Patti Polk came to Arizona in January 1994, originally from Los Angeles, CA., and lived in Tucson for a year before moving up north to the Verde Valley where she currently resides.
Patti left a lucrative career as an artist in the entertainment business to live a more serene life in her beloved state of Arizona. The natural beauty of the region, and the numerous agate collecting opportunities within Arizona is an ongoing inspiration for the various outlets of her artistic expression, and, after many years of showing her multi-media art pieces in fine art galleries, Patti now pursues her love of agates and jewelry making with a new line of handmade, original jewelry that can be found both online on her website, and in fine galleries throughout the Southwest. When visiting Sedona, be sure to see some of Patti's fine Silver and Agate jewelry in person, at the Verdigris Gallery at Tlaquepauqe Arts & Crafts Village on Hwy179, the James Ratliff Gallery in the Hozho Plaza, and the Sedona Arts Center in uptown Sedona.

Patti is an avid agate collector, and she cuts and polishes her agates for jewelry and display specimens, almost all of which she has pesonally hand-collected from her many adventures over the years out in the field.

The article "She Paints Rocks", written by Patti about her series of rock paintings, was published in Rock & Gem Magazine, September 2000. Patti is also a professional website designer and is the webmaster for a number of Arizona gem and mineral club websites.

Patti's latest endeavor has been the opportunity to author a book on collecting rocks and minerals, and her new book on rock, gem, and mineral collecting is now available for purchase!

Collecting Rocks, Gems, & Minerals - Identification, Values, Lapidary Uses
by Patti Polk

Softcover, 272 pages, first edition, 2010, Krause Publications
Price: $17.99

Designed with beginners in mind, yet filled with valuable technical information for advanced collectors, Collecting Rocks, Gems, and Minerals takes you from being just someone who appreciates rocks to a true "collector".

• Easy-to-use, quick reference format arranged by category and color of stone
• Provides retail values and helpful tips for locating, collecting, buying and selling
• Contains more than 650 full-color color photos
• Includes organics such as amber, bone, coral, pearl, and shell
• Covers common rocks and minerals that novices can find in the field (and the countries, states and regions where they occur) as well as precious and semiprecious materials

To order your own personally autographed copy, visit Patti's website: AGATEGRRRL. Be sure to enter your Arizona zip code at the Paypal checkout for local pickup without shipping costs. Delivery of books will be within 1- 2 weeks from 4/4/2010.

Besides the book, Patti has many other fun surprises on her website: AGATEGRRRL
Be sure to check it out!