I’ve been picking up rocks for as long as I can remember, intrigued by their colors, shapes and textures. But it wasn’t until I enrolled in a lapidary class about 30 years ago that I was able to see the insides of rocks. And that changed everything for me. Sawing rocks into slices sometimes yields ho-hum results, but sometimes it’s positively magical. Although I dabbled in woodworking for many years, I find working with rocks - despite being very difficult - so much more enjoyable. The rocks I use in my work are all found on the beaches of Lake Michigan in Benzie and Leelanau counties. Granite (in a staggering diversity of colors and crystal structures), unakite, feldspar, puddingstone, tillite, gneiss, and fossils - Petoskey, chain and horn coral - are my favorites. And, of course, Leland Blue and Frankfort Green. I’m self-taught and have enjoyed the long process of learning from my many mishaps along the way.