I’ve successfully completed many, many, custom pieces of jewelry over the years. People find that I do custom Lapidary and make custom jewelry. whether it be word of mouth or from a web search, somehow they find me. Often kharma plays a roll. They were meant to discover me.

I find that, many times, they have a treasured rock; a keepsake that means something to them. Perhaps something lost and re-found years later; a rock that stimulates fond memories of times past, or of a loved one long since passed. Whatever the reason, we are brought together by a single rock. I LOVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. There is a story behind every “nostalgic” rock, and I often ask the owners to tell the story of their special stone.

Debra sent a couple E-mails telling me how much the stone I made into jewelry for her has meant for her and her family, and how much her, her daughter, and her Grandaughter loved the pendant I made from it. I really appreciate her taking the time to write the “story’ behind her special rock. I made this jewelry while wintering in Tucson in 2018.

Debra’s Story

My story sadly starts with the passing of my parents.  My siblings and I were subsequently at their Minnesota farm house to clear everything out. As I was entering the front door, I saw a polished brown rock sitting on the hand rail.  How unusual that was, like it was just waiting for me to pick it up! I did so, put it in my pocket and forgot about it for several years. When I came upon it again, I was thinking that my dad must have been keeping that stone for some reason. It maybe was something special.  That is when I went on line and found Don at Snobappealjewelry.com. It was so easy to work with Don as he listened to my story and suggested I send him the stone and he would evaluate it.  I did as he asked and sure enough that old brown rock turned out to be a Montana moss agate!  That was kind of astonishing because my family had moved to Minnesota from Billings,  Montana over 40 years ago. I knew then what I would do. 

I asked Don to make me a heart shaped pendant for my granddaughter.  I fully trusted him to make a piece that would be a family treasure,  a gift from a great grandfather to his great granddaughter.  The one-of-a-kind pendant turned out to be beautifully crafted with, it seemed, as much love as it truly represented to  my family.  Both my daughter and granddaughter wear it with joy. One day, their prodigy will wear it as well! I feel so lucky to have come into contact with Don,  his wife,  and Snobappealjewelry.com. They are people who are truly trustworthy,  professional,  talented, and creators of lifetime treasures.  

That story is one of the reasons I do what I do. Special people send me special rocks, and I make special jewelry. Thanks so much Debra.

It just so happens that today is Thanksgiving. For Bonnie and I it means being thankful for many things. One of those is being thankful for our special customers that have supported our small, locally owned business over the years. We love people like Debra, that choose us for their custom creations. We are well aware that our work for people like Debra mean more than any amount of money.