Selling Rocks in Appalachia - A Millennial's Dream

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

See Katie's work here: www.etsy.com/shop/StameyCreekCreations here: instagram.com/stamey.creek.creations/ and here: instagram.com/stameycreeklapidary/ Thanks for watching!!

[@susans5096]

I have my eye on the minimalist necklace

[@melissahendricks6623]

I just ordered one of the rings. Can't wait to get it

[@charleshmansfield5786]

I’m looking at that beautiful stream and would like a fresh drink from it. Maybe one day. In the meantime, congratulations on teaching your girls the important things in life. Thank you for all you do for others.

[@everycoLor_312]

This is FANTASTIC! ❤

[@michellegilliam2892]

I thoroughly enjoyed learning how Katie makes her cabachons. She is a natural born teacher. But most of all I loved hearing the love in her voice when she talks about the creek.

[@r6854]

I don't know a darn thing about rocks, but it is always fun listening to someone talk about something they love.

[@marialenin3503]

Same. Especially as another creative Person

[@elizabethhamilton8388]

Katie, You are so awesome at finding your creek rocks and making them into such beautiful pieces for jewelry. I loved watching you and seeing how you shape each rock. Isn’t it satisfying doing a job that you love instead of dreading going to a job working for someone else! You are so creative and talented. Hugs from the southeast coast of Florida 😎🦩🌞🦩😎

[@ningayeti]

You are what America is all about. An intelligent, well spoken and hard working woman. You are a blessing to everyone around you.

[@josephpisani8185]

Good looking woman

[@ragheadand420roll]

You left out the best part A FEMININE WOMAN Femininity is beautiful and graceful When women are women its beautiful 🙏🏻✌🏻🇺🇸

[@IAMtheoneyoulovetolove]

Hard working is outdated pride. It's never led to happiness or fullfilment. It's been a killer in America always. Working hard fucks you up. It's not fun. Misery is not fun. It's a trance popularly lived by to keep you "in check". . . . It's robbed families of their loved ones for centuries. A joke we've all believed and known for way too long.

[@willow95]

​@@ragheadand420rollPeople come in all shapes and sizes, masculine or feminine or neither. And all are valid. I doubt you fall strictly into your gender's expectations..

[@truthfilterforyoutube8218]

Oh yes she does....She's all woman....unfortunately her type has become so rare in this modern Godless society as to be unrecognizable .....sad really@@willow95

[@paul42171]

As a geologist, myself, I applaud and support her endeavour! It's a fantastic earth science and certainly one of the most beautiful and diverse!

[@johnc7833]

I don’t know how this NY boy suddenly got hooked on Appalachian culture, but here we are. I’ve watched nearly a dozen videos now, they just make me happy.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thank you John! So glad you enjoy our videos 😀

[@lorchid23]

This beautiful young lady has her head on straight. It’s pretty easy to see she was raised by a loving, grounded and supportive family. 💯👍🏻

[@kitdaberserker555]

The nuclear family in action. The only way she could be wiser is if she does a bluegrass cover of WAP. Lol 😆

[@bene8019]

An underrated way of life

[@nmelkhunter1]

Well said. She’s a positive roll model for a great many young people!

[@namedrop721]

@@marksconce4983 you have no idea how educated she is. Very creepy, my dude.

[@jimpetterson3447]

Always played in the creeks in southern Wisconsin but you always had to keep your eyes open for water moccasins as they would burrow into the muddy riverbanks and would literally come after you as we scampered out of the water

[@Malibrouj]

I could listen to her talk all day! She’s definitely inherited your story telling skill❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@TRx-oj5nw]

Facts

[@thelastminmom5251]

She does. Very cute family. Love this channel.

[@MajahDancer]

Kids who grew up playing in the woods and creeks had blessed childhoods. I have good memories of many days spent catching crawdads and looking for fossils. Enjoyed this video.

[@annee810]

I grew up playing in the woods then river. I loved to swim. My daughter and niece spent summers playing in our streams for hours. Then they spent time keeping me busy with all the blackberries they picked.

[@lorettataylor9902]

Me too

[@RockWilliams]

The sweetness, caring & intelligence that resonates from this young lady, warms my heart. Can only pray to God that my seven year old daughter, Scout, grows to be even half the positive influence as Katie here is. Thank yall for making content that raises the good vibes in life.

[@deevargas4780]

Lovely girl. She is so articulate and well spoken. I admire her determination and enthusiasm. I know you must be so proud.

[@angellynette8258]

This is how me and my cousins grew up. If we wasn’t under my granny’s house we was off in the woods down by the creek. We would stay there for hours. I’ve always loved rocks but didn’t really know much about the. I still collect gemstones and am always looking for good stones.

[@Msfeathers7]

Me too!

[@Sirmullins]

Ive collected rocks since I was a child from the creek..what a joy, I have my mother-in-law's collection of rocks she's left this earth many years ago..I'm 74, and still collect.

[@thesage1096]

wow thats amazing, your collection must rele be something

[@bucknk8edrobertlee734]

That is amazing I bet your collection was something special.

[@TheCort1971]

this girl is the most valuable gem in the whole county. Im glad she exists. thank you.

[@dwlumpkin7726]

My ex bought me an uncut geode this past Christmas. I thought that was the coolest present. I cracked it open and it had all these really pretty quartz crystals inside. They weren’t colored quartz they were just the translucent ones. I told her that this was the best Christmas present that I have ever gotten.

[@funtimevideos2160]

I love this video. Not only Katie's story but also how she turns creek rocks into a thing of beauty. Thank you for sharing !

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thank you so much!

[@jodaso]

“Back in my day we used to play with sticks and rocks” doesn’t sound so bad now ;-P

[@MrJszalank1133]

Wow. A smart and well spoken young person who doesn’t expect to be handed everything.

[@ackgeezer9754]

I used to be a jeweler and cut my own stones as well. Slicing open a stone is at least half the fun, anticipating what’s inside never gets old. Bless you all for this refuge on KZbin. GP

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

That is wonderful! I bet you and Katie could talk about a lot of things 😀 So glad you enjoy our videos!!

[@califtom]

the finished product is beautiful but man, that machinery looks super dangerous. Katie clearly knows what she's doing though.

[@r.awilliams9815]

@@califtom The machinery isn't nearly as dangerous as it looks. The saws and laps are diamond abrasive and you'd have to work pretty hard to cut yourself on them. Mind you, they'll cut through a fingernail right quick so you do need a modicum of caution.

[@sirtango1]

AckGeezer any good tips on where to find lapidary equipment like a faceting machine?

[@ackgeezer9754]

@@sirtango1 I’ve been out of it for many years now, but many of the suppliers are still out there. Prices for new equipment have climbed considerably. Just look up lapidary equipment online and keep scrolling. In addition to outfits like Rio Grande and Diamond Pacific, you might just try Craig’s List and eBay. Amazon also lists equipment. Good hunting, GP

[@katr8756]

I was just like her growing up in the mountains of NC. And still am, to some extent. I loved looking for interesting creek rocks.. The last time I went to the beach, I picked up a gallon of white sea rocks. After a rain, on bare ground, I catch myself looking for quartz rocks, and arrowheads. Loved doing stuff like that all my life. Just the way I'm made I guess.

[@Quarton]

I loved looking for arrowheads, scrapers, and all kinds of rocks - jasper, quartzite, calcite, agates, etc. It was "Free Fun" - that lasted for hours, days, and years. I still love being a rock hound!

[@elizabethbennet4791]

me too!!! gone are those days before the internet!!

[@teresakeith5539]

Life before internet and cell phone distractions! The imagination is a wonderful toy!

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

It sure is! Thank you Teresa 😀

[@melissarivera8236]

This video touched me in a lot of ways. I lived in the mountains, had a creek and collected rocks as a child. I would throw rocks against other rocks to break them to see what they were like inside. Nowadays I make jewelry. I have Appalachian roots. I do not have the accent, but hearing it is comforting.

[@elizabethsteen581]

My hubby and I actually got emotional watching this video. We have two girls, Brontë and Kiersten, who are 24 and 23. Seeing Katie pursuing something so amazingly creative that connects to the land and her familial history is truly inspiring! I dont know if Katie is going to college, but it seems people push kids nowadays to go to colllege and dig moutains of debt, forgetting there are skills that are needed more than any degree and this particular skill is vastly important to keeping heritage and the old ways alive!! Our eldest, Brontë. held off on college til she knew what she wanted to do, which is linguistics. Sis, our youngest, has Williams Syndrome and is extremely musically gifted. She LOVES listening to your family play and sing!! Anyhoo, this was just such a dear video and our family loved it so much!!

[@jenniferlawrence1372]

Good for you for not pushing her to go to college. Expecting kids who have never really been in the workforce to decide at 18 what they want to do for their whole lives, is a recipe for disappointment. I went back to school in my 30s to start a new career because my first degree was useless.

[@jimaryaz]

Watching this young lady work and create in the latter part of the video was fantastic but, I really enjoyed listening to her talk for that 20 minutes or so about how she got interested in rocks, and she started making jewelry, and went to lapidary training and learned how to cut and polish rocks into gems, and how she realized she could start supplying other artists and businesses. She's smart! She speaks intelligently and I'm just really impressed by what she's doing. She turned something fun in her life, something she enjoyed from the time she was a kid, and she developed it into an art, and a way to make money! How cool is that?? I could sit and listen to her all day!

[@taliesin8192]

The 7-year-old, the crick and my grandad are still in me too. Beautiful video in every way.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Three good things to carry around with you 😀 Thanks for watching!

[@benjaminstewart5935]

I LOVE AMERICA BECAUSE OF WOMEN LIKE YOU❤️ may there be more like you.

[@philprice5712]

The pottery find is wonderful. I love the Indian tradition of grinding old pottery shards into powder to be rethrown into a new piece by a potter using local clay of course.

[@tommywright7196]

Seeing this makes me want to get up in the Attic and find my old Rock collection

[@ZarpeParadise]

"Crazy 'Bout Creek Rocks" and I can see why you are! You have SKILLS! Your grand "Pap" would be amazed how you have honored Stamey Creek. "It's a Family Thang"!! I love your educated Southern Speech and expressions. I don't get to hear it where I live now. Katie, you present yourself/your expertise so well you could do a series of online classes if you wanted, another dimension to share with other rock lovers like me, your love for rocks. These are truly family heirlooms from one family to another. I think your reset (happy place) is pure gold in itself. You are Amazing!💖

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thank you so much 😀

[@cessnaman229]

She’s so beautiful! God Bless my Appalachia neighbors!

[@phyllisullery9963]

My grandparents lived in SW Virginia and they had a creek running near their house. As kids, we played hour upon hour in the water, hunting rocks and crawl dads. Great memories.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Sounds a lot like my memories 😀 Thank you for watching!!

[@dragoninwinter]

Every kid needs an old barn, a patch of woods, a few good creeks, and a bunch of animals to grow up with.

[@sewfuntosew11]

crawdeads

[@sirtango1]

Same here. I grew up in in Scott / Washington county area. Did a lot of the same. Every living creature shuttered at the mere sound of us! 😂

[@SJ-ni6iy]

@@sewfuntosew11 in West Virginia it’s definitely pronounced crawl dads

[@KatInTheNorth]

Growing up my father was called a “Rock hound”. Sometimes my sister and I would go with him “rock hunting”. He found some beautiful rocks & minerals. He polished some of them and made jewelry from some of them. We had a Rock & Mineral shop at the house where customers would come to buy. Dad is gone but I still love looking for rocks. 🙂 Your daughter has a real talent with making her jewelry. I looked at some of her work on the website provided. Beautiful pieces! Thank you for sharing ⛏

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Kat your dad and Katie would have been fast friends 😀 Thank you for watching-and I'll tell Katie you thought her work was nice 😀

[@KatInTheNorth]

@@CelebratingAppalachia thank you 🌸

[@Lisahough4738]

Show us your work your a angel God bless you and you all .I'm a old Vietnam vet grew up in Kentucky ,on our farm , I love rocks I love mountians .keep up good work God bless you all , God bless America

[@Lisahough4738]

Great you very talented 👍.

[@katinamartin7934]

i'm so happy for you Katie... I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds but I just wanted to say that I completely understand about being at peace at the creek and Katie I think that Pap knows and can see what you make with your rocks.

[@judyking4930]

How I grew up, it's the best childhood, I still love the woods and creeks. Glad you've had and still have it to enjoy.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

We're glad to have it too! Thank you Judy 😀

[@rowdybroomstick1216]

Surprising to me that she doesn't knap or collect arrowheads or both. Katie is quite the catch! Great video sharing her story about how she became a lipidary artist!

[@misscindy3414]

Wow, Katie! You certainly have a stunning talent. You've loved rocks since you were a very little girl and now just look at what you can do! I'm so proud of you !

[@larryeddings3185]

It's wonderful to see someone follow their interests and develop their God-given talents.

[@timothyappleseed2986]

The synergy of applying our talents and interests to our values is the seed of purpose and purpose is the fruit of life, but the path to the Tree of life is obscured by the masks we wear seeking validation and or approval from others.

[@chrispike8879]

Such a wonderful caring young lady ❤

[@kelleymcbride4633]

"Go outside and wander into nature, the truth is there waiting for you" ~ some guy in a comment thread

[@mixmediaproductions]

Green earth, a wonder.

[@sylvia106]

You are so intelligent, I admire your character and find you and your story very inspirational. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this video.

[@jimwood5796]

Started watching and could not quit . you play music and sing ! So much tallent

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thank you Jim 😀

[@donnaleveron5711]

That type of upbringing breeds creativity, so needed in today's world.

[@nmelkhunter1]

This is a great look into a trade I really didn’t have a true appreciation of. Katie is a credit to her generation and her parents. Well done!

[@benlaw4647]

Us kids played in the creek and woods when we were growing up ....loved the adventures and excitement of what we might find in the woods and creek...loved finding different kinds of rocks and salamanders and crawfish....fun times, great memories....thanks tipper ...God bless...❤

[@craig4594]

She has the voice of an angel.

[@royschmidt675]

You are very easy to listen to. You speak clearly and slow enough to absorb what you say. On top of that, your lovely inner spirit enhances your physical beauty. Your smile is captivating. Peace & Love 💕

[@junkjournalmavenwannabe]

I really enjoyed listening to the young lady speak about her interests and craftwork! Lovely video!

[@shannonroysden7908]

Wow! This young woman is a natural born teacher and storyteller. She’s also mastering her skill. Beautiful work!

[@bonnielaarman1878]

Very interesting to watch. So many steps! One of our twins collected rocks when she was young...when I would walk into her bedroom if there were any clothes on the floor I would often step in the rocks.😊 I took her to rock shows which we both enjoyed...she has a nice collection even though she is now 53 years old.😊

[@kategoya7230]

Never in my life would I have thought that I will be so much hooked on watching a film about rocks.

[@karenrogers2826]

Your enthusiasm and love for this rock collecting is like remembering our youth . My grandchildren love rocks too. I love all your stories!

[@hillbillyheart217]

My son cut his fiancees own engagement stone from a rock she found as a child and kept her whole life.

[@danny-li6io]

That to me is much more precious and valuable than some store bought diamond/gemstone that has a nefarious chain of sale.

[@jillspears6331]

Wonderful!

[@thisguy4614]

As long as she said yes lol I bet a girl could get royally ticked if the answer was going to be no! With all due respect that is a very nice sentimental gesture though.

[@misscelanious4788]

That’s so awesome

[@Dutch779]

Brings back memories. My uncle and his wife, polish stones for years. A 44 gallon drum made into a tumbler. He always came to my hometown as the rivers were good for this. These days you can be fined for removing stones from any river or creek.

[@DreamingCatStudio]

You’re amazing! Your passion shines through every bit of your story! I’m only 1/2 way through but had to stop and comment. Congratulations on your perseverance. Here’s a story: My brother, sister and I were fortunate to have a grand-dad and dad who loved rock-hunting, and arrow-hunting, and tumbling. Now in our 60s, we all still love it. Dad’s gone now but when my mom moved house years ago she found a map dad made showing where in the foothills up north we could find large quartz crystals. My sister, my niece and I took a trip there, and sure enough-after hours of hunting and almost succumbing to heat stroke-we found them! What a thrill.

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

What a great story about the map 😀

[@fhorst41]

My mother thought that I was starting a quarry in my room when I was growing up. I'm happy for you finding an outlet for your passion. Well done!

[@christierella]

How Katie describes her love of the area/rocks and then sending it out into the world made my heart smile. ❤️🙂

[@debbiematheny4734]

Katie's creations are beautiful! She is quite the artist :) When I was young, I had a huge fossil and rock collection. I loved them! The "hunt" was the best part-and I even found a few arrowheads and pieces of fool's gold. My collection went the way of most childhood memories and was lost somewhere along the way. But I completely understand Katie's love of rocks!

[@espesq]

There are many joys in life; The joy of making something with your own two hands is one of the great joys and matters greater than most.

[@tchrisou812]

Katie is a natural teacher and a natural beauty (thank your Mom). To me there is nothing like seeing someone enjoy what they love and share it. I can't say I understood everything you taught in this video but I can say that I really enjoyed it.

[@janesmith1398]

Hi from the Fraser Valley of BC. I love rocks too. My kitchen window sill is full and so are some old coffee tins. I too played in the woods and my local river when I was a kid in the 70s. We used to meet in the woods at "the big rock" which was the size of a pickup truck. Good luck to you and thanks for the memories! ❤

[@dlux3272]

This would be my son's dream job. He has collected rocks since he was a toddler. He leaves them in his pockets and we have to get his pants out of the washer when we hear it clanging. My lawnmower has found some that he's left in the yard. Years ago we built him a rock garden and he played in that thing for years. He would just sit and dig through rocks like he was hunting buried treasure. I've got rocks in the yard, in his bedroom, in drawers, in cabinets, in the floor, and he has rocks in his thoughts. I'm not letting him see this video because I will have to purchase a whole shop loaded with rock tools......lol 😆. Love the video's.

[@jasonnichols8532]

So many great people in this country. Drain the swamp and replace them with more people like this. Great example of what we should all strive for. Hard working and intelligent. Down to earth and respectful to family and friends. Glad I found this, because I needed it.

[@docsusun3667]

You such a sweet, creative girl. I would love to have an Appalachian piece of your art. I live in Northern KY but am trying to move to the mountains. ❤🌹🌞🌱😘🙏👣💙

[@jacquelineganske7809]

What a cool woman. I understand her affinity to rocks. I spent many hours as a child collecting rocks from the grandeur railroad tracks down my street, cracking them open to find the most beautiful patterns inside. Good for her for following her bliss!

[@vickiulrich6694]

THIS was a very enlightening vlog and Katie I knew you were talking about lapidary but I’ve never had it explained so thoroughly and had visuals. Our neighbors father did lapidary and when he passed our neighbor inherited all his fathers equipment. I am going to share your moms vlog with him to watch your tutorial as I think he will truly enjoy it. We live on the Chippewa River here in Michigan and I love looking at all the stones and rocks when they are wet and a really nice one is saved and set in the house just because so I am in full appreciation for your “water” time. Did I mention I am going to be 63 in August and as you can see the younger generation can teach us new things too😀. Good luck with your craft and I hope Mom will share more vlogs like this in the future because I am always interested in what’s going on in the various cultures of our country. I love all the time taken to educate us on the Appalachian life so thanks for always enlightening and entertaining us with your vlogs...and just to let you know, I love the music when you vlog it as well!!!:):):)

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Vicki-thank you! So glad you enjoy what we do!!

[@DougRowan_photography]

I swear I could listen to her all day talk about this. The excitement comes across and really makes you feel it! Keep up the great work!!!

[@shawnamarcum3077]

I truly enjoyed listening to your story. Reminds me of my childhood collecting rocks as well. I still have one I found when I was about 6 😊

[@suecastillo4056]

Just look at you being you!!! You’re a real gem yourself sweetheart!!! Keep up doing what you love with that Appalachian accent!!! Makin’ us all proud you are dear heart!!! Love and success to you missy!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🥰🙋‍♀️♥️

[@lizzymoore54]

I’m a rock hound also and my favorite to collect is Chalcedony, a form of quartz but harder than regular quartz. ( Mohs scale of mineral hardness ). The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a qualitative ordinal scale characterizing scratch resistance of various minerals through the ability of harder material to scratch softer material.Wikipedia ). Chalcedony is a microcrystalline form of quartz. The analogy you had of the tightness of wood ( petrified wood ) was a good one because petrified wood is usually a form of Chalcedony. Chalcedony is a silicate and can appear transparent or translucent, almost like glass and glass is a silicate, ( molten sand that solidified ). They may also be opaque. Many precious and semi-precious gemstones are silicate with the exception of Diamond which is a carbon based stone. Silicate definition, any of the largest group of mineral compounds, as quartz, beryl, garnet, feldspar, mica, and various kinds of clay, consisting of SiO2 or SiO4 groupings and one or more metallic ions, with some forms containing hydrogen. Silicates constitute well over 90 percent of the rock-forming minerals of the earth's crust. I just love to find round or oval smooth transparent or translucent stones of Chalcedony and wire wrap them with gold or silver plated wire for pendants. Real gold and silver wire is just too expensive for me because I’m not a lapidary. I just do this for fun and to give as presents. My mother’s side had ties to the Smokies and I remember my mother and grandmother carried “ worry stones “, which were smooth, flat and usually round in shape, to rub between their fore-finger and thumb if they were worried or concerned about something serious. The more they were rubbed, the smoother they became, almost a velvety feel. Agate is a common rock formation, consisting of chalcedony and quartz as its primary components, consisting of a wide variety of colors. Agates normally have “ water lines “ and may have red, blue, green, and yellow colors all in the same stone. This has to do with the type of minerals that are in the area you find them. Where you live, they are primarily the yellow to orange colors but red, brown and some blackish are also found. I’ve also noticed that they have a particular sound when smaller ones are handled or jingled together. Almost a “ ting “. I jokingly say it’s the “ sound of money “. ( I was a “ creek baby “ myself and still consider myself to be one, even at my age. I think this is just in my DNA ). By the way, you’ve already collected a few of these in your video today. I can’t wait to see how you cut them and what you do with them. 😉☺️🥰 #ROCKSRULE #SOPROUDOFYOU! Please wear a mask or respirator when cutting rocks sweetheart because of a condition called silicosis. Symptoms of silicosis usually appear after many years of exposure. In early stages, symptoms are mild and include cough, sputum and progressive shortness of breath. As the scarring continues to worsen, the first real signs of a problem may be an abnormal chest X-ray and a slowly developing cough. Once the lung scarring has become more severe ...

[@reneejames3325]

I love finding rocks but the pieces of plate, glass is a treasure!

[@cynthiam3412]

Katie, please add some more jewelry creations from the natural rocks you find in the creek to your Etsy shop! Would love to see them!!!!!

[@connieparker8896]

My grandson and I would collect rocks bags of them, now he’s grown I still have bags of them and we still hunt for them, so proud that you, we did get a tumbler, and made pictures of them.. and framed them, congratulations I watch your things on Esty

[@mcspankie2010]

Just finished video what a beautiful story, sending a part of the creek out in to the world love that so much!

[@stevielund3687]

She is her mommas twin. I love just listening to the family talk. The best videos on KZbin. Gorgeous were they live. What a beautiful life.

[@Psalmonetwentyone]

I'm so happy you've found a career that is enjoyable to you. They say if you love what you do you'll never work a day in your life. Good for you! Even better for you is your relationship with God, the Rock of our Salvation.

[@LorrayneHam]

I feel just like Katie.. I have always loved rocks…!

[@paularhodarmer3267]

I have always loved rocks too! This was a fascinating video, and I am so impressed with Katie's work. Those rocks are beautiful and so useful. Thanks, Katie, for a great video.

[@cpt.barker4767]

I'm from northeast kentucky, been living out of state for a decade. I miss appalachia terribly. listening to the accent and seeing the hills brings me back so I appreciate what you do. your my lifeline back home. i'll make it back there some day, really miss the land and the people

[@jenm9027]

I loved playing in our creek too as a kid. Mom would pack us pb&j sandwiches into a bread bag with some apples and we’d be out there all day. Awesome memories. Thanks for sharing. Love from Michigan. 💕

[@rhondadean5455]

I absolutely did same as a young girl. We camped near creeks in mountains around/near Maggie Valley. I loaded up on crystal rocks every autumn trip. My room and window sills were lined with crystal rocks. When my mother passed away I lost them as I was displaced. Such good memories those days in mountains. Good luck. Keep searching.

[@karellarsen939]

This was really interesting. I love your stories of childhood play time and how it shaped you😊. I pray for your continued success❣️❤️❣️

[@scottpitner4298]

Hello WV resident here and I used to play around a nearby creek when I was young. I liked looking at rocks and catching tadpoles or frogs. Lots of fun out in nature as a child. Like the video a lot 👍

[@bflogal18]

I would love to see more of this! Your work is just beautiful!

[@scottrobbins6216]

Young lady you are a jewel it’s so good to hear a person that is happy with whom they are. God Bless

[@gristlevonraben]

there is sapphires and rubies and emeralds in those mountains too, and gold. if you scoop up some pretty stones, use a harbor freight uv flashlight to fluoresce them, and they will glow inside.

[@drakeweddner]

Thank you

[@SerendipitySoulFluidArt]

My Papaw always said the same but they used a carbide lamp (an old coal miners light) to "glow the rocks". Papaw had a ring made of a ruby he found as a boy...it was my grandmother's. Then my daddy gave it to MY mama when they got married. And it is now mine. I will pass it down to my eldest granddaughter. She and I are bothe born in July and our birthstones are rubies. So was my Mamaw's and my mama's as well.

[@gristlevonraben]

@@SerendipitySoulFluidArt that's very cool. Regular light will reveal the star lines in star ruby, i wonder if carbide flames put off uv. They use the acetylene gas off of the carbide water reaction to make acetyene for filling welding tanks, and its a super hot flame when mixed with oxygen. Maybe its hot enough at low levels to make uv light?

[@SerendipitySoulFluidArt]

@@gristlevonraben that would make sense! My papaw swore by them.

[@gristlevonraben]

@@SerendipitySoulFluidArt i just did some research on acetylene, and was very surprised. It turns out that acetylene burns hotter with oxygen gas added, but in low or atmospheric oxygen, it burns brighter which can and does produce ultraviolet light.

[@paultharp4626]

Ex jock from New York here.. just captivated by y'all. Am I doing that right? Seriously.. could listen to this lady all day long and the rest of the family. Thank you for preserving your wonderful heritage and sharing one of the better parts of American culture through all of your channels

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

Thank you Paul 😀

[@puppy2haley]

I’m speechless!! She is a genius and you can tell she is so dedicated to her work and her creations. What a gift you have. BRAVO. ❤️❤️👍👍

[@petercollin5670]

Wow, this is like a new take on the old Foxfire books.

[@crownlands7246]

This vid is a YT gem, WYSIWYG-stuff like this was one of the ideas behind YT, ppl sharing content of whatever they are doing, there are so many fine things in this interview that makes it an example on how to make high Q entertaining and informative vids, and thanks for the laughter at 17:18 ish

[@CelebratingAppalachia]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@Spritsailor]

This is funny because at the St. Patrick's Day fest in Ireland, WV, there were more rocks for sale than anything else.

[@captserenity8154]

The sound of the creek brought back some good memories. Building, playing…. The pure happiness of childhood. Thanks 🥰

[@johnnytoobad7785]

As an amateur rock collector I love this stuff. Reminds of the quote from the film the "Shawshenk Redemption"..."pressure and time". This a girl who grew up in God's backyard.

[@robapple78]

Your Pap would be proud. He lives on in your memories and stories. Thanks for sharing your life and knowledge!!

[@sureiseeyou]

Love this and love Katie. I'm getting something of hers but waiting for a nice creek rock pendant. :)

[@kathymclain2632]

Awesome interview! Beautiful daughters you have!

[@gidget8717]

We use to hunt crawdads in our creek! I nearly fainted when I became an adult and found out people actually ate those things !😲 😂

[@davidmoran4471]

It's just a mini fresh water lobster.

[@gidget8717]

@@davidmoran4471 😂😂😂😂👍

[@chuckrobinson599]

They're good. It just takes a lot of them.

[@daffodilsanddogwoods9695]

My daughter used to do the same thing and catch frogs. She still doesn’t like people eating them.

[@ellensstory4429]

Enjoyed so much. Lovely young lady. So articulate and interesting. Katie is very knowledgeable of her subject.

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

this is not the "selling rocks" video i was expecting

[@franciegarneau1651]

Wow! 35 years ago I took a lapidary class at a junior college here. I loved it and this really brought back memories. Katie, you are so talented!