Digging In and Digging Out During COVID-19 Pandemic
During this time of self-quarantine, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been connecting with our regular advertisers to see how they are spending this time and to learn more about them and their business. Included are snippets about these businesses, but to read the full profiles (which we highly recommend), please visit www.rockngem.com/category/business-spotlight.
SILVERSMITHINGCLASS.COM
David Lee Smith and his wife, Sue, owners of SilverSmithingClass.com, are familiar with the patience, perseverance, and practical hopefulness needed to create and operate a business focused on personal passions. The North Bend, Oregon couple offer silversmithing retreats in their home studio and travel to teach. www.silversmithingclass.com and www.silversmithingretreat.com; dave@silversmithingclass.com or 916-548-7361
COVINGTON ENGINEERING
Some things truly stand the test of time. Covington Engineering, in business for the past 172 years, is an excellent example of standing the test of time. Although, this leading manufacturer of lapidary and glass cutting equipment has done little ‘standing’. In fact, early in 2020, the company relocated to Meridian, Idaho, from Redlands, Calif. www.covington-engineering.com; admin@covington-engineering.com or 877-793-6636
KELLEY’S KALEIDOSCOPE
In the beautiful community of Norway, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, R. Kelley Laughlin and his son, Cullen Laughlin-Yurs, are surrounded by natural beauty. This setting more than serves as inspiration for the duo, it’s the very focus of their work. The family-run mineral sales and lapidary jewelry business includes a brick-and-mortar shop and online mail-order operation. www.kelleyskaleidoscope.com; kelleylaughlin@yahoo.com or 906-563-9304
BLUE STONE GEMS
In north-central Colorado, situated along the foothills of the Front Range of the Southern Rocky Mountains, is the community of Loveland, which is also home to Blue Stone Gems. With an always changing and vast inventory, operating their gem shop is less of a job and more of an adventure for owners Gerry and Helen Sullivan. www.bluestonegemshop.com; bluestonegems@hotmail.com or 970-278-4015
NATURE’S TREASURES
Nature’s Treasures in Austin, Texas, is designed, as described by owner Karen Richards, to blend science and spirituality. It’s a business that fosters community — through the retail shop, activities, and special events that take place on the Nature’s Treasures campus, and the company’s online store and virtual connections. www.ntrocks.com; rocks@ntrocks.com or 512-472-5015
MINNESOTA LAPIDARY SUPPLY AND ROCKS AND THINGS
Minnesota Lapidary Supply (MLS) has a 50-plus year history and a familiar name within the rockhounding and lapidary community. For the past 16 years, Val B. Carver, known simply as “The Rock Man,” has owned and operated the “lapidary general store,” mail order, and online operation. M.L.S is paired with Carver’s walk-in rock shop, ROCKS and Things. www.lapidarysupplies.com and www.rocksandthings.com; sales@lapidarysupplies.com or 763-631-0405
TREASURES OF THE EARTH
You may have experienced a Treasures of the Earth show, if you’ve attended a mineral show, not sponsored by a club, in Virginia Beach and Richmond, Virginia, Raleigh, North Carolina, or Ocean City, Maryland. Since 2014, Jane Westbrook and Ellen White have operated the business, which has been in operation for 40 years. www.treasuresoftheearth.com; ellen@treasuresoftheearth.com or 804-642-2011
JOHN E. GARSOW GEMS AND MINERALS
With more than 30 years’ professional experience in the gem and mineral industry, and 17 years doing business as John E. Garsow Gems & Minerals, this Southern Californiabased company is well-known within the gem and mineral show circuit. www.johngarsow.com; johngarsow@sysmatrix.net or 951-698-4833
JOSEPH P. STACHURA GEMSTONES & PEARLS
Based in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, this rock and mineral sales operation began in 1955, with a young couple doing business out of their basement. Today, the company remains family-run with the second generation of the Stachura family at the helm, offering wholesale gemstones, lapidary products, jewelry, pearls, and tools, carrying on the servicefocused philosophy that is its foundation. www.stachurawholesalegemstones.com contactus@stachurawholesale.com or 508-278-6525