New Work

Fair trade Zultanite ring - recycled 14k palladium white gold setting on layered recycled 14k yellow and green gold band, size 6.5

Jade - Sacred Stone of the Ancient Mayans

While I was in Guatemala last week, I was fortunate to be able to connect with Francisco Zuñiga, a master jade miner and jewelry maker. I discovered Don Francisco through As Green as it Gets, a group working to support small scale artisans and sustainable agriculture in Guatemala. I spent a half-day at Francisco's house learning all about Guatemalan jade and learning how to cut cabochons (finally!).


Don Francisco has 40 years experience working with jade. His knowledge on the subject is encyclopedic. He treks out to the mountains and mines the stuff by hand, then cuts and polishes it himself. His tiny but idyllic front yard is a mini-jungle where gorgeous tropical flowers cascade from garden beds crafted from small boulders of unprocessed jade. The visit/lesson was a definite high point of my trip - spending time in a typical family home/business with Francisco and his lovely wife was way beyond what many tourists experience when they travel to a foreign country, and not something I will ever forget.


Of course I could not leave empty-handed - in addition to the cabochon that I cut myself, Francisco was kind enough to supply me with several incredible specimens of jade, including the extremely rare 'sandia' variety. It was really exciting for me to be able to buy these stones directly from the person who found the rocks and cut the stones - I'd say these are the fairest of all my fair trade stones!

Oh yeah, and he had one of the cutest dogs ever.


There are two types of jade - nephrite and jadeite. The type of jade found in Guatemala is jadeite, a precious stone sacred to the Mayan people. Jadeite is harder and denser than nephrite; it shines well and does not scratch easily. Jade has played an important role for many cultures; its uses throughout history have included personal adornment, offerings to the gods, protection from evil, and even medicinal purposes.

I can't wait to get started working with some of these incredible stones. All but the first one are available for custom orders, so email me if you're interested.

This is the one I cut myself!
18mm round jade cabochon {SOLD}

Jade cabochons
Top: 14mm x 23mm (6.5mm dome)
Bottom left: 14mm x 23mm (5mm dome)
Bottom right: 12.5mm x 13.5mm (6mm dome) {SOLD}

Jade cabochons
Top left: 10.5mm round (4mm dome)
Top right: 15.5mm x 20.5mm (4.5mm dome)
Bottom left: 13mm x 18mm (5mm dome) {SOLD}

Jade cabochons
Left: 8mm x 11mm (4.5mm dome)
Right: 17.5mm x 20.5mm (4mm dome) {SOLD}

These (above) are the 'sandia' variety (that's Spanish for watermelon) that I mentioned earlier. In 40 years of mining jade, Francisco has only discovered this variety once. It is extremely rare and precious, and I felt honored that he was willing to share some with me!

A cute little pair of 9.5mm rounds - these would make great earrings, or I could use them for two rings.

I'd like to end this post with a heartfelt endorsement for As Green as it Gets. I can personally attest to the sincerity, talent, and dedication of the group's founder, volunteers, artisans, and farmers. Please consider supporting their worthwhile projects - even something as simple as buying your coffee from them is a great help! And check out these amazing purses! (Yes, I bought one for myself.)

In case you can't tell, I'm having a little trouble saying good-bye to Guatemala. :-) But now I'd better go do some work...

I'm Back.

We returned late last night from a blissful week in Guatemala, and I thought I'd share a few of my favorite pics. You can see more on my Facebook page.

Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua, Guatemala

Antigua, Guatemala

Quinta de las Flores, Antigua, Guatemala

Quinta de las Flores, Antigua, Guatemala

Quinta de las Flores, Antigua, Guatemala
(the view from our front door)

San Miguel Escobar, Guatemala

Casa Santo Domingo, Antigua, Guatemala

New Work

Fair trade sapphire and recycled 14k white gold ring, size 7.5
{ to be listed soon in my Etsy shop }

California pink tourmaline and recycled 14k yellow gold ring, size 7.5
{ to be listed soon in my Etsy shop }

Montana sapphire and recycled 14k palladium white gold ring
{ custom order; sold }

Recycled 14k yellow gold wedding band
{ custom order; sold }

Fair trade aquamarine and recycled 14k palladium white gold ring, size 7.5
{ to be listed soon in my Etsy shop }

Afghan tourmaline and recycled 14k yellow gold ring
{ custom order; sold }

Zultanite, recycled palladium sterling silver, and recycled 14k green gold ring
{ custom order; sold }

Zultanite ring shown with matching moissanite and palladium sterling silver wedding band

New Stones

I did a little gem shopping today. These are all available for custom orders; email me for pricing and additional photos/information.

California pink tourmaline cabochon, 12mm diameter; 8mm dome (9.9 carats)
(Doesn't it look just like a gumdrop?)

California green tourmaline cabs

Garnet, 5.5mm

Amethyst, 6mm

Afghan tourmaline, 4.5mm

Afghan tourmaline, 4.5mm

Afghan tourmaline, 4.5mm

Afghan tourmaline, 4mm

New Work

Fair trade sapphire and recycled 14k white gold wedding band

{ custom order; sold }

Recycled 14k palladium white gold wedding bands
{ custom order; sold }

Moissanite and recycled sterling silver wedding bands
{ custom order; sold }

New Work

Moissanite and recycled 14k yellow gold ring
{ custom order; sold }

Moissanite and recycled palladium sterling silver ring
{ custom order; sold }

Oregon sunstone and recycled 14k white gold ring
{ custom order; sold }

Welcome Home, Hennys!

Yesterday we added four new girls to our feathered flock. They are rescued factory farm laying hens, considered 'spent' by the industry after just two years of life (hard to believe, since I've gotten six eggs from them already in the last 36 hours, but whatever). They came to us through Animal Place, and with the help of Jenny, a fabulous Animal Place volunteer who helped with transportation.

I've named them Louise, Henrietta, Opal, and Mavis, though I can't tell them apart so I don't know who is who... I think I need to order some of those numbered leg bands.

(That's Rosa in front, one of our older girls, with a couple of the new girls in the background.)

If you'd like to learn more about what these hens' lives were like back on the 'farm' (I hesitate to even use that word; it conjures images far more idyllic than the grim reality), check out this virtual battery cage. The first two years of these girls' lives contained far too much suffering - they were de-beaked and crowded into small, overcrowded cages, and endured discomfort and indignity beyond anything we humans can imagine. As baby chicks, they saw their brothers die horrible deaths, and as they grew, they watched their sisters suffer endless neglect and abuse.

I'm happy to know that the rest of their lives will be filled with sunshine, cool breezes, grassy fields, juicy bugs, grapes, and as much freedom as it is possible for us to provide for them.

If you're not already vegan, please consider the cruelty that these precious creatures are forced to endure to put eggs on your plate. I honestly think that in terms of animal suffering, egg and dairy production is far crueler than meat production. Go vegan!!! :-)