Monthly Archives: February 2017

Bonus Blog from Tucson-Down on the Strip

We decided to take in the African Art Show at south end of the strip. We haven’t been there, but people have mentioned to us that it is a good show to see. African art abounds, but there was one person selling African prehnite for sale, but no other rock. Since we already had our parking spot we walked across to the Mineral shows before they closed.

Tubs of jewels

Looking for Star Rutiles’

I think I found one.

Bonnie met a friendly Mexican man selling Brazilian gemstones. After standing in the shade talking, I came outside and they were talking like old friends. They had some fine rutilated quartz by the tub or kilo, and he said I could look through for some star rutile. He even helped and I bought 1/2 kilo which I hope will be great for future jewelry making. He also had tubs of other gemstones.

Amethyst wit Calcite Crystal.

My personal show favorite.

In a parking lot in front a tent with amethyst cathedrals and Uruguay specimens. I have looked at thousands of amthyst cathedrals at the shows, and even though it was not a large impressive monuments that are scattered about, I found my favorite specimen in this tent. He also had lovely amethyst with calcite pieces.

STOP WATCHING ME!

I purchased a hard-to-describe amethyst stalactite with an eyeball that seemed to be calling me and would not let me out of its powerful grasp until I bought it.

El Paso Rock Shop

Somehow all during this show we missed the El Paso rock shop, one of the largest sellers of rough material. Way in the back of the show, it has a couple large tents, and what looks like an acre of 50 gallon drums overflowing with jaspers, fossils, shell. They also have cabochons and carved skulls. Warning: dirty and chaotic, but exciting for the lapidary guy or gal. Dodge the forklifts and pallets. Good clothes not required.

This seemed a little overkill to guard a few vases.

It became a hot day, but we got our “rock-fix” done early as un-winter-like weather was in the mid 80’s. Happy to retreat to my air conditioning!

Tucson Gem & Mineral Show=Rock & Mineral Overload

Long lines awaiting for the show to open. It was fun chatting with people from around the world.

The show floor

The Main Show is open with about 250 vendors.

The Tucson Gem and Mineral show kicked off Thursday morning and we were one of the first ones in the door. Hosted by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society, it is the oldest and most prestigious rock show. The show fills the Tucson Convention Center with 250 retail vendors. The theme is Mineral Treasures of the Midwest. Since we live in the Midwest, we were anticipating the displays from our area.

Wooly Rhino

When we first got to the convention center a wooly mammoth and her calf were on display in the lobby. Not the usual skeleton, but a fur-covered mammoth. Also a wooly rhino welcomed us. They looked very real and are certainly an eye-catching welcome to the show!

Mammoth Family

Eager visitors lined up ½ hour before the show started. We were surprised to see a friend of ours from Maryland. People come from everywhere to attend this show.

Oriental Mine Gold, Sierra County CA

Himalayan Rutilated Quartz

Fluorescent Minerals

Sugarcane Emerald

The displays at this show are from museums, universities, and private collectors. It is delightful to see how each interpreted the theme of the show.

The Seaman Mineral Museum, Michigan’s official state mineral museum, had a large display featuring copper, iron, calcite and other Michigan stuff. Nearby were two impressive displays by Donald K Olson. He was closing up one of the cases and we began to discuss the Centennial Datolite in his case, because Bonnie was wearing jewelry of the same. He had some of the most unusual copper crystal formations. We talked for a while and he also proudly showed us another case he brought, of red quartz crystals from the iron range of Minnesota.

I took lots of pictures of the cases. Some of the museums had sent some of their favorite pieces, even if they had nothing to do with the Midwest. There was the Northwest, and the Midwest Arizona, and so forth. Collector’s Edge had beryl, tourmaline, gold crystals, Rhodochrosite from the Sweet Home Mine, and every mineral specimen that you can imagine.

The local University of Arizona had beautiful malachite, chrysocolla, turquoise, copper, many fine specimens from their collections.

Bisbee Malachite

Bisbee

Copper Queen Mine-Bisbee AZ

Dioptase-Nambia

Pallasites from various locals

Malachite from the Copper Queen Mine, meteorites from many locations, Dioptase, Rhodochrosite, Calcite crystals were represented.

A dinosaur named Baby Bob was the center of attention in the second room.

Frederick C Wilda had a nice display of minerals paired with jewelry made from the minerals, and enhanced by a display setting of fine art paintings.

Tiffany Amethyst Neckless

Tiffany Opal Pendant

Three pieces earned the police guard this year. One of the finest specimens ever is the Alma Rose from the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado. Next to it the Smithsonian Institution supplied the Tiffany Amethyst Necklace. A 56 carat Siberian Amethyst most likely produced by George Kunz who was the chief gemologist at Tiffanys at the time. Lines, leaves and berries surround the deep red/purple amethyst. A wonderful example of Art Nouveau made at the turn of the century.

The other piece from the Smithsonian Institution was a Tiffany Opal Necklace designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany featuring black opals with brilliant green demantoid garnets. The black opals are from Lightning Ridge and the rare Demantoid garnets are from Russia. Made in the early twentieth century this is also an Art Nouveau.

Hallelujah

Hallelujah! Crystals were found in 2006 at Peterson Mountain in Nevada.

A replica of the Russian czarinas diamond was there.

We spent a good part of the day looking, photographing, and talking with all the folks there. As always, this is the highlight of the Tucson shows. As we sort through our treasures, we will continue to show you what we have here in our blog. Please visit our jewelry pages to see what we do with our rocks.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate all your nice comments on Facebook. Be sure to like and share!

Bonnie and Donald K Olson discuss his Red Quartz specimens.

Quartz with Hematite (aka Red Quartz). Minnesota Iron Range

Seaman Mineral Museum Case

Don Olsen Case

Don Olsen Case. Notice the Centennial Datolite in the lower Left.

Canyon Diablo (These are part of the Meteorite that created Meteor Crater)

Next years show theme

Aqua, Morganite, other stuff

Rhodochrosite-Sweet Home

Unique Flourite from Poland

Decanter set looks like Tourmaline but I believe it is glass that looks like Tourmaline.

Sorry I did not label everything, but in most of those if you expand the picture, you can read the tags. I’ve spend several hours sorting through all the pictures I’ve taken at the Main Show. You’re getting only a small taste. How about you come next year?

Another Trip to The Strip at the Tucson Shows

Pretty good Chrysocolla

Globes of Amethyst

A return to the strip as the show comes to an end often produces some bargain treasures. One of the things I wanted from our Koroite Boulder Opal source was a specimen piece of which he had several last time we were there. Upon returning I found he only had one specimen that when you pulled it apart demonstrated the opal seam. Unfortunately the one he had was a very gemmy piece, but since I was a good customer at this year’s show, and in the past, we reached an agreement on price.

Other than the opal, there were some assorted cabs; Oh, I forgot about the drilling machine: NOT!

I need one of these

Now I can make some beads with my new unit. My rock spending seems to be down, but my shop equipment spending is sure up.

The first time through the strip I looked at a Gunther Bead Drilling Machine. Today I brought in some Isle Royale Greenstones and Thomsonite to see if these materials could be drilled without shattering the stones. Both Greenstone and Thomsonite are very sensitive to Harmonic Vibrations and can just explode apart with the vibration. This machine passed the test, so now bead drilling will be one of our services beginning in April.

Jeff shows Bonnie one of his fine agates.I

We visited with my friend Jeff Anderson at his Dwarves Earth Treasures Booth at the Rapa River Show. Most any type of agate can be found there.

Other things we found were Druzy Quartz and Abalone Cabochons, and some other small random things.

Thursday the big Tucson Gem & Mineral Show Opened . We explored the show and took lots of pictures. This has delayed this post, which I apologize for. I will be posting pictures from the TG&MS tomorrow and continue to show you the highlights over the next few days.

A metaphysical spa is always available if needed. I have a friend who is a Reiki Master. I’m not real sure this is what was taking place here, but many people take advantage of whatever was happening here.

Laramar. I found the one special piece I’ve been searching for the entire show. I’ll sho you in a later blog.

Some really fine Ruby in Zoisite

We really had no room for this in the RV, but the guy selling this was interesting. He was willing to cut a deal.

A new archway for my shop? Perhaps……

Bones and Linghams at the Tucson Shows

Sunny mid 70’s

We noticed in the show guide a couple of shows we haven’t visited yet this year. We think of this first show as the Bazaar, because of all the Middle Eastern jewelry, clothing, small metal containers, a dark passageway filled with colorful lights. The main ballroom was filled with bead suppliers, and a smaller central room had ancient pieces with big chunky rough beads. There was lots of jade beads of various types and things an archeologist would love to find.

Speaking of dangers, an American with mixed heritage regularly goes to Pakistan. He said everything is done in cash. Imagine dealing with tribes in the mountains and carrying thousands or hundreds of thousands, and trying to stay safe.

There were rooms of beads, wonderful natural Southwest turquoise, and various hand made jewelry items of varying interest. A fellow in the center area had rocks and I found a solid looking azurite piece that I plan to make into jewelry.

As we were driving away we came across another Arizona Mineral and Fossil show (there are 3 locations with the same name), and they had parking available so we kicked around there a bit. This is at the Ramada Inn where most of the vendors are in the hotel rooms, but there is a large tent featuring Alaskan carved deer, elk antlers and moose buttons. A couple years ago I met a dealer sold me a piece of mammoth tooth that I made into jewelry as an experiment. I saw him again today and bought a couple more slices that looked hard enough to be wire wrapped. They are stabilized, but still a lapidary artist might have trouble with the variation in softness of the areas of the tooth, so they are tricky.

The Russian guy, that I could not understand, had some nice fossils. He moved everything out of his room so he could get the fossils in.

One room I attempted to speak to a Russian and I found that I really have a problem understanding Russian, but he seemed to be very proud of his fossils. He had his room set up like a little museum.

Miles’ Mastodon Tusk.

Miles had fair prices for tusks ivory.

I bought a few slabs of Mastodon Ivory to make jewelry.

We saw a lot of fossil mammal parts, and we noticed a large mastodon tusk for sale. Miles Martin from Alaska had photos of his recovery of mastodon tusk near Denali. He had a large collection of mastodon tusk pieces, pairs you could make knife handles with and mastodon slices for lapidary work. I have never made jewelry from mastodon tusk, but I will this year. Miles recounted how he takes a flat bottom boat 400 miles down a river with no gas stations to find and extract tusks that may be emerging from melting permafrost. He mentioned several dangers, isolation, river sand bars, bears, and “scary weird people” that might be living out there dodging the law because they are “wanted” elsewhere. He’s written seven books about his adventures. He was a colorful character.

A couple Mammoth Teeth slabs were bought from this pile; jewelry to follow in the near future.

One of our pleasures is learning the stories of the people we meet, how they got into what they are doing, and what their challenges are to get their rock products to us.

Moose “Buttons”

Carvings galore

At the Ramada Inn, Alaska Creations had unique carvings made from “Moose Buttons”. The “Buttons” are where the antlers attach to the skull. The antlers are shed and he cut these buttons off and carved these amazing things. He had lots of carvings from Antlers of all kinds.

Carborundum from China. Pretty but not for jewelry. See the yellow material? It’s Orpiment, a dangerous toxic Arsenic Sulfide. Most people would never know what this is.

The colors of this carborundum is similar to Peacock Ore. A picture does not do justice to the colors.

Shiva Linghams Increases Vitality and Pranic Energy. The dirty little secret is most of these are not real Linghams, but are made.

There were more Linghams here than anywhere in Tucson.

Lots of fun in the sun today. See you tomorrow.

Miner’s Co-op and the Honeybee Jasper

Softly cloudy and 70

So tacky it’s cool!

Morenci Az quality Chrysocolla.

We returned to the Miner’s Coop today. This is the farthest north show in the book. It was worthwhile and enjoyable to talk to some of the dealers there. The Miner’s Coop is the closest you get to a real rock hound show in Tucson, with lots of rough rock as well as cabochons, slabs, and small mineral boxes. Sometimes the dealers close up their booth so they can go to another show, so if you don’t go a couple of times, you will most likely miss some of them. The dealers are appreciative of your business, and may have some good offers.

HoneyBee Jasper

Honeybee Jasper consists of primarily Quartz with Amphibole minerals. There is also a presence of Iron and Manganese causing the yellow tinge.

I am always looking for something new for jewelry and Bonnie found a dealer selling a yellow jasper he named Honeybee, from his claim in western Colorado. We have customers who seek out yellow stone, so this was something new along that line. He told us that it comes from the edge of a cliff, not real hospitable access. Larry Wright from Aspen Rock and Gem also features Utah Lace Opal and a sage rock which he said he has to climb up and down rough terrain to get to. Bonnie commented that it was good he didn’t have bad legs. (Wonder where she go that thought?) He agreed that he had good legs and back that are an essential for miners.

Bodie and a great Amazonite/Smokey Quartz specimen from his claim.

I talked with Bodie Packham who proudly showed his prize amazonite/smokey quartz crystal, which was appraised for $250,000. Similar specimens have sold for much more. He works a claim near the Dorren family you may have seen on the Prospectors TV show. He took time to explain the difference between gem amazonite and the more common amazonite.

Peter still had some very fine Smithsonite

We bought some slabs from Peter Bruno last time we were there and he still has some nice smithsonite available.

This was a leisurely social day, learning from and teaching miners at a show we like. It grew quite a bit this year, and should grow again next year. We hope it will continue to emphasize rock!

Ever See A Golden T-Rex? Tucson Rocks 2017

Sunny and 75

A show hardly anyone came to.

Lobby of Executive Inn

Because of the weekend, the major shows around town are packed with people, and parking is far out and the whole thing is hectic more than fun. We decided to do some small shows.

We went to the Executive Inn that listed around 30 vendors on two floors. The parking was free and there were almost no cars. When we went in there were 2 mineral display cases and a paper sign that said “Shows” to point us in the right direction. A few doors were open with little paper signs alerting us they were there. We found either 5 or 6 vendors on the first floor, and nothing on the second. I kind of felt sorry for these people from foreign countries who obviously had big expenses getting here, and this seemed to be such a small turnout. And the rooms were advertised as newly renovated. New? We wondered.

A Russian vendor had quality pyrite ammonites that I have used for jewelry before, so I selected one. Bonnie admired his Eudialite and Charoite rings and pendants and he had minerals. The best thing at this spot was the free parking, because from there we could walk across the street to the Mineral and Fossil Marketplace that had large tents and looked more promising.

In the past we have found small rock pieces of interest, so we scouted carefully. Like all the mineral and fossil shows, Madagascar fossils were prominent, as were Amethyst crystals. My eye was captured by Labradorite shining in the sun. This was some of the nicest I have seen in Tucson, oriented properly to bring out the maximum shimmer. These pieces were cut into blocks and polished so you could see exactly what you were getting. I bought a fin multicolored specimen and then went back and got a very fine gold Labradorite (some people refer to this as Spectrolite).

A dealer offered nice mineral specimens at good prices.

Never saw a gold T-Rex

sea Monsters

Muonionalusta Meteorite

A permanent building on the grounds sells medium/large prehistoric beasts. They had some great sea monsters, and a gilded T-Rex skull replica. I had never seen a gold T-Rex skull. Just what every house needs!

One of the vendors was a dealer in Muonolusta meteorite material. He searches meteorite fall areas, and he indicated that these are very hard to find now, and hard to dig up. Some are 8-10 feet underground because of glacial activity causing overburden over the meteorites. A backhoe is required as well as special large ray metal detectors to find them in the first place. And property owners don’t like to have big holes dug and disturb their trees.

We had these in Michigan also-Crinoids

Another tent had some fine fossil plates, one 12’x12’covered with a large crinoid colony.

A table full of Australian rocks

Tiger Iron

Wonderful specimens both individually and in trays; all at fair prices.

Most all the major Aussie minerals on one table.

Mookaite

Glenn Archer’s Tent

Glenn Archer had great specimens from remote areas of Australia. He had all the good stuff from there, slabs, chunks and smaller specimens.

We did not have to fight the crowds at this show.

Silver Ore from the Cobalt region of Canada

If you want some fine rough, go here. Random trays abounded.

This labradorite was the best I’ve seen for the money anywhere around Tucson.

I bought this one and another all gold one

Loads of dyed Brazillion slabs. Not really my cup of tea, but many people like these.

Nice Madagascar Stuff

The wall of Chrysocolla.

Because the crowds were at the big shows, we had a very nice time talking with the vendors at this show. We walked back to our free parking and admired the foundation of the old motel sign with many Chrysocolla rocks, the best part of this motel.

JGM plus the Fossil Show

My adventures today comprised of roaming through the medium sized JGM Show. There are great vendors, I like this show, but it is a cozy show. After drifting through JGM, I took a random shuttle to see where it went. I do this on occasion and get off wherever..In this case I exited at the Hotel Tucson for the fossil show. There are a very large number of rooms I had not explored. Not much writing today, just pictures.

A 70 Million Year Old Sea Snake made me wonder if Megalodons’ snacked on them? Probably did.

“Roadkill” was the name of this fossil

We see Opal inlayed turtles all around town. The scraps from opal cutting are put to good use.

The largest Gila Monster in Arizona

I Discovered that that Ape picture from the other day (you remember do you not?) Anyway you could own that ape for $7500, which seemed like a fair price.

Cute Little Dino Eggs were $150

Polished Emerald Crystals

FINALLY found some Michigan stuff at Keweenaw Gem & Gift’s booth. It was good to see and talk to my friend, Ken Flood.

IBeautiful Silver/Copper halfbreeds

A really, really nice Amethyst cathedral in front of the Hotel Tucson City Center (AKA Fossil Show)

Mostly 22nd Street Show-Tucson Rock & Gem Shows

Near 80 and Sunny

The 22nd Street Show is always worth a second look. Things seem to appear that you had not seen before. I’m sure they were there the first time through last weekend, I just missed them. I usually just touch the surface of the shows the first week, and return to certain shows and specific dealers the second week.

At 22nd Street you can opt for free parking or paid parking, the only difference is on the paid parking you are closer to 22nd Street, allowing you to walk under I-10 to access the “Strip” on the the North side of I-10.

I took many pictures of the unusual things I saw at 22nd Street as well as a few while walking the Strip. Let’s just eliminate the chatter and show you some of the things I saw.

I thought it extraordinary that someone carved a couple skulls in a natural Pyrite Crystal formation.

I like a woman with Long Chain Hair.

Amazing metal art.

Onyx Lamps abounded at the 22nd Street Show. I loved the yellow glow of these.

Tibetan Quartz Crystals, 600 Pheasant Feathers, with Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire, Topaz, and Citrine. Seems like a bargain at $7500. She was called “Queen Merelda”.

It seems they harvested a lot of these from Brazil and Uruguay this last year. I see them everywhere at the shows.

The lovely Amanda Atkins from “The Prospectors” weather channel TV Show had some fantastic blue Aquamarine from the Colorado Claims. She was showing me a Flourite Plate that was very fine indeed.

Noticed several polished Smokey Quartz crystal clusters from Brazil over on the Strip.

How does this table not collapse?

A flock of Parrots.

Crystal Quartz Carving

A picture can never do justice to the shine of Pyrite in the Sun.

Some have asked me, “How much was this?” My standard answer is “Whatever you pay”. Seriously; in most cases there is a price posted or asked for, but negotiation is expected. Many dealers put very inflated prices on their goods, but will sometimes accept a fraction of the asking price. Negotiated prices are a way of life in most of the world. I find the last couple days of the show, when the dealers start thinking of putting their goods back in storage or paying to ship them somewhere else is a prime time for a bargain; sort of like end of the year car sales.

After exploring the Strip, we took the free shuttle back to 22nd Street. I took a friend who had never been to the Shows. He was looking for a set of Sapphire Earrings, but as you can imagine, are expensive, even at a discount . As we awaited the shuttle, he slid into a room at the Days Inn, flagged me in to see earrings. I had to inform him that they were not Sapphire. The dealer confirmed this; they were crystal Kyanite; beautiful stuff. They matched his wife’s ring perfectly. Valentine shopping done! Unless she tells someone no one will know he paid1/10th the sapphire price.

I’m on my own Saturday. Where do I want to fight the weekend crowds? Hmmm.

Random Wholesale Shows-The Big Tents –Tucson Rock Shows 2017

From the upper lobby looking down to the show floor before the show opens. Hundreds of jewelry stores and gem sellers.

When I first started coming to Tucson I kept thinking,”I’d sure like to see what is in those wholesale shows.” This included the AGTA show at the Tucson Convention Center, GJX show across the street from the convention center, the GLW show and the Holidome show which was actually in the Holidome. At that time I did not have a business license, but came to the shows because I was a rock hound.

Giant GJX Tent across the street from the beautifully landscaped Tucson Convention Center. GJX is a wholesale show requiring business credentials.

“A” Mountain (Sentinel Peak) looms over Tucson. In a previous blog you can these shows in a picture I took from just under the “A”.

The AGTA (America Got Trade Association) show is, for obvious reasons, the most secure show in the city.

Gem Trade related booths in the main hall above the Trade Show.

I picked up a good tip as to how I might secure our show tent in future art show on the Lake Superior Shoreline….Outside the center in the food truck area.

Parking at the the Tucson Convention Center is $9 but worth it to men(Parking is a business expense isn’t it? You can park remotely and take a free shuttle in also, if you prefer, or park for around $5 in a parking ramp nearby.

But now that I can get into all these wholesale trade shows, they don’t interest me. The AGTA show is comprised of hundreds of jewelry store suppliers, and direct importers of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, topaz, sapphires, opals, and pearls. This is the stuff you see in every jewelry store, and that is not what we sell. Bonnie accuses me of running (!) through the show, but the heaps of sparkly clear stones don’t interest me. I find a couple of vendors that have beautiful cabochons or Koroit opal like we told you about yesterday. Hugo referred us to see his dad Rod Griffin at the AGTA show which we did.

This was such fine Bumblebee (not Jasper) I decided to make the pendant immediately!

Frogs sold as Ox Bone are not carved, but bone is crushed, mixed with resin, and molded. I still like them. The underside is as shown and the top frogs appear to be had painted.

In the GJX tent the products are similar with a higher emphasis on finished jewelry. I located some beautiful old stock Bumblebee Jasper and a couple pieces of Yellow Delaware Mine Datolite. The Delaware Mine rock pile has been hauled away to be road gravel, so we can’t expect to find more of that in the Keweenaw. Gary Wison lives in Tucson, but also has a shop in Downtown Traverse City. Wirewrappers and silversmiths flock to his booth to purchase the colorful and unusual Casbochons he has. I am always facinated by the feeding frenzy at his booth. Since I cut most of my cabs (unlike the majority of wire wrappers) I don’t need to purchase a lot of finished cabochons; but I will not turn down an exceptional cab if I see it.

The prices have to reflect the costs of being in these top-drawer shows, so if you are just browsing around some of the other shows, you may find bargains better than you would get at these wholesale shows.

Fine Koroit Boulder Opal. Sorry, I really have a reflection issue with the Ironstone matrix.

Photos are not allowed in these wholesale shows. No one wants other people copying their jewelry or targeting for carrying high priced stones.

Back years ago I used to see piles of loose gemstones on tables, and buyers with optivisors sorting and selection. This policy of just pouring piles of gems on tables has ceased, but the gem dealers still allow buyers to sit and pick from trays and trays of high-end jewels.

Today I continued my search for things I didn’t know I needed. The Holidome tent and GLW comprise 4 big tents. I bought a few rose gold chains to enhance our beautiful stone pendants.

I really think we are finished with the Wholesale shows. The next week will be going back to other shows already visited to find the hidden treasures. The temps are expected to be mid-80’s this weekend, so to my Northern friends I say “stay cool” whilst I bake.

Mineral & Fossil Show plus a Bead Show–Tucson Rock Shows 2017

Sunny and 72

Today we ventured to the Hotel Tucson City Center for an overview of the Arizona Mineral and Fossil Show. The HTCC was not busy and it was easy to get around. We took a couple of friends who had never been to the shows, and we find this to be a friendly and diverse show.

We noticed new walls around the perimeter of the property. We have heard of thefts in the past of large items, so access to the property is restricted now to a couple of entrance points.

Beautiful Ammonites

Nice desplay as always at The Black Hills Institute Booth

Fossil Bivalves

Major fossil dealers display museum quality fossils in the ballroom. Colorful ammonites shine brightly in the lights. I enjoyed the reconstruction of the saber tooth tiger attacking what appears to be a horse or deer. Other dealers had other fossils including a huge fish skull from Kansas (Xiphactinus audax) that I’d really like to hang on my wall at home.

REALLY-Who would feed a Raptor fruit?? Whomever I hope he wasn’t captured on a security camera.Hmmmm

Beauty and the beast

Marra Mamba in the sun (not an enhanced picture)

The property of the HTCC is hotel rooms surrounding a large center courtyard full of orange trees. A pterodactyl was having a flight among these trees and a raptor was testing his teeth on an orange. Some vendor brought in a huge bronze gorilla that served as a photographic set for visitors. It is always fun to see the dinosaurs scattered around the property. I petted a small dinosaur and nearby some spectacular Marra Mamba were on display.

We saw so many minerals there it is unbelievable. If you want to collect unusual rocks, especially crystals, from anywhere in the world, this is your shopping heaven. Large or small, you can find them all.

Upper Lobby Hotel Tucson City Center

Bonnie & Gail talked with a guy from Russia. He told them he didn’t have much English, so he pulled out his phone and brought up a translator. Gail talked to it and so did he with both the Russian and English showing up on the screen. However, it seemed to have some trouble understanding his Russian, and the answers came out pretty strange. He apparently could read better than he could talk, and would look at it and say, “No, no”, “No, not bad”, “No, not Chinese”, and he’d try again. It was amusing, but they were glad they were not trying to settle the affairs of the

Bead Show Ballroom

Nunn Design

world!

After a pleasant lunch in the courtyard we took a break and then went to a bead show in search of a particular tool I wanted. We went to the Doubletree that hosts To Bead True Blue. Vendors are scattered in various tents, ballrooms and hotel rooms. Parking can be a challenge here, but we were so late in the day we found a spot. I sought out 5 tool dealers and still didn’t find the cutter I wanted. Most of them had never heard of what I wanted and use every day. I wondered why I fought all those red lights across town to get here!

The vendors had beautiful displays and creative jewelry. Most of the vendors seemed pretty burnt out and disinterested by 5:00. I found one exception of some happy ladies at Nunn Design. We admired each others jewelry. They had beautiful steampunk type jewelry components different from anything else at the show.

Bonnie bought some coppery-looking beads and we happily took our tired feet home.