I was (and still am) that nerdy kid who had a rock collection. Who spent a day at the beach stuffing her pockets full of rocks. Who had a rock tumbler (like Ross). Who, as a married adult, realized she could bring home twice as many beach stones if she made her Hubby stuff all of his pockets full of rocks too.
With passion like this you can imagine my delight when, every few years, rocks pop up as hot design elements. Right now, there’s lots for me to ogle:
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| Viva Terra: $59-65 |
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| Swank Lighting: $4250 (yikes) |
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| Rablas: $152 |
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| Om Decor: $825 (yikes) |
Rocks are definitely hot right now, but have you noticed that some stone accessories are really expensive? With some of the most coveted pieces out of my reach, I recently unearthed part of my childhood rock collection:
They’re small, but they sure add sparkle! I haven’t decided on a spot, but for now I thought they look nice in the guest room, where large-scale abstracts demand more subtle accessories.
Want some rocks of your own? Get the look for less!
Think Outside the Decor Stores:
One tip is to avoid home decor stores and head to museum gift shops, science stores and stores for kids. The prices will likely be more reasonable (I’m pretty sure my trio is from a science-themed gift shop). You could also contact a lapidary or mineral club in your city, as many host lapidary sales and know of good sources. I even found a box of amethyst at a yard sale – another item I need to bring back from my childhood home.
Mine Your Own Stones:
Some cities, like Thunder Bay – my hometown – have active mines, like the Panorama Amethyst Mine, where you can spend a day and collect a bag full of stones (in this case, amethyst) for a fraction of the cost ($8.00 entry fee and only $3.00 per lb.). As an added bonus, mining amethyst is something fun and different to do!
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| Photo of Amethyst (middle) from Canada-Photos; Photos of Mine from Panorama Amethyst Mine |
Group a Collection of Smaller Stones for Bigger Visual Impact:
Much of my rock collection consists of smaller specimens (chips, really) which are less expensive but also make less of an impact, visually. But I saw this photo and thought that perhaps smaller pieces could be affixed to an all-white shadow box, or inside an inexpensive Ikea frame (like my DIY needle-felted wool abstracts), to create a scientific-looking grouping with a more impressive “wow” factor. Next time I visit my childhood home, I’m going to find the rest of my rock collection and whip up a stylish DIY display.
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| Etsy Cori Kindred: $62 |
DIY Your Own Faux Rocks:
I think making some faux rocks would be a fun DIY project. I’ve seen faux specimens crafted from wood, fimo bead clay, and some materials you might not think of.
This fimo clay tutorial is fabulous and I think a giant version could easily be made as a decor piece, using the same technique applied for making jewellery-sized faux stones.
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| Fimo Clay Tutorial by Aesthetic Outbust |
These faux faceted rocks, made from reclaimed wood, look so organic but also really modern – like an art installation. Someone handy with wood could craft stones of various sizes from wood scraps and then paint the finished products white or maybe a saturated, gemstone-inspired hue.
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| Post 27: $16 |
Begging for a rock-paper-scissors pun or joke, these faux gemstones made from just paper are one of the hippest paper crafts I have ever seen. Can you imagine how much kids would love these? Forget kids – I love these.
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| Paper Rock Tutorial by Mini Eco |
And the crowning glory of DIY rocks: a tutorial to grow your own crystals on an egg. From Martha Stewart, unsurprisingly.
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| Grow Your Own Rocks by Martha Stewart via Mini Eco |
Do you have any rocks on display?
These are some great ideas to add colour and form to any decor. We have a very large piece of Amethyst That my husband collected when he was a kid from the Thunder Bay mine being used as a doorstop (it is huge). Eventually it will probably make it's way out to the cabin, as most things with no real home do.
Really?!? That is awesome. When anyone has been to my far-flung home town (city, really), I'm blown away. Haha. And this is proof-positive my tips rock, lol.Put that rock on display, somewhere prominent, so I can drool from over here.
The crystal eggs are kind of amazing. I'm sure you could grow those in other things too! Might have to consider that one… My grandparents have a whole whack of amethyst and other rocks picked up on their various travels. I always loved them when I was a kid and, turns out, I still think rock collections are beautiful!
i have a small amethyst and its a priced possession of mine…my parents bought it on our trip to a place called Ellora, in india. I have been having it since i was 12:)
It's so nice to hear how sentimental rocks can be – I love that!
I never knew one could grow crystals out of eggs…so interesting! I have a rock collection in glass display boxes, and it's by far my favourite decorative accessory at home (http://michellelalala.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-jewel-collection.html).
I love rocks as well. I just spotted an amazing mirror in Barbados, agate and turquoise, gorgeous, and only $10,000.00, lol. Your stands for rocks are sweet, where ever did you find those?
Only $10,000? Lol. The stands were bought with the rocks – so I think lapidary stores, kids' stores, etc. might be the best bet for similar styles.
I love them as well. I totally agree that kids stores are a much cheaper place to pick up some beauties. I LOVE the framed rock idea.
I have an agate collection, mostly because of summer trips to Lake Superior. In our kitchen, I have a chunk of amethyst because the Feng Shui book told me to. I complied because I love amethyst.
Awwww, many of my rocks are from Lake Superior too – but from "our" side (Tbay, woot, woot). I miss the lake.
I totally had a rock tumble as a kid! I have a beautiful piece of agate my husband and I picked up on a trip to Bermuda and I have always wanted some bookends!
So many beautiful images! This is a wonderful post.
Thanks Dana! It took me a really long time to compile this post, so it is so nice to hear that you enjoyed it.
Just this past weekend I found my own childhood rock collection at my parents' house. Now you've inspired me to do something with it!Jennywww.simcoestreet.blogspot.com
Oh wow, your rocks Rock! I never imagined doing so much with rocks. Thanks for sharing.
I was that kid as well. Great idea to bring the rocks out of storage and into our decor. I may just pick up my collection the next time I am at my parents house.
I'm also one of those rock-loving kids turned adult. And I proudly display them too. But I never thought it was to crazy because I come by the love naturally. My parents have a huge split stone fireplace (dad split all the stones himself) natural stone coasters, stone bookends and more. Mom has even bought beautiful rocks on ebay! Ha. Takes one to know one!
So nice to hear I have so many rock-loving friends who were also rock-loving kids!
I still collect rocks from the beach.Well not rocks, more like pebbles and now I look for heart shaped ones. I also collect beach glass. I have vases full of glass I have picked up on the beach along Lake Huron. I also have made little shadow boxes for my nieces. A heart shape filled in with pretty glass & stones from the beach.
Lovely post!! As the daughter of two geologists, I can totally appreciate your affinity for beautiful rocks 🙂