Fletchers share appreciation for rocks, jewelry and art

Liz and Dave Fletcher create treasures from the ground up, transforming rocks into art. The Fletchers are stonecutters, jewelry makers and art appreciators.

The rough stones come from all over the world, including Africa and South America. From agates to emeralds and rubies, the rocks are ground, sanded and polished. The rough stones get their slick and shiny surface via a final polishing, which uses a fine diamond grit. The finished product is a work of art.

Liz Fletcher learned her love of rocks from her father, Irv Pils, who began teaching her gem cutting and jewelry making when she was 13. When she was 18, they opened their first store together, which went on to become Irv’s Jewelry and Rocks on Trent Avenue.

Dave Fletcher walked into Irv’s in the late 1980s and his interest in rocks was sparked. A few years later, Dave met Liz on a blind date, and one year later they were married.

Liz Fletcher taught Dave to cut his first stone, which he gave to Pils. Not long after, Dave Fletcher sold his first stone, and it became his calling.

Five years ago and shortly before Pils died, the Fletchers took over the business full time. They have left much of it the same but have added things like gift items and an art gallery.

The gallery is another extension of their creativity. While their art of choice is gem faceting and jewelry making, they deeply appreciate other media.

Currently, the gallery is scattered throughout the shop with much of the work being shown in the coffee shop area. Called Java Rocks, the shop seats a handful of patrons who can enjoy coffee while gazing at stones and original art. The artists showing are area painters Sheila Peters (Liz Fletcher’s sister), Mel McCudden, Gregg Perrenoud and Gary Vowels.

The gallery is in its beginning stages. Eventually the store will expand and have individual art shows with receptions. For now, the Fletchers are happy to be surrounded by artwork. Many artists have used the Fletchers’ cut stones in their work, incorporating them into stained glass or sculptures.

“The arts in general bring pleasure to so many people,” Liz Fletcher said, “in whatever medium, creating something is a satisfying way to express yourself.” She finds faceting therapeutic, a quiet and focused time for introspection.

Dave Fletcher finds it just as rewarding. Besides cutting stones and designing jewelry, he encourages and inspires other potential faceters and jewelry makers.

One customer, retired ironworker Ted Meese, quickly took to the craft.

“The day I walked in here changed my life,” he said. In a short time, he has created beautiful silver and turquoise pieces. He gave one, a pendant of an Indian design with a large piece of turquoise in the center, to Dave Fletcher as a gift of appreciation.

Be it a rough rock or a budding artist, the Fletchers find the beauty hidden within and help bring it into the world.