Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Nidek-eberle
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My love of rocks goes back to me collecting as a little girl.
My dad is my best friend, and because of him, I’m the creative that I am. He saw that I didn’t fit in the box, wasn’t your typical “girl” or a “tomboy,” and encouraged my weirdness. I was raised from humble beginnings, so we often found entertainment and joy in nature. Collecting rocks and shells was one of my favorite things to do. My dad still has a box of my 1993 Camp Storer rocks and several boxes of Lake Erie shells.
So, of course, “when I grew up,” I wanted to live by the ocean. A dream of mine was to Scuba Dive and I got certified in 1996.
A career choice as a science teacher/adjunct professor in Florida came naturally. Diving for Megalodon Teeth, surfing, and jet skiing were my favorite hobbies. I spent close to a decade in Florida Education. I have my Masters Degree in Education and loved it,
During my 18 year time in FL, I purchased my first Jeep “Bessy”. Solar Yellow 2000 Wrangler sport TJ 5 speed. My Dad had a 1997 Firecracker red Wrangler sport TJ 5 speed. My grandfather and father both worked for Jeep.
Moving back to Ohio came naturally after my 2nd daughter was born. We relocated in 2014 and had a son 2 years later. I took that time to embrace motherhood.
We started camping up in Leland where the Leland Blue stones are found. Once I found my first blue in 2015 I was hooked! I became engulfed in studying the shorelines of Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Huron, finding and identifying rocks. I browsed the rock shops in Traverse City, MI, and knew I wanted to learn Lapidary. I spent a year learning the trade and then purchased my own Cab King, which has six polishing wheels.
That purchase represented a goal. My dream became my reality in my 40s, and I’m so grateful for it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have had to learn many lessons that I’m grateful for. The lesson I learned in 2024 is to protect my business. I learned to protect myself because people can pray on my good ideas, creativity and kindness. Nothing quite prepares you as an artist to see your work imitated by someone else.
I’ve learned that there is so much more that I’m capable of and look forward to branching out in 2025
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What sets me apart is that
I have three focuses: rock-hounding, repurposing, and education.
I’m fascinated by geology and being grounded in nature so often times I’m drawn to specific stones.
Many of them have amazing healing properties. I have spent COUNTLESS hours trekking in all weather conditions to find each stone. My favorite is hunting at night for NEOlites (glowing Lake Erie Fluorescent Sodalite).
I learned about this through LEFMH and had to experience the glow myself!
There are roughly 15 different glowing rock matrixes along the Northeast Ohio shores of Lake Erie. Scapolite stones are my personal favorite because they glow yellow! However, some are black in color and harder on the Mohs scale than the light, almost clear quartz-looking ones.
Being ADHD, rock collecting is perfect because EVERY rock is different!
I then take them home, cut and polish each one, pouring my joy into them, creating beautiful pieces of Jewelry. The first
Something I’m very proud of is that each piece is one of a kind.
The addition of repurposed materials came from my love of Jeeps.
When I first saw Fordite I was determined to find Jeep Fordite. “Jeepite”. This is layers of paint overspray buildup in the factory where the Jeeps are painted. Once I got my hands on some in 2019 I haven’t looked back. Jeepite is so fun to work with because I can match someone’s Jeep color.
I enjoy going to the Toledo Jeepfest every year with “Bessy” next to my booth.
Another medium I use is Cadillac Ranch Fordite, a chunk of graffiti overspray from the Cadillacs buried along Route 66 in Amarillo, TX. It has been a spray painting tourist attraction since the 1970s. Rather than getting thrown away, those chunks turn into psychedelic black-light glowing pieces of art.
Education has always been a part of me, so I have been teaching a lot about rocks and going on rock hunts.
I also recently started Weekly YouTube/Facebook “Rocktology” Live, where different rocks are discussed in live video.
In May, we will have an LLS Hunt For the Cure glowhunt, where we will seed the beach with glowing rocks. Participants get a specialized light, backpack, and guaranteed rocks. Proceeds from this will be donated to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. I’m on Radek Dockal’s Visionary of the Year team. We both lost our grandmothers to Leukemia, so when I was approached to help with a cause, I said yes!
Come “Experience The Glow” and Hunt For A Cure in May.
My part-time daytime job is subbing with autistic children. I’ve worked with a class for two years and love my special friends. The glow stones and sea glass enchant them. Once an educator, always an educator.
I hope to inspire the younger generation of rock hounds to be proud of it! Rocks and Science are cool.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I’ve been a book collector for decades. If I have a question I refer back to rock identification books.
I plan on releasing a Lake Erie Rock collecting guide later this year.
I also host Rocktology Live on Thursday nights at 8:30pm Facebook and YouTube. Each week we dive into a rock and discuss it.
Pricing:
- 20
- 80
- 45
- 60
- 35
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.medusas-stones.com
- Instagram: MedusasStoness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedusasStones
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@medusasstonesllc?feature=shared
