Are rock hounds born or made? In the case of Gayle St. Martin, it's hard to say. She was raised in her parents' rock shop, which moved from the garage and rumpus room of their home in San Francisco's Sunset District to a storefront on Judah Street before migrating up to Petaluma eighteen years ago. As kids, Gayle and her two siblings often accompanied their parents on rock hunting expeditions, took college courses on gems and minerals, and routinely stopped off at the beach to search for stones on their way home from school. All three children went on to make rocks their trade, but Gayle's interests were certainly nurtured in her formative years. What lives among the rocks has always been just as fascinating for Gayle as the stones themselves. As a result, she continues to pursue her interests in herbs as well as in the breeding of lizards. Her skill as a jewelry maker has earned her the name, Merlin, the Magician. She is always happy to pass along tips to others, often insisting that her customers bring back their finished products "for inspection". Fossils, shells, gemstones, jewelry, and the materials to make them are only some of the many items you will find in the glass-fronted building . Across from the Carnegie Library on the corner of 4th and B Streets, the Lapidary Center has been in existance for thirty-eight years. "If you don't see it," she says, "ask. If I don't carry it, I can get it or tell you where you can find it." The only thing she asks in return is that you tell a friend about the shop.