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Laurie's Gemstone Butterfly
Laurie's Gemstone Butterfly
Dispatched within 1–2 days
90-day return policy
Insured & free shipping with tracking
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Laurie's Gemstone Butterfly
Two Wings, Cut by Hand
From One Slab of Stone
Laurie Dunstan, 73, dug his first crystal out of a creek bank at fifteen. For forty-one years he cut stone at his bench in Herberton, and his late wife, Raelene, wrote down every slab. These butterflies are the last of it. Both wings of each one come from the same slab, so the pattern runs from one wing into the other and exists only once.
“Laurie cut me a butterfly for our twenty-fifth. I put it on the sill above the sink, and every morning the sun came through the stone. A butterfly doesn’t stay the way it was. That’s the whole point of it. Neither do we.”
Raelene Dunstan · HerbertonA Small Symbol of Starting Over
For centuries, people have given butterflies to mark a turning point. In ancient Greek, the same word, psyche, meant both “soul” and “butterfly.”
Change
A caterpillar becomes something entirely new. Nothing about it stays the same.
New Beginnings
A new home, a new chapter, a first year without someone. The butterfly says: you can begin again.
Hope
Light, quiet and free. A reminder on the windowsill that hard seasons pass.
Raelene loved the electric-blue Ulysses butterflies. Every wet season, when they drifted through the gardens of the Tablelands, she planted pink euodia and native lilly pillies to give them somewhere to rest. “A butterfly means something is starting over,” she used to say. That is why every pair Laurie cut became a butterfly.
Ready for the Windowsill
Stone Wings
Two natural stone wings, cut from one slab.
Silver Stand
Slim steel butterfly body on a round 5.5 cm base.
Padded Box
Packed by hand, safe and ready to give.
90-Day Returns
Not right for you? Full refund within 90 days.
What a Gift-Shop Butterfly Doesn’t Have
One Slab, One Pair
Both wings are traced side by side on a single slab and cut together, so the bands run from one wing into the other. No second pair like it exists.
Cool, Heavy, Real
Natural stone is cool to the touch and heavier than it looks. Hold it next to a resin ornament and you feel the difference at once.
Never Dyed, Never Backed
No dye, no resin backing, no plastic. The colour is the colour the stone grew with.
Made for the Window
On lighter stones the morning sun shines through the thin edges. On tiger’s eye the bands move as you walk past.
Veins Carved by Hand
Every wing carries carved vein lines that catch the light. You can feel them with a fingertip.
Small Enough for Anywhere
About 10 to 13 cm wide on a 5.5 cm base. Fits a windowsill, desk, shelf or bedside table.
Eight Stones, Eight Meanings
Raelene always told people what each stone had traditionally stood for. Choose the one that fits the person, or the moment.
Meanings are old lapidary lore, shared the way Raelene shared them. A reminder, not a promise. Every stone is natural, so the pattern on yours will differ from the photos.
“Three things have to be true at the same time: the stone is cool and stays cool in your hand, it is heavier than resin of the same size, and the pattern runs through the whole thickness of the slab. A fake can imitate any one of them. Nobody has ever produced all three.”
Dr Merran Toohey · Retired geology lecturer, 31 years, James Cook University, Townsville
90-Day Money-Back Guarantee
If your butterfly isn’t what you hoped for when it arrives, send it back within 90 days for a full refund. No questions, no hassle. Dispatched within 1–2 business days, packed by hand.
Specifications
| What It Is | A natural stone butterfly on a silver steel display stand |
| Wings | Two wings cut and polished by hand from one slab, with carved veins |
| Stones | Amethyst · Rose Opal · Sodalite · Tiger’s Eye · Agate · Red Gum Flower · Apatite · Yellow Calcite |
| Size | About 10–13 cm wide, 10–12 cm tall |
| Base | Round steel disc, 5.5 cm across |
| Included | 1 butterfly on its stand, padded box |
| Care | Dust with a soft dry cloth. Stone can chip if dropped. Years of strong midday sun can pale amethyst and rose opal, so morning or evening light is ideal. |
| Cut by | Laurie Dunstan, stone cutter since 1985, Herberton, Queensland |
| Final Run | 240 butterflies. No restock, no second run. |
| Shipping | Dispatched within 1–2 business days |
| Guarantee | 90-day full refund |
The Final Sale
The Final Sale
Message from the Artist:
After years of making things by hand, our workshop is closing. These are the last pieces we'll ever ship. Every item on this page was made slowly, carefully, and with more love than any factory could replicate. Nothing rushed. Nothing outsourced. Just real craft from real hands.
We're proud of every single one. We hope they find good homes.
When they're gone, they're gone — and so are we.
Shipping with Australia Post
Shipping with Australia Post
Free shipping Australia-wide
- Delivery time: 7–14 business days
- Insured: Every parcel is fully insured
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here's how to reach us.
Got a question? Here's how to reach us.
My son Brett and I personally respond to every single email — as fast as we possibly can. Whether you have a question about your order or just want to talk stone, we're here.
You can reach us:
- Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (AEST)
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (AEST)
Email: info@backroad-goods.com
Can I return my order if I don't like it?
Can I return my order if I don't like it?
Of course. We stand behind everything on Backroad Goods 100%. If you're not happy, neither are we. Just shoot us an email within 90 days and we'll make it right — no hassle, no headaches.
How are your products made?
How are your products made?
Every single product on Backroad Goods is 100% handmade — crafted by hand, using only premium quality materials. We're proud to carry on a tradition of craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.