By: Jillian A. Mills
What do you do when you’re a cotton farmer on the Mississippi Delta who’s tired of the hurricanes? Well, you rock out, of course! Or, at least, this was the solution for Lori Coleman, owner of Spanish Stirrup Rock Shop in Alto, New Mexico. What started out as a fun hobby with her kids, grew to putting polished rocks in stores for sale. From there, Lori opened a little rock shop of her own in Deming, New Mexico. Who would have imagined this would grow to two locations in the state that sell upwards of 8,000 pounds or rock per month?
Like so many moms, Lori is a master task juggler. Little did she realize how handy (and critical) this quality would be as she took the very uncertain path to reinventing herself while creating a new business in a new state. Lori knew that she wanted some sort of self-employment so that she could have ample time with her kids. But, could her love of rocks – from the time she was a young girl admiring pretty stones in Mississippi – really turn into a business? With drive and determination mixed in with some blood, sweat and tears, you bet it could…and, in fact, it has! Lori has created, not only a highly successful business, but one she excels at and absolutely adores.
So, what exactly has Lori developed that puts that sparkle in her eyes? With Mother Earth as her partner, a lot! Some of the most beautiful and unique rocks are found in the state of New Mexico, so Lori began by laying claim to several mines. Now, she and her husband Bruce spend two months out of each year mining. The couple labor side-by-side whether in the mines or in their Alto, New Mexico location, where they process their finds. Washing, cutting and polishing are just a fraction of what goes into bringing these rocks up to their full potential. But, it’s truly a labor of love for Lori and Bruce, who couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
Today, the Spanish Stirrup Rock Shop is the largest manufacturer of lapidary rock in North America. And, they serve customers on every level, from the Etsy shopper buying a custom piece of jewelry to private collectors the world over vying for their exquisite thundereggs. Whether you’re looking for a beautiful sphere, a charcuterie board that maintains its chill or a one-of-a-kind piece of art, they have you covered. In fact, everything they produce is simply so breathtaking, it’s sure to become an instant conversation piece.
And, if all of this weren’t enough, they offer fun, interactive and educational activities for kids! What kid doesn’t like to whack open a geode or watch calcite light up with amazing colors under a black light? You may just find you have a budding geologist in your midst. Beyond that, if you’ve found yourself really wanting to rock out, they offer opportunities to actually go mine with them. If you think your stone is a conversation piece now, wait till you tell folks you mined it yourself!
With their wildly popular social media presence and Etsy store, you’ve simply got to check them out. Or, even better, schedule a trip the Ruidoso/Alto area and go visit them in person. It will be an experience you’ll absolutely love and you’re certain to find a fabulous treasure to call your own.
