Since her childhood, Ruby Lindsey has always liked rocks.

When she lived in Texas years ago and a nearby creek would wash out, she would go to the creek bed and search for stones there.

A self-described “stone addict,” she still has some of those stones, though most of them are now in her front yard, and an occasional passerby will sneak one away.

“I don’t know exactly why I liked them so much,” Lindsey said. “One thing fascinates one person, and another thing fascinates someone else.”

But that inclination to pick up odd stones here and there ended up becoming more of a passion in recent years.

Approximately three years ago, Lindsey had a surgery that more or less immobilized her for several months.

“One day I was watching television, and this lady was making this neat jewelry,” Lindsey said. “I knew that was something I could do. I am a nurse by trade, and I was used to moving around from one place to another very quickly, and being still for so long was about to drive me crazy.”

So Lindsey started making stone jewelry, a hobby that soon grew to fill a workshop in the back of her house and that now takes her to craft shows around the region. She has even gone to a school to learn how to work silver into beads.

“Whenever I want to start a new necklace, I sit down and start thinking,” she said. “Sometimes I make the same necklace five times because no one wants to wear a necklace that doesn’t hang right, that doesn’t dance with you.”

The stone addiction has even expanded into a crafts business, Uniquely Yours by Ruby, a craft business that focuses on standard and religious jewelry.

When discussing the merits of her jewelry, Lindsey likes to tell people that stones are timeless.

“It will last forever, and it will never go out of style,” she said.

Because of that, Lindsey said she tries to avoid following trends and fads.

“If I’m making something to sell or if I am just making it, I always use a good stone that will last and you can pass on to your children and grandchildren,” she said.

And just like the different stones she uses are unique, so are all of her creations.

“I never make the same thing twice,” Lindsey said, laughing. “Not that I could.”