Asheville esty seller of the day (bonus edition): Gemstone Territory 047

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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From Ken and John of Gemstone Territory 047:

Q: Please summarize what you make and sell on Etsy.

A: We make and sell pendants, rings, earrings, and  coming soon, bracelets.  We cut and polish most of the pendants, which are made from natural stone, several of which are native to North Carolina. For our other jewelry, we match faceted and cabbed, natural colored stones we’ ve mostly purchased, with both pre-cast settings as well as some we fabricate ourselves.  

Q: What item makes you sad to let go? In other words, what do you have a special connection to?

A: Practically all of them are tough to let go of, since they are so pretty and unique.

 

Q:What are you inspired by, whether it be something in nature or a musician, artist or other creative wellspring?

A: For Ken, its been a lifelong passion (I’m a geologist by profession) to understand and better appreciate the earth. For John it’s taking a rough stone (sometimes even dull, dirty, and maybe even ugly), and turning it into something of beauty.

 

Q: With the economy the way it is and the holiday shopping season coming up, what’s your perfect stocking stuffer or small gift?

A: Of the current, 60 items we’ve posted on Etsy, the least expensiver are some freeform rounded stones that John has wirewrapped into basket pendants, for $35 to $45.

 

Q: What else would you like people to know about you?

A: Ken has enjoyed creating several hundred jewelry pieces over the past 20 years, and to get a request for something custon, out of the box, is especially fun.