This is the third International Agate show held in the Midwest, and we have been vendors at each show. (Wonderful World of Agates and Celebration of Agates were the others). If you search my blogs, they are covered in them. Vending at this show was by invite only, so we were honored to be again included. This show was promoted by Veronica Woods, President of the Gem Shop in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
The Cedarburg High School provided a great venue with the sales in the gym and the exhibits down at the pool end. The exhibit hall was exceptional, well laid out and labeled with a great variety and examples of agates from around the US and the world. I will write more about these another day, and I took many pictures.
Crowds were delighted but the predicted crowds of 10,000-20,000 never materialized.
Our booth was positioned by Scott Wolter’s Lake Superior Agate and book sales. He has written the following books: The Lake Superior Agate: Fourth Edition (2008/2011)
The Hooked X: Key to the Secret History of North America (2009)
The Lake Superior Agate: Fourth Edition (2008)
The Kensington Rune Stone: Compelling New Evidence (2005)
The Lake Superior Agate: One Man’s Journey (2001)
The Lake Superior Agate: Third Edition (1997)
Ettringite: Cancer of Concrete (1997)
The Lake Superior Agate: Second Edition (1994)
The Lake Superior Agate (1986)
He also had agate puzzles and posters as well as his Lake Superior Agates.
Janet Wolter (Scott’s spouse) was autographing her book, America: Nation of the Goddess
Our other neighbor was my friend Roger Clark, the authority on South Dakota’s beautiful Fairburn Agates. He was selling Fairburn’s and selling his books:
Fairburn Agate: Gem of South Dakota
South Dakota’s Fairburn Agate
Also in our block of 4 booths was the Gitchee Gumee Museum. Karen Brzys had her agates and agate art as well as her books Agates Inside Out and Understanding and Finding Agates.
Authors and experts abounded at this show, each presenting seminar programs and signing their respective books.
There were three wire jewelry artists at the show including me, but each had a different style. We had many comments and compliments. Bonnie & I had worked hard to really offer a wide selection of agates and jaspers in our jewelry. People seemed to appreciate our quality and there are many new owners wearing our jewelry; pendants, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. I was proud of our display.
I decided for this first blog I’d concentrate on some Mexican Agates.
This is the first of a couple blogs on the show and I will concentrate a little on the show and a lot on the killer exhibits, so come back again.
I hope I got everything right. It was really overwhelming.