Rock star: Woman starts jewelry business with her late grandfather’s unique rock collection

Written by Jessi Bang
January 21, 2023

ST. GEORGE — One woman is leaving no stone unturned with a hand-crafted jewelry line made from her late grandfather’s extensive rock collection. 

Lindsay Mack, owner of Dazed and Topazed, stands in her home jewelry studio in St. George, Utah, Jan. 15, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Lindsay Mack, owner of Dazed and Topazed, stands in her home jewelry studio in St. George, Utah, Jan. 15, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

“I kind of just let the jewelry make itself,” Lindsay Mack, owner of Dazed and Topazed, said. “I choose out stones, and then it’s like, this wants to be a necklace, and so on. But I really just love making them all.”

Mack’s grandfather was an avid rock collector his entire life. His career with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) meant he was constantly in the desert finding one unique rock after another, stacking up a collection.

Growing up, she constantly rock-hounded and “played in the dirt” with her grandfather. While he was artistic in other ways, such as creating intricate arrowhead pieces, she said he never tapped into jewelry making.

“I’ve always been crafty and tried to make things out of something,” Mack said. “Craftiness runs in my family. But with the jewelry, it was creepy. It was just so easy and natural.”

A photo collage of Mack's late grandfather sits framed on a desk inside the Dazed and Topazed jewelry studio, St. George, Utah, Jan. 15, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
A photo collage of Mack’s late grandfather sits framed on a desk inside the Dazed and Topazed jewelry studio, St. George, Utah, Jan. 15, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

When her grandfather passed away in 2020, she and her family inherited his full rock collection, which included a significant amount of topaz he personally mined himself. 

In January 20201, Mack decided to make her first piece of topaz and wire wrapping jewelry while working full-time as an aesthetician.

At the same time, one of her family members coincidently retired from the jewelry industry, gifting her many tools and starter pieces with which to work. Not knowing exactly what she was doing, Mack said she jumped in, gaining knowledge from YouTube videos and learning from trial and error.

“Whenever I wasn’t at work, I’d be at home playing with rocks and jewelry and trying to balance them both,” Mack said.

Custom turquoise rings by Dazed and Topazed are shown, St. George, Utah, Jan. 15, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News
Custom turquoise rings by Dazed and Topazed are shown, St. George, Utah, Jan. 15, 2023 | Photo by Jessi Bang, St. George News

When an artisan friend suggested she begin selling her work at the downtown Modern Farm and Artisan Co-Op, she decided to take the leap.

Dazed and Topaz took off, and Mack made her jewelry business a full-time venture.

Current pieces by Dazed and Topazed include a significant amount of her grandfather’s rock collection, along with rocks she finds herself. She also buys specific rocks online, such as her current collection of turquoise.

This year, Mack said she plans to focus on creating, attending more markets and distributing her jewelry from more local shops. On Feb. 11, Dazed and Topazed will hold a Valentine’s Day pop-up at Butterfly Effect Studio. Click here for event details.

To browse available jewelry from Dazed and Topazed, visit their website or follow them on Instagram and Facebook. See a variety of in-stock jewelry at the downtown Modern Farm and Artisan Co-op at 55 N. Main Street in St. George. Commissions for custom pieces such as engagement rings are also available.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2023, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jessi Bang was born and raised in Utah and has a passion for nature and the great outdoors. She graduated from Kaplan University in California with a degree in criminal justice. She has extensive experience in marketing, content creation, photography and copywriting. You can find her showcasing outdoor adventures through her blog, “The Rambling Raccoon.” In her free time, she enjoys climbing mountains, trail running, working out and cuddling her two lovable pups.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

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