Lucky Strike

I am not a joiner.

It is an accurate forecast to say that I will never be part of a group, organization or gaggle in the way that others may wish to be: I am a hermit;

A loving, caring big-hearted hermit, but being secreted away with a goal or an artistic vision is one of my most favorite things in the world.

My husband and I are the same that way, and that is why our union is so blissful: we know when to give space, when to come together to discuss, celebrate or laugh.

Lapidary helps me shake off the fear that my way of living life is less than healthy:

solitary time with rocks (and Steve on Wednesdays, a bit of socializing!) makes me feel like I did when I was a kid playing with Legos, building something amazing...

I feel closer to God, who made all of these beautiful things you see in these pictures: Lucky Strike Agate from Oregon, where rock hounds go when they die.

Technically the descriptions of the colors you see can be given using molecular charts, mineral content reports and geological surveys

but you cannot tell me for one second it's not also PURE miracle.

I may never see plume agate like this again in my lifetime, though I can surely hope.

Do a google search of any kind of 'thunderegg' and you may see some prized Pridays, and surely a lot of Oregon eggs, but there may never be anything like these moss and plumes:

taken in sunlight

the slabs wet with water

a very accurate picture of what the colors will be when the rock is cabbed.

The plumes will change: grinding the edges down and doming the rock will alter the picture and bring out different colors you never thought you'd see: with every cabochon there are moments of "Darn!" and

"Woooohooooo!!!!"

as the picture changes from what you originally intended.

Nature is nothing if not constantly changing: why should lapidary be any different?

This is not the slab I will be cabbing first: I am not trying to throw anyone off, I just want the results to be a surprise...

this will at least help you understand why the resulting jewelry will not be a monetary 'deal' - this is the real deal stuff of legends here.

I may not be good in crowds

I may be wary of the things groups of women and men gather to discuss

and I might not be the first person to go to the mall with a friend

but I can see God in the rocks

and that makes it all feel ok.

With this post I feel compelled to ask you to support your local lapidary artists: there are so many mass-produced cabs out there on Etsy and every other conglomerate website -

it warms my heart when my fellow bloggers speak of their 'local cab supplier' or some of my dear lapidary inspirations on Etsy

... it means the hearts and hands of the men and women to whom rocks sing are

making at least part of their living from it, and that makes my soul glad.

Love,

Allison