As I sit in my workshop in Portland, surrounded by the tools of my trade and the gentle Pacific Northwest rain tapping against the windows, I find myself reflecting on one of the most revered gemstones in my craft – the sapphire. In my journey with Sticks & Stones, I've had the privilege of working with various gemstones, but there's something undeniably special about sapphires. Perhaps it’s their deep, enigmatic blue or their story that spans across cultures and centuries. In this post, I want to share with you the allure of sapphires, a stone that continues to captivate and...
Opals are the stuff of legend, a gemstone with a kaleidoscope heart. They’re also one of my favorite gemstones to work with. With their play of color and mystical appearance, they have captivated jewelers, monarchs, and poets alike, securing their place in history as one of the most fascinating stones in the world. Opals are nature's canvases, painted with the most delicate and intricate touches. These are the gems that come alive with every movement, a painter's palette of hues locked within smooth, lustrous surfaces. Unlike other gemstones, opals don’t derive their allure from a single hue. They are famed...
