger’s Eye, but it does.

What is undercutting?

The hardness of Binghamite varies. The more Hematite in the stone, the more difficult to cut and polish. The term “Undercutting” is applied. Undercutting occurs when cutting material with different hardnesses within one stone. Because some areas are softer they tend to cut deeper than surrounding areas. A lot of finesse is involved when cutting, and this is the case with Binghamite. The best polish obtainable may be a Matte Finish.

Really good Binghamite will certainly outshine Tiger Iron, but will not hold a candle to Marra Mamba.

Characteristics of Marra Mamba

Marra Mamba is considered the finest form of Tiger’s Eye ( I refer to Tiger Eye and Tiger’s Eye in this Blog. Both are acceptable) by many collectors and lapidarists. In the Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara region in Australia, there are a iron rich areas where Australian tiger-eye has been found. The best-known area is near Mount Brockman. A ridge of hills a few miles long has produced good quality golden-colored material from a number of small deposits. The “true” Marra Mamba is a very rare type of Tiger Eye, and was only found in two areas. Vivid chatoyant blues, reds, yellows, gold, and greens! (see note below) can all be present in Marra Mamba.. These areas have been mined out of Marra Mamba since the early 70’s. Hematite is also a major component in Marra Mamba, and in the case of this particular cabochon, makes polishing it very tricky.

Is Marra Mamba still available?

Marra Mamba may be scarce but I found some in Tucson a few years back. Seven years ago I was checking out the tables of Australian Outback Mining at the Tucson Shows. Looking through Glenn Archer’s stash of Tiger Eye and Tiger Iron, I noticed unusual blue colorations in one of his rough pieces. I mentioned to Bonnie that I really thought it was Marra Mamba, but rough MM is very difficult to find and quite expensive. AFTER I bought the rock, I showed it to Glenn, and he confirmed that it was Marra Mamba; “I guess I missed that one”, was his comment. I would not have seen the telltale signs had the bright Tucson sun not been shining on the rock at precisely the right angle. If you are lucky, you can still find this gemstone. What I look for in Marra Mamba that is different from Tigers Eye, is some Blue areas, that you don’t see in ordinary Tigers Eye.

Here’s Binghamite Out in the Florida sunlight,,,AMAZING!! See the picture of the Tigers Iron slab below, and compare to the Binghamite.

A large and spectacular, polished piece of Marra Mamba for sale by legendary Miner, Glenn Archer (Owner of Australian Outback Mining) several years ago at the Tucson Shows. I intentionally inserted the short movie of my Binghamite Pendant to directly compare it to the Marra Mamba slab seen at the Tucson shows. It’s unfortunate you cannot see these stones in person. ***No picture can do this justice!***

Another picture from a Tucson gem show trip: Looks like giant Bacon Slabs; and I LOVE Bacon!

About my Finished Binghamite Pendant (It passed Quality Control)

I decided on Gold wire, and I did not “cheap” on the quantity. I piled those wires into a 12 wire high bundle. My usual rule in no more than 10 wires. I wanted to achieve a simple, elegant, yet expensive look, and nothing does this like being extravagant with the gold. Careful planning and excecution, and a couple hours of intense concentration, produced a wire wrap job befitting this stone. Quality Control (Bonnie) smiled, and declared it “elegant”. Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Piles of Tiger Eye are occasionally seen in Tucson and Quartzsite. You won’t find piles of Marra Mamba though. These piles are better searched when they are wet.

I understand, from my metaphysically inclined friends that Marra Mamba is a favorite of female Shamans, and has multiple benefits. It is said to invoke the powers of the far seeing eye, and bring health and well being. I know it makes ME happy. I see new things each time I look at this gemstone; amazing landscapes, and fantastic colors seem to reflect different features within. The evening sun shines thru, reflecting rich, chatoyant colors, and mysterious places. Trivia Alert! The Dalai Lama often wears Tiger’s Eye Beads. That may, or may not be and important fact, but I love trivia.

Beware of False Claims.

I have noticed much of the Australian Tiger Eye on line, being sold as Marra Mamba, is not real Marra Mamba. Buyers must beware.

Ordinary Tiger’s Eye from Australia is somewhat dull as compared to Tiger Eye from South Africa. Tiger Iron from Australia, on the other had, can be very gemmy.

In Conclusion

Tiger Eye is found in many places around the world, but Australia is the only place where Marra Mamba was, and is, found. While Tiger’s Eye is quite common, Marra Mamba is not. I would love to have more Marra Mamba, as would most Lapidarists and Jewelry Makers, but it is quite scarce. Occasionally I exhume a piece from my old rock piles.

I do not believe I can channel all the metaphysical powers of Tiger’s Eye or Marra Mamba, like the Dalai Lama, but making jewelry from Marra Mamba certainly makes me happy.

Ocean Jasper – Amazing Pastel Colors and Patterns

The variety in both pastel coloration and pattern in Ocean Jasper in phenomenal.

I have never written a blog about Ocean Jasper, even though it has been one of my favorite non-Michigan stones. I expect this blog will atone me of that sin–Amen!

When Ocean Jasper appeared in Tucson at the gem shows, around 2000, it was the hottest stone in town! Paul Obeniche discovered Ocean Jasper in 1999 after years of searching. Eugene Mueller, of the Gem Shop in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, and Paul Obeniche introduced Ocean Jasper to Tucson in 2000. Gene was responsible for the trade name “Ocean Jasper”. For several years, Ocean Jasper was all over Tucson, and I purchased a lot back in the day. The orbs, veins, and crystal pockets make each piece have its own special character.

orbicular jasper rough — Obicular Jasper from Madagascar was readily available back in 2010

Ocean Jasper rough — I wish now I’d have purchased more.

Ocean Jasper close up show Orbicular patterns — This is a closeup of and Ocean Jasper intarsia tabletop. Tucson 2011.

Ocean Jasper beads. We may still have some of these.

Surprising colorations are not uncommon.

Discovered in NW Madagascar, this colorful Obicular jasper was ripe with patterns and colors, as well as crystal veins throughout the gemstone. There were two mines, one on land, and one on the shore. The deposit on the shore was mostly harvested during low tides. Even though the name Ocean Jasper was copywrited, others tapped into the demand for this material. The veins were depleted in 2006. Most of my Ocean Jasper has been purchased from Enter the Earth (Entertheearth.net). Enter The Earth owns the now depleted Ocean Jasper Mines in Madagascar.

Crystal Glory Ocean Jasper at Snob Appeal Jewelry — “Crystal Glory” was this one’s name.

Flowers Ocean Jasper Pendant at Snob Appeal Jewelry — We called this one “Flowers”

Ocean Jasper Pendants at Snob Appeal Jewelry — A selection of Ocean Jasper pendants of various colors

Obicular Jasper from Madagascar can still be found at rock shows, and it remains one of my favorite pendant-making stones. Even though the fun days of searching though 50 gallon drums, or Gaylord Boxes of OJ are over, still, searching through my barn piles might produce Ocean Jasper. I bought a lot of Ocean Jasper back in the day. The colors are so varied and unique it is hard to resist.

Bonnie, while editing this blog, mentioned that I should make some new Ocean Jasper Pendants. I told her if she could find some, that I would. She rooted around and found some beautiful slabs from 2011. I guess I have to get busy.

By 2002 this jasper-agate was all over the Tucson Gem show as beads, slabs, spheres, bookends, and all other things lapidary. By 2006 the source was pretty much depleted, but the stockpile must have been huge. Ever since around 2011, availably is becoming less and less.

The demand for this Obicular Jasper has decreased over the years, but I still produce an occasional pastel Pendant; Ocean Jasper just makes me happy! Our pendants are elegantly wire wrapped with top-quality 14/20 yellow gold, pink gold, and tarnish-resistant argentium silver wires–Check out our Ocean Jasper jewelry page to see what makes you happy!

Great Lakes Gemstone Pendant on Steroids

It isn’t often that a write a blog about one pendant, but I had to do it with this one.

Extravagant Greenstone Pendant with ten Greenstones plus two Thomsonites — A challenging pendant yet to be named. My two suggestions are “Extravagant Wire Whimsy” or “Don’s Wrestling Match”. Since I’ve already sold it, I told the new owner, she could name it.

Sometimes when wire-wrapping, things happen that you wish had not happened, and you end up going in a totally new direction. This is how I made a Great Lakes Gemstone Pendant on Steroids, and it started by an accident.

It was a heartbreaking moment. While creating a really nice Blue Datolite Pendant a week ago, during the final setting, the top of this rare gem fractured. I am capable of reworking a stone, but I decided, as a challenge, to use the wire frame; adapt it, so to speak, to make another totally different pendant.

The decision to change tracks in the middle of the race, was spurred by thrift, I didn’t want to waste the wire frame I had just built! I looked through a couple trays of Great Lakes Cabochons, and plucked out an amazing dark-eyed Thomsonite that fit well in the bottom of the original wire bundle, but it wasn’t nearly as big as the Datolite I had started with. So I paired this with both a slender Isle Royale Greenstone, and a very unusual Green and dark pink Prehnite. Wow, now I had the challenge I was looking for. How do you securely fit three Great Lakes stones in a space designed for one?

Fortunately, Bonnie (my wife), was not around for all the expletives, as I wrestled to re-shape this wire frame to accommodate new stones. There was much bending, pushing and pulling involved . Most of you do not wire wrap, so I have to explain that it is a finesse skill. Precious metal wire will harden as you work with it, and eventually, if you work it too much, will get brittle and break. After a couple decades of wire wrapping, I generally get a feel for when the wire will break. I HATE when this happens–it means you have wasted wire and time. You have to start all over again. I have to admit, the wire (and myself), were right on the edge of breaking.

close up of Calcite with copper in Greenstone — Notice the Copper included Calcite in the bottom of the long Greenstone.

The pendant took large quantities of coffee over three days, to get it right. I finished the original cage for the stones, but the pendant lacked balance. This is an artistic term that means that it looked “not right”. Not quite that it looked like crap, but something else was needed.

How about some Greenstone beads? Now that would be decadent, wouldn’t it? I strung 8 tiny Greenstone beads along on edge. After this more messing around took place. How do I fit this stone in, how do I attach this all together, that doesn’t look just right, this needs to be fit in and so on. Finally I added a Thomsonite Bead on the top. NAILED IT!! I just know when things have melded.

Extravagant Greenstone Pendant by Snob Appeal Jewelry — Thomsonite, Prehnite, Greenstone

Bonnie liked it also. If it passes the “Bonnie inspection” all is good. She may say “it’s nice” and bring me a cup of coffee, I feel worthy when she does this.

back side of wire pendant — I REALLY liked the rear of this pendant. Doesn’t it look like an abstract art project?.

One of my favorite parts of this pendant, is the back. The wire design on the back, accidentally; No wait; purposely came out amazing. Usually when we sell a pendant, the buyer will examine the front AND the back. I can’t wait for someone to carefully look at the back of this pendant.

When I finish a new pendant, and it passes the Bonnie quality control inspection, I always say that I “Got Lucky Again”. I think I got lucky on this crazy Great Lakes Gemstone on Steroids!

Visit our jewelry pages to see current selections:

Great Lakes Pendants

Greenstones

Thomsonite Pendants

Wire Wrapped Pendants- All New for 2021

Favosite Pendant Snob Appeal Jewelry — What should I do with this remarkable Favosites? I’ve saved this fossil for the better part of a year, awaiting inspiration. I don’t see many Favosites specimens so clear, and showing every single Polyp. I had to add some color using Swarovski bi-cone Beads. Bonnie made the matching earrings. Favosites (common name Charlevoix Stone) and Hexagonaria (common name Petoskey Stone) were both colonial Corals and were important reef builders in the Silurian and Devonian Periods (400 million years +/- ago) Favosites is an extinct Genus of Coral. The Favosites corals’ corallites had perforated walls, and shared nutrients between Polyps. I make no political statement with this piece, but it does suggest a “sharing” vibe.

In many ways we’re glad 2020 is over. In other ways 2020 has been great. Our business has been surviving despite the Pandemic. Our Loyal customers have continued to support our small business, but being semi isolated has allowed me to expand my jewelry line, produce some great pendants, rings, and many custom pieces of jewelry for a lot of people.

I made many very special pendants for the New Year of 2021. Beginning January 1st, I’ve been remarkably productive and creative. I keep cabochons in jewelry trays and pull them out as they inspire me, or are “Begging” to be wrapped. My goal for 2021 is to improve my wire wrapping and creativity. I hope you enjoy all my new things.

From a deposit 20 miles south of the Agua Nueva Ranch, in Northern Mexico, Agua Nueva Agate became very popular in the 1970’s. The Agua Nueva deposit is about 40 miles from the famous depostit of Laguna Agate. Agua Nueva Agate is famous for its’ variety of colors, eyes, and moss. This one had everything and is an impressive 2″ round. The Apple Red in this stone is pretty impressive.

Several years ago, while “rooting” through a bin of scrap slabs at Quartzsite, Arizona, I found a less than stellar looking slab. What attracted me was the red coloration. I decided to adopt the slab, and took it back home with many other homeless slabs from that “by the pound” bin.

One day I’m looking through the stuff I bought that day, and again was attracted by the unusual red in that same, large slab. I cut, ground, and polished that particular slab; working around several cracks and issues. The more I worked on it, the better it became. This was a three hour, three coffee, cabochon. That ugly duckling was transformed into a gorgeous, big, round, Agua Nueva Agate cabochon, featuring bands, tubes, moss, eyes, and still retaining the unusual red coloration. This cab had amazing character!

I took it to Florida, where it was made into my first pendant of 2021. A big, bold, beauty, wrapped in lots of shiny Argentium Sterling. The cabochon was so fantastic by itself, I felt it best to keep the wrapping precise, neat, and simple. This pendant can be worn by a man or a woman. The large 3/8″ bail can accommodate a cord or a chain. Find more agate jewelry on our Agate Treasures pages.

Another New Year’s pendant was made from a very unusual Datolite slab from the old Clark Mine near Copper Harbor. “Unusual” is an understatement. The stone features a picture of chaos. I named this pendant “Datolite Explosion” for it’s resemblance of a landscape “EXPLODING”. The Datolite has a hint of pink. This Datolite reminded me of how 2020 seemed at times. You will find our Datolite pendants are each very different.

Another 2021 Pendant is one of my now famous “Yooper Special” pendants featuring a Firebrick Upper Peninsula, and an Isle Royale Greenstone, floating on an angry Lake Superior made of Blue Lace Agate. This one is in silver with 14kt gold fill wraps. I change the metals on each piece, and the Greenstones offer up different characteristics, so each one is a little different. I’ve actually made three new Yooper Special Pendants. You can see current offerings on our Greenstone pages.

Here are several other pendants made this year.

The Pantone colors for 2021 are gray and yellow, so I made this really crazy, Crazy Lake Agate to adhere to the 2021 colors.

Just a very fine Laker was transparent, with beautiful banding .

Chevron Amethyst is always beautiful; especially when cut into a designer shape.

From the Wheeler Shale of Delta,Utah, comes Elrathia Kingii Trilobites (among many other fossils). The fossils in this Cambrian Shale are over 500 million Years old! During the Devonian Period most Trilobite Orders became extinct. I love how large and perfect some specimens are. Most have full cheeks that you do not often see in Trilobites from Morocco and other places. Trilobites actually lost their cheeks during their “Molting phase” On a whim, I wrapped this in Pink Gold and Silver. I think it turned our great!

Coprolite is petrifided feces of prehistoric animals. I’m not an expert as to if this piece of crap came from a Dinosaur, a prehistoric Tortoise, or something else, I did name this pendant “2020”; a year that was pretty crappy at times.

This Pendant is different under UV light. Sodalite-infused Granite from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, in the top; Ruby in Fuschite from India in the bottom. The Sodalite and Ruby are Fluorescent under the UV light.

It’s difficult to take a good picture under UV light. I played around with camera settings and got some advice from my friend Johnny Gladstone. This gives you an idea what this Sodalite/Granite looks like under UV light.. Rubies are also Fluorescent, as you can see. Johnny calls these “Yooperstones”. I like to call them “Firefly Granite” Since I bartered with Johnny, I will call them Yooperstones. TRIVIA: **Rubies are actually red Sapphires!**

**Isle Royale Greenstone**; Michigan’s Official State Gem, This small pendant is very nice in both coloration and pattern.

Many have tried to duplicate the famous Victoria Stone from the early 1970’s; some of the copies are actually pretty good. No one has been able to match the colors and chatoyancy of the original. This particular color was called “Reddish Purple” and shows wonderful silky flash when moved in the light. Very rare and very coveted.

Our exclusive YOOPERLAND Pendant. Firebrick, Isle Royale Greenstone, and Mexican Blue Lace Agate. Lots of time and trouble to create, but one of our most popular original designs.

A Lake Superior Agate Pendant made from Many Striped Agates Bonnie gave me for Christmas. This one turned out great! I have lots more of similar banded beauties to work with. Lakers are my Favorite stones.

A Leland Blue Heart…Valentines day is just around the corner. Hint Hint!

Bonnie often has fun checking our multitude of buckets around the shop area. This is a Datolite she rooted our one day last summer. I immediately cut it. WOW! I’m not exactly sure what mine I discovered it at.

A close-up of the Previous Datolite, with more light on the Copper in it.

This Lake Superior Agate (also made from gifted Agates) is about dime size, and has wonderful coloration.

A small, but amazing dendritic Opalite I called “Lone Tree” for obvious reasons.

I do not believe I have ever made this many pendants, in one week, since my times at William Holland School of Lapidary Arts, many year ago. I have no idea why I have been so inspired recently, but it’s been a boon to our jewelry inventory.

Bonnie said, “Isn’t that about enough Blog Pictures?” This Blog was many hours of work, and I need sleep and/or coffee. I think 17 Pendants, so far, this month is a good start for the New Year. Only a few of these have been posted up so far. Some are going into show inventory, but if you are interested in any, let us know.

Bonnie and I sincerely wish everyone has a happy 2021. Keep us in mind if you wish to stimulate the economy by supporting our small business.

Remember; I can cut, polish, and wire-wrap your own treasured stones. Visit our Custom Work page.

Making Socially Independant Jewelry

I’ve been ahead of the curve as it relates to this isolation. In January, I opted for an Ankle Fusion (not as much fun as it sounds). I was in three different casts in 6 weeks, than a boot for another 6 weeks, now a walking boot. During that time I could not get out and about.

This isolation allowed me to be pretty much home bound in an RV in Florida. You cannot imagine how much jewelry a person can manufacture with so much time. I took the opportunity to up my jewelry game by making not only more jewelry, but more complicated and innovative jewelry.

This blog will be things I’ve made just the past month. All are for sale, but may not be on line or in our show inventory yet. If you are interested in any of these, call or message me.

I love reaching into a vug at one of the Amethyst Mines near Thunder Bay, Ontario, and feeling the sharp points of mud-encrusted Amethyst. Careful prodding and pulling will often dislodge an excellent specimen. this one had set around for a decade in my shop, finally attracting my attention.

Condor Agates, from remote mountain areas in Argentina, are some of the most colorful agates on Earth. You have to wade through a lot of Condors to find exceptional ones. This designer cut beauty came out very nice, and sports some remarkable colors and patterns.

A couple custom rings were recently made for a couple awesome ladies. The top is a Pink Topaz, while the bottom one is Isle Royale Greenstone with assorted Copper and Silver Beads.

Yellow Cat Petrified wood is a rare limb cast wood from Grand County, Utah. Back in the day all of this material was bought up by Tiffany and made into jewelry. Parts of this wood glow green under the UV light. Small amounts at large prices are sometimes found at the major Gemshows in Tucson or Quartzsite.

I found this piece of Dinosaur Bone at the Tucson Gen Shows a few years back. I was attracted to it because of the scenic picture, and unusual Agate/D-Bone mix.

The top is an Actinolite mix from Canada, and the bottom is extremely rare Oppu Rhodochrosite from Japan. Oppu is easily recognized by its Raspberry color.

A Centennial (Mine), blue Datolite and a Silver-Copper Nugget. Centennial Datolite is very rare, and is one of the most coveted varieties of Datolite. This one has so much Copper in it that it has a beautiful pink sheen.

I found a large (2 1/2″h x 1 1/2″w) Fordite that had a wavy, gray surface. I thought to just his the high spots of the surface. WOW! How amazing is this? The rear (shown below) is also very fine.

The rear of the above Fordite. Hey; I wrapped this one so you can wear either side to the front, as your mood suggests!

Ruby in Fuchsite is a beautiful stone primarily from India. The striking combination of red Ruby and pastel green Fuchsite makes this stone very sought after.

Under a UV light, the Rubies just glow like fiery embers. Ooooh!

I love these little Silver-Copper and Silver Nuggets from Michigan’s Copper Country. They are not so easy to find since many of the waste piles at the Copper mines have been hauled away for road fill. A fun reminder of the Copper Country.

A blue, pink, and orange Petoskey Stone. It’s got a lot going on.

Chrysocolla, Azurite, and other things combine to make a stunning gemstone.

Just a really nice Pink Petoskey with a simple Unisex wrap.

Drusy (Druzy) Quartz’s are natural Quartz pockets that are sometimes dyed, sometimes treated with Titanium Vapor Depositions; sometimes both. They’s always popular and attention getting.

Chrysoprase is the most expensive member of the Quartz family. Most of the “Prase” is scarfed up by the Asian markets and is known as Australian Jade. It rivals jade in beauty, if you find a fine pure piece, like this one.

Big and bold, these Elrathia Kingii Trilobites from Utah, are in my opinion, one of the finest types of Trilobites. Most still have their “cheeks”, and make great jewelry.

Lastly a large custom pendant, I made for a special lady. The large Silver-Copper was hers, and I added a large Greenstone and a smaller nugget of silver and copper. This one was over three inches and is a real stunner.

Turkish Stick Agate: One Stone-Different Looks

My next cab is ready to be cut.

Turkish Stick Agate is an interesting pseudomorph agate, from Turkey with a variety of intriguing patterns and colors. The Turkish Stick Agates come in different types. A distinguishing characteristic of Turkish Stick Agates is needle-like tubes, forming what looks like pointy, sharp sticks within the stone, so it can be referred to as Needle Agate.

Experienced rock collectors will have in their mind what a certain agate looks like or what represents a body of agates with that name. When I say Lake Superior Agate for most people a red and white banded agate might appear in their mind, but we know that there are many types of Lakers.

When we say Stick Agate you might expect needlelike structures in a clear quartz agate, but there are many types of Turkish Stick Agate even from the same mines. I thought you would enjoy seeing these samples which are quite different. You can see another very nice piece at mindat.org.

Just a little aside folks.This brings up an important question; Can you poke your eye out with a Stick Agate? My mother had four boys and unlike kids today, we played OUTSIDE a lot. It was not uncommon for her to yell at us for doing dumb things. ” Don’t run with that stick; you could poke your eye out”. As I have grown up (maybe) I came to realize it was impossible to “poke your eye out” while running with a stick. You can only poke your eye IN. The only way you can poke your eye OUT is to stick the stick up your nose and then you could theoretically “poke your eye out”. Now back to our regular program…

The most characteristic form of Turkish Stick Agate shows needle-like patterns.

Turkish Stick Agate with banding and shadow effect

This one sports fortification banding showing some Parallax (shadow effect) and tubes.

Turkish Stick Agate with tubes and banding

Tubes and banding as well as beautiful colors make this a Turkish Stick Agate with no sticks!

High quality Turkish Stick Agate is quite expensive in the rough, and every time I’ve tried to get a break on it, Turkish miners, at the Tucson shows, decline to give much, claiming how difficult it is to find and mine. Much of this material comes from mines near Ankara, Turkey. Actually the good stuff comes from Cubuk, Turkey; but who knows where Cubuk is? (Central Turkey: I looked on a map)

Quality depends on how solid a particular Stick Agate is. Most Turkish Stick Agate has geodes with gaps, or vugs, and also can vary in hardness within a stone.

I find it intriguing that such variety can come from the one source. I am not an expert on Turkish Stick Agate, but I do know it is very beautiful. I guess that’s why I make jewelry from it.

I lied; When I did a search on Turkish Stick Agate, I came up as one of the experts. This has often happen. Bonnie (wife) says it’s because I’ve written so many blogs over the past 10 years. I guess I could say I’m a pseudomorph of knowledge on many subjects.

This agate has only become known in the United States within the last 20 years, and is not commonly available. Usually there is a Youtube video on everything, but there seems to be no video of actual mining Turkish Stick Agate.

In this blog I show three pieces of jewelry I made from expensive rough I bought a couple years ago in Tucson from the Non-negotiable (price) dealer.

Can you poke your eye out with a Turkish Stick Agate? Like a stick, the answer is probably “NO”, unless you take a small, sharp shard and shove it way up your nose. If you ever try this experiment, make sure your camera is recording it. I’m betting you could go viral; until Youtube pulls it off.

*pseudomorph

1: a mineral having the characteristic outward form of another species:

Good examples in the mineral world happen quite often in replacement fossils, where minerals replace, for example, wood; they often look like wood, with patterns, bark, and even knot holes. Another good example is petrified dinosaur bone where you can see every cell (each cell is actually an individual agate).

2: a deceptive or irregular form

In. The “sticks” in Turkish Stick Agates were originally Aragonite Crystals but they were replaced by Silica. The sticks still look like Aragonite, but they are not. Pseudomorphs are common in many Agates, but that is a whole other subject.

3: Don Reed

Don Reed, according to the Internet (and we should always believe the Internet), is one of THE experts on Turkish Stick Agates. Don Reed appears to be something he is really not. This may not be true, or perhaps it is…..Like the Internet; Don Reed would never intentionally deceive you.

Pseudomorph of Don Reed in Crystal Quartz from Brazil.

If this craziness is of interest to you, you should also read our embarrassing story about a missing chunk of this Turkish Stick Agate.

Visit our Turkish Stick Agate jewelry page for currently available pieces.

Swing into 2019 with Great Lakes Stone Jewelry

“Greenstone, Copper Agates, Lake Superior Agates, Datolites, and Pink and normal Petoskey Stone Jewelry continued to be popular in 2018; and we expect this trend to continue. Our loyal customers understand how rare these Gemstones are becoming, and eagerly order them as impressive and historic pieces of jewelry from the Great Lakes Region. Many are buying these rare Gemstones as investments and treasured heirlooms. Great Lakes jewelry makes unique and highly appreciated gifts.Thanks to all of you that bought handmade in the USA, Great Lakes jewelry treasures, in 2018.

Christmas is past, but many of you are now wearing our jewelry. Thank you so much.

Bonnie’s Christmas Pendant: Top to Bottom; Lake Superior Agate, Yellow Keweenaw Point Datolite with Copper, Greenstone with Thomsonite from Isle Royale (Collected at least 50 years ago).

What does the jewelry makers wife get for Christmas? The trick is to make her something special (and make it in a stealth mode). I think I pulled a good one off.

I picked out three special stones; cabbed them, and made a beautiful Lake Superior Area Showpiece. The top stone is a wonderful, flawless Laker. Stone two is an ultra rare Keweenaw Point Yellow Datolite with Copper. The third Stone a very finely colored Isle Royale Greenstone that I retrieved from my very old collection of Isle Royale Stones. All these stones swing freely and separately from each other.

Bonnie: “You’ve got wires going everywhere!!” Me: “Don’t worry, I’ve done this before.”

I took care of all those errant wires; (see above picture) which proved me worthy.

Very unusual pattern and coloration from the Central Exploration Mine. Enhanced with a nice pair of Greenstone beads. 2.8 Gram Greenstone about Quarter-sized large Greenstone.

A double Greenstone pendant with a free-swinging bottom. Phoenix Mine.

I’ve decided to up my game in 2019 by making some exceptionally notable pendants. Thanks all, and a very Happy New Year to you all.

Visit our best-selling Great Lakes Stone jewelry pages: Lake Superior Agate Pendants, Petoskey Stone Pendants, Thomsonite Pendants, Michigan Greenstone Jewelry, Mohawkite Pendants, Datolite Pendants, Firebrick Pendants, Prehnite Pendants, Copper Replacement Agate Pendants. Also we have beaded earrings: Jasperlite, Leland Blue Stone, and Lake superior Agate and Kona Dolomite. We also have Unakite, Binghamite, Kona Dolomite pendants in our show inventory. What’s your favorite Great Lakes jewelry stone? Chat with us on Facebook, or send us a message!