Rocks

Take a close look at this beautiful collection of butterflies. They're not preserved insects, rather they're polished rock carvings. Grandpa Ken's father was a rock hound on top of his daily job in a factory in Walla Walla, Washington. He made the butterflies by carving the outer edges of the wings. Then, he sliced the rock into 2 halves, similar to how he'd make symmetrical book ends...and that's how the wings came out with symmetrical colorations.

Grandpa Ken's father had an expansive rock collection. He made a mallard duck that used over 50 different pieces of rock and stone for the various colorations of the feathers. He also carved intricate mini tables, chairs, plates, utensils, axes, and other similar hand tools for a doll-sized user. Below is a clock. He carved each individual piece then glued it together to form the clock. The clockface is just an old pocketwatch that was set inside.Below is a sampling of symmetrical bookends--utilizing the same techniques he used for the butterflies. The rock hound and artist is visible in the photograph in the background.