The tiny island of my birth* is known for a few things -- you know, besides being the island of my birth. Ahem.
I've mentioned this before, but in case you are just catching up, or if you want some review, you can read some interesting little factoids here.
Of relevance to this post, Isle La Motte is home to some quarries that are no longer in operation.
Anyway, some time ago I was given a handful of rocks by someone who used to work in one of the quarries.
They weren't very impressive-looking things. They might easily have been crushed up and used for road fill.
But you know how I love my local rocks, and specifically how I love pendants made with local rocks and earthy artisan pieces, and I really wanted a piece of that black marble. ("Black marble" is how it was marketed for many years. That is now known to be geologically inaccurate -- it is really limestone.)
So I've been holding onto these rocks with the idea that someday I'd maybe have some jewelry made, but I never got around to it. I was driving around with them in the back seat of my car for ages.
Not long ago, I ran into the wife of the man who gave them to me. Her husband had passed away in the last few months, and she wondered if I'd done anything with the rocks yet. Well, this was the impetus I needed to stop procrastinating.
I took my pieces of road fill in to a local jeweler who I knew was interested in, and sensitive to, local materials, Global Pathways Jewelers (which, by the way, has an Etsy shop). I knew they were interested and sensitive to local stones, because one of my other favorite pieces is a stunning pendant in Vermont red jasper that was made by them:
So we worked on getting a few of the stones cut and polished...
...and then we designed the metalwork together.
Since I have brown eyes, and wear a lot of brown clothing, I wanted to bring some brown into the pieces. I suggested to them that I'd either like to add a touch of brown stone of some sort, or, we both stated this simultaneously, "maybe we could add some copper to the pieces." So copper it was.
This is what we ended up with.
I picked them up last week and I've hardly had them off, except to sleep and shower, ever since. In fact, if you look closely, you will see that I am wearing the earrings in the photo in my last post.
---------
(The large oval cabochon in the box above remains unset for the moment.)
Another Vermont Rocks story:
On Veterans Day, a friend sent me this link to a piece about Vermont marble.
----------
*OK, I wasn't actually born there. I was born in a hospital in St. Albans, Vermont, which is more truthful, but much less romantic-sounding. But my parents lived there when I was born, and I lived there for the first seven years of my life. In any event, I feel very attached to the place.
Very nice. Great job of jewelry design.
Posted by: Adelaide | Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 12:52 PM
o.m.f.g. Norma! Those pieces are Stunning! So Beautiful!!!! so glad you got off your arse and tended to those rocks! ;^)
Beautifully executed!
Posted by: Marianne | Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 02:07 PM
They're spectacular! Love them. :)
Posted by: Dorothy | Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 03:55 PM
The jewelry is lovely! And thank you for that beautiful video. I was struck by the fact that they showed Sgt. Buckles' headstone being made -- my husband works at a military hospital and actually met him several times before he passed away. He was honored in life, too, as well he should be!
Posted by: Laura | Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 05:32 PM
Your new jewelry is stunning! I love it!
Posted by: Bonney | Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 07:00 PM
Very beautiful, Norma.
Abigail needs a piece of this jewellery for Christmas, don't you think?
Posted by: Elizabeth | Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 07:09 PM
Amazing! They're just beautiful. I love the transformation of a rock to a stone -- something of a jewel, even. My cousin designs jewelry with Lake Superior agates. I remember hunting for them with her a few times as a kid -- picking up stones and licking them to reveal their potential! Well, I sort of remember hunting for them. I was not a very patient (or happy) rock hound.
Posted by: Vicki | Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 08:27 PM
deer antler velvet
LOVELY STONES FOR JEWELRY!
deer antler velvet
Posted by: glyza_deer antler velvet_ | Monday, November 14, 2011 at 06:48 AM
Those pieces are wonderful!
Posted by: Carole | Monday, November 14, 2011 at 07:07 AM
Just Gorgeous!
Posted by: Karen Kaylor | Monday, November 14, 2011 at 08:55 AM
I love how such humble looking rocks can be transformed into artistic and tasteful jewelry.
Posted by: Seanna Lea | Monday, November 14, 2011 at 11:37 AM
The jewelry is beautiful! It looks like some of the rocks are larger than needed for jewelry - any plans for those?
Posted by: Rhonda from Baddeck | Monday, November 14, 2011 at 11:52 AM
OMG! Gorgeous!
Posted by: Elaine | Monday, November 14, 2011 at 01:03 PM
Wow! Just so special Norms! Enjoy.
Posted by: Patty | Monday, November 14, 2011 at 06:43 PM
And that was Norma. Freaking autocorrect!
Posted by: Patty | Monday, November 14, 2011 at 06:45 PM
I love the idea of showing the beauty of something so humble.
Posted by: gayle | Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 08:40 AM
Wow... love
Posted by: noonie | Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 04:21 PM
I have to say this post was certainly informative and contains useful content for enthusiastic visitors. I will definitely bookmark this blog for future reference and further viewing. cheers a bunch for sharing this with us!
amelan
Posted by: Ryan Smith | Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 07:29 AM
I am amazed that those pieces of road fill became the beautiful pieces you pictured! Great work, lady!
Posted by: kmkat | Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 09:45 PM