Halloween Night

Vintage Cameo

As I finish another evening watching small goblins disappear from by doorstep I have been reminiscing with my husband about our favorite Halloween memories and traditions. It seems that although we grew up almost 700 miles apart, we both attended Halloween activities at the local church that included many of the same simple games and left us with the inexpensive plastic toys you might find at a dollar store today.  We both proudly brought home goldfish that might last until Thanksgiving with great care, only to be lost to inexperienced childhood neglect before Christmas.

Italian Cameo

This is perhaps why I have been so fascinated this year with the collection of cameos, many of them carved in the early 20th Century that I was able to purchase a few years ago.  These beautiful pieces remind me of the simple times I was able to just sit and listen to my large extended family, especially my grandparents tell me about their youth and what things were like when my parents were young.  These items feel like a gift from the past that I can pass to the future.

It is strange then that the pendant that I have enjoyed finishing the most is a cameo that was carved only a few years ago by a modern Italian Cameo artist that shows two lovely ladies surrounded by the moon.  When I purchased this large 55 mm x 45 mm cameo I was not sure how I would be able to properly set the cameo without marring the intricate carving on the right hand side of the piece.  After a few years of pondering the problem, I think my solution is one of my favorite cameo settings to date.

There are only a few weeks left before another year has ended and I am looking forward to making new memories that will last as poignantly as those that have stirred tonight.

Thansgiving 2014

As I reflect on this past year and the many events that have shaped my life, I am left feeling grateful for some of the simple items and images that my mother and aunt gave me each Thanksgiving.  My brothers and I used the day to relax and play - we grew up with each other as our most frequent playmates.
The afternoon was spent with a simple and traditional meal with our cousins who lived just a half block away.  Familiar items from the Tupperware with the melted spot in it to hold the punch to grandma's cast iron pot for the turkey came out each year.

Vintage Whole Conch Shell Cameo

These items always bring me back to nostalgic inspirations in my jewelry making especially using classic items like a cameo.

Vintage Shell Cameo

Seeing a masterfully carved full conch shell that shows off the carver's skill to the delicate work of a small and delicate details that can be worn as a pendant always leave me in awe.

When working with cameos, I try to keep in mind that there are two artists hands on every finished piece and that it is my job to ensure that my work only enhances the vision of the original carver.

A cameo is something that reminds me to honor the past each day that I wear or look at one.

Urban Arts Festival - 2013

We are excited to participate in the Urban Arts Festival this year.  This year it will be held at the Gateway Mall and is free to the public.  Expect to find us along with 100 other artists, musicians, and fun demonstrations.  There will even be a community mural for everyone to paint on.

This festival is all about the unique culture found in Salt Lake City.  We hope to see you there this July for a fun afternoon.

Come Visit this Summer

We would like to welcome all of our friends to our new home this summer...the Wasatch Front Farmer's Market at Gardner Village.  We are looking forward to meeting everyone at this great venue in West Jordan, Utah.  Located at 1100 West and 7800 South, Gardner Village has been a favorite shopping spot for our family for many years.

Gardner Village is currently celebrating its 33rd anniversary and is hosting a number of fun events.  You should check out their fun birthday celebrations that are going on all through the month of May!

Gardner Village Farmer's Maket

The farmer's market will start on Saturday's in June and run through October when Gardner Village's famous witches appear.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Biggs Jasper - Stone of the Month

One of the first stones that really excited me was Biggs Jasper.  The story of this material being discovered by a road crew and the local rock hounds quickly grabbing up as many of these stones before they were buried under the new roadway and bridges has always captured my imagination.

For a complete telling of this unique tale, visit this post from the rockhoundblog.com:  History of Biggs Jasper

Biggs Picture Jasper - Bookend Slabs

Blue Biggs Pendant

My husband has recently cut some of our blue colored Biggs Jasper.  This got me excited all over again about the stone.

 I am always looking for a new way to frame a lovely picture like this without detracting from the image.  In this case I went with a simple 14 kt. gold filled setting let left a row of twisted wire around the bezel of the cab.  This gives the setting a vintage look, while the smooth wire over the stone has only simple curves to follow the rolling hills patterns.

I hope that this unique pendant will be the highlight of someones collection and help them fall in love with this distinctive Oregon stone.

Addition - 11/27/2014
The images in of slabs in this post are from private collections that we have encountered through the years and taken pictures of.  These stones are not for sale.  We do not have rough slabs for sale.  Custom wire-work pieces are available for sale when I can part with one of the few finished cabs that Robert has cut from the limited quality stock we obtained years ago.

Quartzite Trip

Desert Gardens Welcome Sign

The cold days of February have settled in and we are looking back fondly to the warm days we spent in Arizona gathering rock for the upcoming year.  As usual, we were greeting by the colorful sign of the Desert Gardens Gem and Mineral Jewelry Show.

Every year it takes a few days to walk through all of our favorite vendors booths to discover the new treasures of the year.

Malachite Dealer - QIA POW

We spent one day at the annual QIA POW in Quartzite.  Here we found some beautiful Malachite that we can't wait to turn into some beautiful finished jewelry and display pieces.

Filigree Agate

We also enjoyed visiting with some old friends like Cadaco Gems.  They are currently mining some of the most unique materials from Idaho.  We really love the light designs and beautiful colors found in their Filigree Agate.

Robert is currently cutting some of our latest finds for me to wire wrap this spring.  Any preferences if this material should be set in silver or gold filled wire?

Park Silly Market 2011

We would like to thank all of the visitors to our booth at the Market this year.  We are having a lot of fun visiting with old friends and new visitors to the market.  Please feel free to contact us if you would like anything that you have dreamed about after your visit.

Please e-mail us at info@mineralcreations.com if you would like anything that you don't find on our website for purchase.  During the summer season, our stock is always rotating.