I was so excited for yesterday to come. I tripped on down to the gem show and now I have a big pile of new stones to work with.
This time, I found some interesting things that I don't usually see. These round beads you see are I-don't-know-what...maybe some kind of jasper or rock, layered with translucent, crackled agate. For eight bucks, I couldn't resist.
The carved pyrite roses were a good find and the carved coral flowers were something I've been looking for, at the shows, but not seeing. Also, love the rough pyrite nuggets.
One of my favorite vendors of the day was the most enthusiastic, friendly man. His prices weren't the cheapest but I just loved dealing with him and he had some unique stuff. I grabbed several strands that were the only one he had, or the last one. The first one I fondled was a strand of the most luscious red spinel. At $600, I had to leave them with the dealer. However, these kyanite cylinders sent a thrill up my leg and they weren't the price of a mortgage payment. The ametrine irregularly shaped briolettes were intriguing as well as the druzy-ish agate slices. He had a single strand of lovely rhodochrosite briolettes which were more orange-y than the typical pink (you can see them under the ametrine, or in the first photo)...very grungily gemmy. Love!
I picked up three strands of hessonite garnet beads from him. I adore this color.
Check out the gemmy juiciness of it.
One of the vendors had a small table of 70% off stones which I pawed through, like a maniac. Well, I was a little more polite than a maniac...but only a little. Trust me, I wasn't the only one. Citrine and chrysopase and apatite...oh, my.
I have big plans for these little slabs of amethyst.
Oh. Yeah.
Some new, and hopefully wonderful, things will come from this pile-o-goodies.
Bora Handcrafted Jewelry-kyanite and ruby ring
My one disappointment was that the turquoise guy wasn't there, this time. It's probably a good thing. I'm quite sure it saved me that he didn't show. However, I never can resist stopping by the Bora Handcrafted Jewelry booth. I'm not sure if it's one artist or two brothers that design the line but, wow...the designs are fabulous. There is no website so you'll have to surf around to find images. I was looking at a couple of rings but when I picked this one up and he said "that's one of a kind" I didn't put it back down. It reminds me of something a lady would have worn in Victorian times...or maybe something a queen would wear.
Yes...says the queen.
wow great closeups on all those gems! i love the rough cut beads!
Posted by: Mary Franzenburg | Friday, January 25, 2013 at 04:21 PM
Dang girl, your gem show was a lot better than the last one I went to. Those amethyst slabs are awesome!
Posted by: gayle | Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 02:31 PM
beautiful purchases. i've got our next gem show marked on my calendar and am so ready!
Posted by: andrea ring | Monday, January 21, 2013 at 11:39 AM
I wish you would offer field trips so some lucky souls could go with you. I went in the fall with a friend who go me into Wholesale. Dropped way too much $$ and it is all still sitting upstairs. Gotta get a groove back. Luvly things you got!
Posted by: Debe Leone | Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 06:40 PM
Oh, lovely! I have always had a thing for "rocks." I remember finding a geode when I was little (I know, right, what are the odds). I always wanted a rock polisher! Now, you'd think I'd delve into jewelry making, but I don't have any of the necessary stuff. So I just check out your blog!! hehe. There's something really cool about the sound and feel of beads, jems, rocks that you roll around in your hand!
Posted by: Lee {The Way I See It } | Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 07:13 AM
OK...all I can exclaim is YUM!!! Wish I'd been there with you pawing through treasures....Oh well, my checkbook is still intact. :-) Look forward to how you play with these and glad you had fun.
Posted by: Chris Kerr | Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 01:51 PM
Wow! You did find some treasures! Love the carved flower beads!
Posted by: dorylyn | Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 12:48 PM
OH my gosh! BEAUTIFUL stones and ring . . . I have it on my bucket list to attend one of these gem shows some day! . . . . course I'd probably end up having to mortgage the house to pay for all I wanted LOL :D
Can't wait to see your designs with these!
Posted by: Judy Evitts (La Paix d'Art) | Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 12:28 PM
Thanks for sharing your finds with those of us who aren't there. Can't wait to see what you create with these treasures, especially the little pyrite roses. Sweet!
Posted by: Lynda | Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 11:43 AM