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Just a Small Lapidary Shop

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Just a small lapidary shop called BJs

We are a small retail business.  We have been in business since the 1960's when we started out in Harbor Springs, Michigan.  We moved to the Upper Peninsula in 2001 and are just loving it.  We have a little shop that is open in the summer time in the little town of Trout Lake. 

We do several lapidary (gem and mineral) shows each year.  

We specialize in Petoskey stones, Lake Superior Agates and many other minerals.  We also sell some collectibles and antiques.  

I love to do Watercolors and have studied under Helga Flower of Sault Ste Marie.  She is a wonderful teacher.

I just recently became interested in carving soapstone and think it is something that I want to pursue further.   

Why collect rocks

Many a person may ask, Why collect Rocks? All they do is sit and collect dust! We collect them for their beauty. Have ever stopped and looked at a rock. Even an ugly one will have something unusual about it. Just think when you pick that rock up, chances are it's several hundred thousand years old. Take the Petoskey Stone, it's a fossil coral. When you pick them up when they are dry, they look like an ugly rock. Spit on it or wet it and you can see the "Eyes" that are its character. Then polish it and the beauty comes out. Every one is different. Some have dark eyes, some light, some soft and some are harder. They make beautiful jewelry too. Perhaps a paperweight for your bosses desk.
So in a nut shell, that's why we collect rocks. Sure they sit around and collect dust, but when you pick it up and dust it off, all that beauty comes back. You perhaps remember just when you found that rock and where.

In business for over 40 years

BJ's Lapidary

It all started when we found a Petoskey stone back in the 1960's. Can you believe that! We started out polishing Petoskey stones by hand. Eventually got saws and grinders. And it went from there.

Gem and Mineral Shows - First shows of the spring 2012

Michigan Gem & Mineral Society Show
March 16, 17 and 18th, 2012
Fairgrounds
Jackson, Michigan

Indian Mounds Rock & Mineral
Show - April 5, 6, and 7, 2012
Rogers Plaza,
28th St., Grand Rapids, Mi.

More Gem and Mineral Shows - Spring 2012

Blossomland Gem & Mineral Society Show
April 28 - 29, 2012
Orchard's Mall, 1800 Pipestone Rd. Benton Harbor, Mi.

Kalamazoo Geological & Mineral Society
Expo Center Fairgrounds
Kalamazoo, Mi
Show dates: May 3, 4 and 5

The Stateline Gem & Mineral Show
June 1, 2 and 3, 2012
Fulton Co. Fairgrounds, Wauseon, Ohio

Richland Lithic & Lapidary Show
June 9 and 10, 2012
Richland Co. Fairgrounds
Mansfield, Ohio

Gem & Mineral Shows - Fall 2012

Tulip City Gem & Mineral Show
Sept. 14, 15 and 16, 2012
Civic Center, Holland, Mi.

Flint Rock and Gem Club Show
Oct. 20 and 21, 2012
Carter Middle School
Clio, Michigan

Central Michigan Lapidary and Mineral Society Show
Oct. 26, 27, 28, 2012
Main Arena, Ingham Co. Fairgrounds,
Mason, Michigan

Rock tumbler polishes

Use to polish Petoskey stones, agates and more.

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Lapidary supplies tumbling grit polish

You will find many lapidary related items.
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Agate and Petoskey stone

Petoskey stones, agates, and fossils

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Learn how to polish your stones

This lens explains how to tumble polish your stones. Take a look.
How to polish stones
Step by step process to tumbling your stones.

Come and check out my blog

Come in and see what we like and dislike. What we do with our time in the Upper Peninsula.
upnorthartist
Come see what some of our interests are. We will be adding to this from time to time.

Greenstones - Michigan Gem Stone

Greenstones
See some of the nicest Greenstones, chlorastrolite, that are out there.

What's it like in Trout Lake Today!

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Some good books on rocks and minerals and more.

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Beach Stones by Josie Iselin, Margaret Carruthers

Beach Stones by Josie Iselin, Margaret Carruthers

Walking along the water's edge, who among us has not more...0 points

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Let's Go Rock Collecting (Let'S-Read-And-Find-Out Science. Stage 2) by Roma Gans

Let's Go Rock Collecting (Let'S-Read-And-Find-Out Science. Stage 2) by Roma Gans

Holly Keller has created vivacious new paintings for more...0 points

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Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones by Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones by Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster's Guide to Gems and Precious Stones more...0 points

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  • Reply
    blackspanielgallery Jan 29, 2012 @ 9:40 pm | delete
    Nice lens.
  • Reply
    GrammaLinda Jan 28, 2012 @ 7:52 pm | delete
    I collected so many rocks, my dad refused to move them when we moved to another town. I have always enjoyed rock collecting, and now enjoy making jewelry from small natural stones.Welcome to Squidoo! Blessings!
  • Reply
    sousababy Jan 14, 2012 @ 10:51 am | delete
    I collected rocks as a kid . . and I love soapstone carvings. In Canada, we have some incredible artists and here in Toronto there are sculptures and carvings on display in shops in the Yorkville area and our galleries / museums. Thank you for sharing your talent with us (I can't imagine doing this without the use of saws and grinders, though). Great lens!
  • Reply
    mbgphoto Jan 2, 2012 @ 5:49 pm | delete
    Sounds like a really interesting business. I love to photograph lighthouses and made a trip to Michigan a few years ago to photograph lighthouses. You live in a beautiful state! Thanks for sharing your story. blessed by a squidangel.
  • Reply
    Tipi Dec 4, 2011 @ 2:07 pm | delete
    I have always enjoyed collecting rocks of all kinds and, like you, I see the beauty of them all...even those ugly ones. My sister lives in the Lake Superior region an often will include rocks in a care package. One, she decided looked like a giant squid, I I had to have it. Its about a 10 inch sandstone with one big white eye...pretty cool.
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Search the shores of Lake Superior for Agates

Two Hearted River Upper Peninsula Michigan

Many people search the shores of Lake Superior for the elusive agate. Some wait for the warmth of summer to walk the shores and others brave the cold winds on early spring and maybe even January to see if they can come up with the big one. After searching all day, they may have found a "big" agate, but more than likely it will be a few small ones.
Many people just come back with some pretty beach stones, which they are happy to tumble in their tumblers.

Lake Superior Thomsonite by Clinton Little
Gull Goose by Clinton Little
Edna G by Clinton Little
rockswater by xinem
One Goose by Clinton Little
Agates by jameelwinter
Unexpected Agate by GollyGforce
rocks4 by xinem
rocks3 by xinem
rocks5 by xinem
automatically generated by Flickr

Great Stuff on Amazon

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Lake Superior agates

You can find some nice Lake Superior agates here. Some already polished and some in the rough waiting to be polished to a beautiful finish.
You can purchase your agates here and then come buy our grits and polish to bring them to a beautiful finish.
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Many different rock found on Ebay

Look for lots of rough material waiting to be tumble polished.
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bjslapidary

Hello world. My husband and I have a little lapidary business in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  We sell minerals and lapidary supplies.  We sell... more »

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