Steve Taube (RIP) /Turquoise Artist Bad Boys Mine, Cripple Creek CO

In Oct. 2010 we were at a craft show in Palmer Lake, CO.  Across from us was the mother of a turquoise jeweler/ artist who wraps Cripple Creek turquoise in sterling silver. 

We really liked his work so when we got home we checked eBay and the only Cripple Creek stones I found were just nuggets and none that were wrapped.

Normally I am not looking for consignment items to sell, but this intrigued me.

Long story short, we met the jeweler at his home.  Steve Taube, gave us a complete tour and started by showing us the rough stone, the way it comes out of the mine. (Update - Steve is now deceased  - RIP)

Each time a rough rock is cut, ground and polished is like Christmas morning, opening a new present.

And the machines he uses to grind 

and polish the stones.

As we sat at the table he wrapped a nugget in 3 separate strands of sterling silver wire.

It is rumored that there is trouble at the mine and it is now closed for an indefinite amount of time.  Fortunately Steve has many pounds of the rock but once it is gone, who knows if or when there will be anymore.  

Steve's signature is the little loops at the top of all his pieces. 

He has a fantastic reputation and a following.  Here is a feedback we received from one of the pieces we sold on eBay."GOOORGEOUS turquoise! Exceptional Artist Piece, My 3rd from him Super Quick Ship "   

Why I Blog

Gene, Danna & Jimmy

In Oct. 2008 I Gene and I had the privilege to drive Danna & Jimmy Crawford (powersellingmom.com) from an eBay gathering in Hays, KS to Denver.  

In the 3 1/2 hours we were in the car Danna asked me if I blogged.  I gulped and said no,  not really - thinking what would I write about and who wants to read about me, or my stuff or my life?

Boy was I wrong.  

A blog can be many things and for me it is to promote our eBay listings by using keywords to get folks to the blog and then hopefully they will be curious enough to click on our logo that will take them to our listings. 

Griff and me

While we were in Kansas we met some very amazing eBayers, including Griff.  He did a review of one of my listings as a workshop to a room full of people.  

Griff recommended that we use a mannequin to display our ladies scarves.  That mannequin has become our logo and hopefully our brand. 

Picking a subject that is keyword rich is the secret I use to be visible on the 1st page of a Google, Yahoo or Bing search. 

A restaurant that was on the Food Network - Diners, Drive-In and Dives that we ate at in Chicago

 One easy way to get started is to do reviews of businesses in a community or city that will bring locals to the blog looking for a review of that business. 

Guest interview on eBay Radio with Griff & Lee 12/7/10 

Please email me at HerbsCraftsGifts@aol.com with a link to your blog so I can become a follower. 

One tool to help promote your blog is EntreCard. I will be demonstrating EntreCard in a Webinar, for the members of
Virtual Online Learning, on Jan. 13, 2011.  Membership goes up on 1/1/11 so join now and save $50.00.

Join my new Yahoo group / message board, I just created for new and experienced bloggers.  Blogging 101 and Beyond

Try it- blogging can be alot of fun and you can meet alot of new, interesting people along the journey.