Three Cool Stones that Collected Me
by Rena Klingenberg.
These fascinating stones collected me for this part of their long lifespan. 🙂
Lapis Lazuli
The first one that found me was this polished chunk of lapis lazuli.
It’s the perfect size to hold in your hand – very smooth and cool.
I think of this stone as a view of Earth from space – ocean, clouds, and islands.

Lapis Lazuli Stone (55 x 24 x 22mm).
Owyhee Picture Jasper
Later, this Owyhee Picture Jasper came along.
I originally intended to turn it into a wire-wrapped pendant – but I couldn’t bear to put wire over any of its gorgeous natural picture of canyonlands and cloudy gray sky:

Owyhee Jasper Stone (21 x 40mm).
Staurolite
And finally, this Staurolite (also known as “fairy stone”) found me on a vacation stopover in Fairy Stone State Park in southern Virginia.
This type of stone often occurs naturally in the cross-shaped twinned crystal structure that my stone has:

Staurolite Fairy Stone (12 x 18mm).
What stones have collected you on their journey through time?
Older Comments:
Paula J Countryman says:
Rena, those stones are so lovely! I purchased some seashells at a thrift store a few years ago, and when I got home, I noticed at the bottom of the basket was the most beautiful and perfect Tigers eye bead I’d ever seen. it was un drilled, yet I couldn’t bear wire wrapping or drilling it, instead I often find myself holding it in my hand just to admire it’s smooth feel and beauty.
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Margaret says:
Wow, really gorgeous stones. That picture jasper is just like a painting. Never heard of starolite, interesting that its naturally shaped like a cross. Smart stones to “collect” you. lol. I do have some that have collected me, many of them are beads I cant bring myself to use but I love to look at them.
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Colleen says:
Rena I can see how those stones “collected” you. They are gorgeous all by themselves. Hmmm what to do with them?! Maybe make a display box? Isn’t it funny how when you find a stone, shell, anything smooth, you end up carrying in your hand and rubbing your fingers over it while you walk?! Or am I the only nut case that does that? ?
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Barbara Jacquin says:
Stones often “collect” me when I’m vacationing in different countries. In Peru, where I knew there were Peruvian Andes opals, I happened onto a local market where a seller had several stones. Most were fairly expensive but my eyes latched onto a rough piece of lovely greenish blue. Not expensive, but also not particularly ready to be transformed into a piece of jewelry. I bought it anyway and eventually found a local stone cutter who agreed to give it a try. Several minutes and centimeters later the stone emerged as a beautiful cabochon. I was thrilled. Now, why did I end up selling the finished pendant with my lovely stone? I still don’t know. But, not to worry, there are many more stones out there waiting to “collect” me.
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Rosanne says:
I think I must have started out with Picasso jasper (or marble). I have a cut slab of it that makes me want to take up lapidary work. Then I acquired a lot of large round Botswana agate beads. I could peer into their stratified depths for hours. When Red (or Cherry) Creek jasper appeared in the market, it was a visually more colorful companion to the Picasso. But seeing ocean jasper (trade name) in Lapidary Journal knocked my socks off. I’m looking at a hand-sized polished piece of this orbicular jasper from Madagascar, with all its colors and bits of druzy, as I type this message. It always makes me smile.
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zoraida says:
That lapiz is incredible, so is the oval jasper! I still have some lapiz I bought years ago and can’t let go of. Turquoise is another of my favorites and I have a few good quality pieces I’ve kept. Green jade is another gem I’m mesmerized by and have a few in my stash for me 🙂
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Millie says:
I understand, ha! But I got carried away with “collecting” and when I could no longer wire wrap my goodies, I had to give them up and sell them. Six years later I am still selling!!!
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Rae says:
I love these comments and Rena’s stones! I work with the energy vibrations of the stones when I design my jewelry, so it’s interesting to hear what you have all be attracted to in life. I started with carnelians when I worked in a bead shop…pre-jewelry design work. I could not put them out on display, keeping them with me all day. It got to be a joke in the store that they could hang up the carnelians now because Rae was going home. They are about creativity and were the start to my jewelry.
Now I carry a piece of jade and have a large, ridged piece of black tourmaline where I meditate. The jade opens my heart chakra to peace, the tourmaline keeps me grounded so I find my way back when I journey in meditation.
Enjoy your stones and what they bring to you. This world is so full of mystery that is helping us…even when we are not aware of it.
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Lynda Carson says:
I can see why these three beauties followed you home, Rena! Pretty much anything blue, turquoise, or teal seem to find their way to my house.
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SewMagical says:
Oh, I know all too well how stones and crystals can “collect” you. It’s like a big hand reaches out and grabs you and won’t let you go until you take that stone with you. I have a piece of tumbled opal that I bought many years ago that is still one of my favorites.
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KathieL says:
These stones are beautiful. My daughter is fascinated with stones, now an adult, she has passed the obsession along to her father and I…. We are also obsessed with small intricate shells… I’ve been blessed in having people ask me to turn their memories into treasures, by creating with their findings… I love to do that adding their story. Thank you for sharing some of your treasures!
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Coral says:
I love your stones Rena, the staurolite is a really interesting structure, I love lapis, your description of it is just right, and the jasper is absolutely stunning. I’m not surprised you still have them!
I have some turquoise and coral that I won’t ever sell, some I have made into jewellery for myself, some I just get out to look at and stroke!
I also have some snakeskin jasper that I just love, in fact I think apart from my turquoise and coral obsession, I also have a jasper one, as it’s so varied and interesting.
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Paula J Countryman says:
I meant to say Tigers eye stone in my post to you, not bead! But another stone I have that is fairly common, yet special to me is my rose quartz palm stone. It soothes me and is natural in color, whereas so many we see advertised now have been dyed the light rose color.
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Tamara says:
One Mother’s Day my family and I were hanging out at beautiful park. One of my daughters, who was about 6 or 7 years old, bent down and picked up a stone that caught her eye. She stretched out her arm reflexively, handed me the stone, and said brightly, “Happy Mother’s Day!” I was the first thing she thought of when she found it. I’ll never cherish another stone more.
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