A "retired" contractor and 40 year lapidary artist, my full time pursuit is now lapidary and silverwork ,to set my creations.See my web site for full bio.I have limited myself to material from the Va. Blue Ridge Mtns. and am finding world class semi-precious gems to work with.Living at the base of the Blue Ridge and a degree in geology from JMU, a Va. university, aid in collecting my cutting material.I am isolated from contact with other like artisisns and would love to grow with the help of other people's knowledge and experience.I am a perfectionist,eager to find a better way and a better product,needing the finnished product to be the absolute best these fingers can do.; elkrungems.com