Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Loving My Rocks!!

I have become quite the stone collector in the last year....I've always been a collector of things...all of my life....it's in my blood. My passion for rocks started last year when I realized that I could actually incorporate them into my art, and share their beauty with others. How exciting it is, to take something from the earth, that in some cases is millions of years old, and turn it into a piece of wearable art that can be enjoyed for years to come!

Their allure is undeniable....the sparkle of druzy entices me....
The beauty and mystery of tiny transparent windows tingles my imagination...
The power of stunning turquoise calls to my soul....
And I can't resist the sparkling crystals that catch my eye, and make me stare with wonderment and awe....
Such things of tiny beauty....so amazing....so interesting....some may say they are just rocks, stones, just hardened hunks of earth....but really they are so much more.....
I love looking at my rock collection...and really, I do hope to make some jewelry with them, to share with others....really I do...but, some are just so pretty, just so amazing, that I may not be able to part with them....they may have to stay here with me just a little while longer.....
I'm sure you'll understand....right? I mean, we all have our vices....and some of these recently acquired stones, I just couldn't bear to part with....they are just so stunning!
Please take a peek at my fellow Aspiring Metalsmith's blog posts, to see their rock collections. Maybe you'll be enticed to start a new collection yourself! :)

Autumn Bradley - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com/
Clarity @ Scrollwork Designs - http://thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com/
Stacy Low - http://www.formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com
Chrissi Lynn Designs - http://www.chrissilynn.blogspot.com
Sylvia Anderson - http://www.sylviaanderson.blogspot.com/
Jessica @ Abella Blue - http://www.abellablue.com/blog
Contemporary Jewelry by Beatriz Fortes - http://cjbf.blogspot.com/
Esmeralda - http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/
Steph Stargell - http://www.stephstargell.com
Pennee - http://allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Silver Pearl Jewelry and Metalworks - http://silverpearlmetalworks.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/show-us-your-stones/#more-4
ArtistiKat - http://artistikat-scratchingpost.blogspot.com/
Claire - brightstar109.blogspot.com/


16 comments:

Happy Tortoise Designs said...

Wow, those druzies and dendrite pieces are awesome!

brightstar109 said...

All these pictures of beautiful stones is making me want more...aaarrrgh!

Lovely to look at everyone's hoards, thank you for showing us!

S Stargell Designs said...

Wow girl! I think you have passed me by in terms of number of stones. I think some of those would love to come live here at my house. Awesome post :)

AllWiredUpJewelryDesigns said...

That's an insane and beautiful collection! Wow

Stacy said...

Wow Sylvia! That is a gorgeous collection! You have quite an eye! I'd have a hard time parting with quite a few of those. :)

Jessica @ AbellaBlue.com said...

I think we have a similar taste in stones. I pretty much covet all of them in the first picture, definitely all of the turquoise. Oh, and the crystal points, and the last picture too. Pretty much love all of them!

Autumn Bradley said...

What a great collection! I hope to have that many some day.

G.Dowell said...

You have some awesome pieces! I would be hoarding them!

SilverBlueberry said...

Love your stones! Wonderful collection :)

SympleTymes Cloth Art By Sherrie Nordgren said...

Sylvia, I loved reading your blog post about your amazing stones! I know I could not part with such beauty,Each one is just gorgeous!
May I ask you a couple questions?
How do you start to collect such beautiful stones?
Do you polish your stones?
Do you dig for them?
I would love to start my own collectio, but just don't know how to get started,Can you help me? Thank You soooo much
Sherrie

Mrs. Cherry Heart said...

I collect rocks too!
Nothing as beautiful as yours!
My grandson and I collect rocks for each other from place we have visited!
I mostly love heart shaped rocks!

Your collection is amazing, do you tumble them?

Smiles, Dolly

Sylvia Anderson said...

Hi Sherri! Thanks for you comments, and for visiting! To answer your questions, no, I don't personally cut and polish these. I have purchased all of my beautiful stones from lapidary artists, also called rock hounds! I have been learning a lot though, about rocks, minerals and lapidary...all so very interesting! If you are looking to start on a hobby like rock collecting or stone cutting, I would suggest looking for a local rock & mineral lapidary club in your town. We have two groups here in Sacramento, and they are both full of people eager to share their love and knowledge of rocks with newbies. :) Let me know if you have any other questions, and thanks again for stopping by!

Sylvia Anderson said...

Hi Dolly~ No, I don't tumble them myself. These are rocks cut by lapidary artists so that they can be set into jewelry, or just added to one's collection. :) I do pick up other interesting rocks when I am out with my son too...those we keep in a special box just for him. I would like to get a tumbler and try that with some of the rocks we've found...I think he is taking after me with his love of pretty stones. :)

Sharyl said...

Lovely, lovely, lovely! I've started incorporating more stones in my jewelry, but it is hard to part with the nice ones! These are so varied and unique, tiny works of art, beautiful to behold! --Sharyl

Sharyl's Jewelry & Reflections

www.sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com

Lana Manis said...

The turquoise is so pretty.... and the photo under it.... LOVE those rocks!!!

Natalia said...

These are gorgeous!! I am in loveeee with the turquoise :D