The 3 significant persons in my short mosaic career who jump-started my interest in using natural stones and minerals were Jennifer Tipton, Christina Ayer and Giorgio Dolfini.
Jen, who in my mind is one of the most incredible modern mosaic artists today, sent me a bag of crystals knowing how I had always admired her creations. My good friend Christina, presented me on my birthday with a huge box of marble rods (this technique is called BAIT) to go along with the Hammer & Hardie that my husband had bought for me. Once on a visit to Giorgio's, (my local marble guy) yard, I noticed a mountain of leftover marble and granite offcuts and scraps, and when I asked him about it, he told me that he paid people to cart the stuff away and that I could help myself.
I did and I have never turned back, my passion for using stone and minerals in my mosaics continues to grow.