Village Squire, 1980-08, Page 25should never be subjected to freezing
temperatures. The warmth of your hand
will protect it on the most bitter day, but
don't leave your ring in the glove
compartment of your car in the middle of a
January cold snap, or the trapped water,
source of the opal's unique "fire", will
expand and destroy the stone. Don't put
either a turquoise or an opal in dishwater,
grease, oil or detergent.
WHOLESALE BUSINESS
Most of Mr. Chapman's business is
wholesale, to people who have their own
shops, those who travel around to the
market days at Kitchener -Waterloo and
Stouffville, and craft shows and flea
markets. One of the Chapman's Goderich
friends brought home a pendant as a
souvenir of a Hawaiian holiday. Both stone
and setting had come from the little shop in
her own home town.
In the shop many pins, pendants,
earrings, belt buckles and rings are on
display. Or you can pick out your own stone
and setting from the hundreds in stock.
During his travels within Canada and in
every state except Alaska and Hawaii, Les
Chapman has picked up many chunks of
gemstone in uncut condition. These speci-
mens, a mini mineral museum, are set out
in two large lighted showcases in the shop.
Here you can view the infinite variety of
stones - amethyst, opal, rhondonite, tour-
maline, crystal quartz, moss agate, citrine,
rhodochrosite, and many others - produced
by a bountiful earth in symmetrical crystal
shapes and brilliant, glowing colours. One
prominently displayed specimen is a large
piece of hickoryite in which eons of time
have etched a realistic sketch of an upright
dinosaur.
When asked how she felt about her
husband's business, Mrs. Chapman re-
plied that "it rubs off on you, and makes
you very critical in jewellery stores. I can
pick out genuine and good quality stones
now." And she gets first choice on
everything her husband collects.
"She's a high -grader", her husband
laughed;'someone who picks out the very
best and leaves the rest."
Les Chapman has never lost his enthus-
iasm and excitement for rocks. "You can
never tell what colour you'll get with an
agate until you cut it", he said. "When you
look at a rough stone and what it becomes,
it shakes people up to see what comes out
of the ground."
Now that the lapidary hobby has become
a business, Mr. Chapman's new hobby is
growing hybrid tea roses; over one
hundred plants are now blooming pro-
fusely on his front lawn.
Roses and rocks. Both producing love-
liness from the earth. And stimulating and
satisfying one man's desire to release and
reveal some of nature's treasures.
SLTHE p?,
Seaforth's l
Newest
Gift Shop
FEATURING: Wicker, bamboo, rattan, Kitchen
items; bathroom soap, bath beads & oil; china &
novelities.
HANDMADE ITEMS: Slippers, afghans, dolls,
baby sets, cushions, dresses etc.
WE OFFER THE NEW AND UNUSUAL
Across from
Town Hall
Seaforth
Open daily 9-5:30
Phone: 527-1773
8111 i Nancy
Martin
cL11 e
vnale
House
caQQs
so it's easy to make
your home look like you've
had it finished by an interior decorator
What does a Schaefer's House CaII mean?
It means an easy and reassuring way for you to order your custom-made
draperies. Just call 524-8437 for shop -in-home appointment.
What can we do for you?
We help you make the right decisions. It's simply delightful. No trudging all
over town. No confusion. No doubt. Right In your own home, you look at custom
fabric samples galore, you discuss your decorating plans, your tastes.
You get accurate estimates, free advice at no obligation what -so -ever.
SCHAEFER'S INTERIORS
524-8437 GODERICH, ONTARIO
VILLAGE SQUIRE/AUGUST 1980 PG. 23