I first became interested in carving gemstones in 2007 while taking silver/goldsmithing classes with Mark Stinson of Redding California. I was told by one of my teachers that "normal people like us couldn't cut gems like that." After showing them carvings out of a book I was given for Father's Day, I took that as a challenge. I began finding literature and asking questions about gem cutting and carving anywhere I could.
Between 2010 and 2014 I took 3 week long classes with Glenn Lehrer. I then began working for, and learning from him, commuting to the Bay Area 2 weeks a month. I did that for about 1 1/2 years.
I now work out of my private studio here in Redding Ca., striving daily to create gems and jewelry to help people express their originality with the jewelry they adorn their bodies with.
I love cutting and carving Oregon sunstone because it is so diverse in color with the reds greens and, the huge array of patterns and colors of Schiller. Also the mines are right in my back yard. With the mines being so close to home it makes an easy weekend getaway. I thoroughly enjoy being able to get away from everything and unplug for a few days, while digging for Oregon sunstone. And just love being able to say that me or a friend dug this out of the ground and were the first humans to ever see this crystal before it was fashioned into this gemstone for you.
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Tel: (530) 209-8377