Rustic Minerals to me is more than a business or job, it’s more of an ideology & a lifestyle, a never ending adventure. It all started when I was a toddler, unfortunately my father passed away when I was young and I had a hard time growing up and coping with not knowing half of myself…In the sense of my father, symbolizing one half and my mother another half.
I often remember my mother & relatives telling me stories about my father and his family, such as “Your father loved to go fishing,” an activity that I love with all my heart,…or “Your grandfather had a farm and other businesses,” those stories and words always stuck with me.
Now that I look at it in hindsight, those stories have in essence, molded not only my mind but my entire being into taking on this entrepreneurial journey and adventure.
Fast forward to 2013 I was freelancing as a photographer & designer with local businesses. One day my cousin John (founder of Darkhorse Minerals) gave me a call asking if I could help him photograph some minerals for an eBay store he was going to open.
Later that evening we hung out and worked on photographing his items. He loved the photos and actually sold his first crystal a few days later. I picked his brain asking him question after question about minerals, and he showed me his collection and even gave me some crystals.
Shortly after I did a vendor promo for John and another client at a local market, and it seemed that a lot of people were interested in crystals and minerals.
Within the next few weeks John asked me if I would like to go visit a supplier with him, and recommended that I purchase some minerals myself. I was a little reluctant at first because I knew little to nothing about them at the time, but eventually I gave in and went with him and made my first purchase of $240 and haven’t looked back since.
Fast forward to 2021 I have been to countless Gemshows, and worked with dealers and suppliers all over New York State, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Tuscon, Arizona, Pennsylvania, California and others across the United States. Internationally; South Africa, Zambia, India, Brazil, Uruguay, Peru, Madagascar, China, Pakistan, Congo, and more.
My absolute favorite part of the gem and mineral world is getting new stones…whether it’s buying them at a show or supplier, or even digging for them myself. It always seems to be a sort of adventure to me and it never gets old. Over the years I’ve seen millions and millions and millions of minerals, worked shows, fairs, & festivals, taken flights across the country, helped grieving families, feeding people, supporting small business ventures, imported, exported. But more than anything, I’ve really loved and enjoyed the countless road trips to Gem Shows, Warehouses, and to go mining with the Buffalo Geological Society to various sites in New York like;
- Ace of Diamonds for Herkimer Diamonds
- Crystal Grove for Herkimer Diamonds
- Valentine Mine for Blue Calcite
- Macomb for quartz
- Bower Powers Farm for Black Tourmaline in Pierpont
- A gorge by a brook in Illion for Travertine
- Lockport Quarry for sphalerite, calcite, dolomite and fluorite
- Walworth Quarry for Fluorite
- National Limestone Quarry in PA for Druzzy Calcite and Wavellite.
Today I have shifted my focus into expanding Rustic Minerals to additional online & retail platforms such as the current: Etsy, Mercai, Facebook Shop, Instagram Shop, and currently have partnered with retailers such as Puff Palace/Blades for Life, Charlotte Flea Market, Neon Nails Studio, Botanica Nail Studio, & Aarons Alley. I have also had the opportunity to partner with a copper Jewelry Designer Sandra of Mercedez Bendz Crea8ions, and an online influencer and actress DoloresDidIt in bringing you fresh content, cool crystals, and knowledge of the crystal world!
Thanks for stopping by my website today and be sure to follow me online on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and TikTok. A simple like, comment, share, and follow really goes a long way for a small business.
Send me a message if you ever have a question, or even if you just want to talk about crystals…I’m up for a convo.
Enjoy…and I thank you all always for your continued support of Rustic Minerals, for you make this possible for me…I greatly appreciate it!
May GOD Bless you!