Trampled heart rose petals

These aren't heart rocks, but it's the same theme... Valentines day was hard for me, drop off with my youngest son at preschool was very hard. I've been stressed out and over committed this semester (I am a graduate student). I don't feel like I get enough time with my boys and my youngest, Leo, and I seem to be the hardest hit by that. I decided to leave school early, although after my classes, and inserted an afternoon date with my three-year old. We went for a walk in Northampton, where earlier that day someone covered the sidewalk in rose petals for Valentines day. We started noticing that some of the rose petals, now trampled by pedestrians, were crushed into the shape of a heart. Leo and I started looking for hearts on the sidewalk and took pictures of them. When I got home later I pulled the best together into a collage. I want to find out who put the petals there in the first place and send them a copy.

My first try at a heart rock necklace

About 5 years ago I took the only jewelry class I've ever taken. It was a three day intensive course at snow farm. The first day was awesome, that night I became suddenly ill. Gross sick. I couldn't go to the last two days. It was such a bummer. I made this necklace on the first day. I love it, the heart rock is amazing, but the pointed tabs catch on everything so it's pretty unwearable. I'm torn about whether to preserve it for its role as my "first", or use the heart rock in a new necklace.

My favorites so far

I made these after "winter storm Nemo", during inside breaks from shoveling. I think they are my favorites. 

Getting started

Sometimes I wish I could make a living finding heart rocks and making jewelry. Instead I am trying to figure out how to be an ecologist. Today perhaps I will begin to try to merge the two, or at least to have both interests in my life. I am starting this blog to share the heart rock jewelry that I am starting to make. I found and collected the heart rocks on sea kayak trips I used to guide in Southeast Alaska. I will write a post about their geologic history soon.