"I'm basically stone-mad, " she said, adding that she'd like to create more furniture and decorative objects with semiprecious gems.

WSJ: 20 Odd Questions for Marie-H��l��ne de Taillac

The gems are olivine--a mineral class that includes semiprecious peridot--and can range in color from deep green to bright yellow.

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She uses a rainbow of precious and semiprecious stones, cutting the latter into droplet-like briolettes (a cut traditionally reserved for diamonds) to intensify their sparkle.

WSJ: 20 Odd Questions for Marie-H��l��ne de Taillac