Today we’d like to introduce you to Kim Villines.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My dad originally started the Earthlight shop in Kirkland back in 1988, I worked the shop with my dad part time in 1989 and at rock shows with him since the very beginning in 88. Separately I was making Jewelry out of stone beads and other crafty things and doing art and markets on my own throughout the years while working full time at various 9-5 jobs. We would meet up and do rock shows together with the Jewelry I was also making, I learned a lot about stones and crystals along with . We went on outings together and enjoyed learning about new things being discovered. In 2009 my dad passed away tragically and I took over the shop. At the time it was very hard. I actually had just lost my mom, my aunt and then my dad in approx. 1 month time all in the same year. I also had just been laid off due to backlash of the 2008 recession.
The shop was in the red due to down times and low on inventory. I was not about to lose dad twice since I felt dad all through the shop. His energy was infused in every stone he had chosen. So I spent the next 8 months working for free, pulled my savings, retirement and anything I could to invest back into the shop to revitalize it and keep it going. Since then we have built up the inventory, done loads of shows, traveled and done lots of rock hounding along the way. For example we went to Arizona & Australia rockhounding last summer as well as New York and Eastern Washington the year before. Of course we do local Washington and Oregon trips all the time which is so much fun. We have also acquired a lot of old rock collections/estates which can bring in some cool older rocks/gems back into circulation that have not been around for a while. In 2019 we opened a second shop in Snoqualmie which is 3 times the size of our Kirkland shop. Of course this was three months before the Covid shutdown so that was a bumpy start. I also have an Etsy site I started in 2010 and we have been doing live shows online since 2017. We added classes to our Snoqualmie shop a few years ago and that is a great addition to bring in new customers and have a fun event to do together.
I love working with the stones, all the people and still make Jewelry and other crafty things in between it all.
One of my favorite things to do is to spend an evening or day cutting or polishing stones, bringing out natures beauty makes it all worthwhile. I wouldn’t have it any other way, I am proud to continue on with my dad’s legacy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
After my dad passed I had to go thru 5 years of paperwork and an audit, so I would know all the contacts he had built all over the world, then spent the next few years building those relationships up and adding to that. In addition finding staff that stays and is knowledgeable is always a task. Things have changed over the years as they do. Now with social media I have to stay on top of that with posting frequently in all the different ways to be seen. Every day seems to bring new challenges but I somehow manage to work thru them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I love to cut and polish stones, both my husband and I share that passion. In addition I have been making Jewelry for approx. 40 years along with doing many other crafty and art inspired things. I have painted, crocheted, embroidered, done cross stitch and other types of sewing along with all kinds of beading projects from trees to critters, etc. I have always been very creative I have been coming up with new classes and teaching all kinds of fun creative things to others. Sharing my passion with others and sharing all of the hand selected stones I have picked over the years with all kinds of people makes it so much fun. I also belong to the EastKingCo Rock club and I am on the board, I am an active member and have done many presentations for the club on various rock related topics including doing presentations for kids and schools. This keeps me very busy but I like it that way.
How do you think about happiness?
Mother Nature makes me happy. I love seeing and talking to people and helping them find the perfect stones, mineral specimen, fossils, beads, or jewelry. I love to see their face light up when I find just that perfect thing for them or for a gift. I also love rock hounding. My husband will dig me a hole, I will get in it and dig and have a blast finding all kinds of goodies. I am happy when I make others happy, I love sharing stories, gems, stones, crafts etc. I also have two sweet dogs that I got from my amazing husband, I am lucky that I get to bring them to work with me. Speaking of my husband I really owe all of my happiness to him, he makes me happy with all that he does to help support me, whether it is physically, mentally or emotionally he is my rock. I would not be able to do all that I do without someone to be there for me. My first marriage was not that way; 22 years of an abusive husband. Second time is a charm and I have found my gem in him.
When we are not working together, rock hounding together, polishing or cutting together, we like to play games together. All of these things make me very happy.
Pricing:
- on average Tumbled stones $1 – $5
- Break-your-own Geodes $6 – $12
- Lortone Tumblers $139 – $334; grit kits also available
- Precious stones $3 and up
- Don’t forget the famous $1 box!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://earthlightgems.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthlightrocks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1935535373380197
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGgrfEIaRSFx8tsrQ0pCiBg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@earthlightrocks?lang=en
