It all started with a friendship between a rock collector and silversmith.
Heather Rieder's grandfather loved uncovering Oregon stones, a passion she shared as a 9-year-old growing up in the Boring area. Rieder would scour her backyard finding stones she would send through a tumbler to polish and smooth. She was drawn to the brilliant colors and intricate patterns.
She built up quite the collection, storing them in a box she kept with her through the years.
Rieder eventually would marry the son of the silversmith — Alan Stockam — a pairing that would prove to be a match made in jewelry-making heaven. About 7 years ago, the couple brought out Rieder's box of rocks, and decided to see what was inside.