Tucson Gem, Mineral, & Fossil Shows 2014-Rough Rocks & Eggs

Aquamarine Crystals

Labradorite in the sun.

We really were going to take the day off, but 65 and sunny changed our minds. I try to avoid attending bead shows, but most of the shows we have attended had plenty of beads. The difference between a bead show and another show is that they are the same, except that any of the outdoor shows the beads are dirtier! Shopping for beads is not my thing, but I do out of my good will take my wife to a random bead show to let her look for beads and things she didn’t know she needed.

To Bead True Blue at the Doubletree Tree Inn was our destination this morning. We did find a parking spot which was a good way to start. Bonnie likes to see the gadgets and new products demonstrated and sold at this show. This is the place to find out about new techniques. If vendors have time they are helpful in explaining their new products and their uses. Happily I found a pair of pliers that I have been searching for to do detailed wire-wrapping. You could buy vintage items, handmade bezels, tools for hot gluing crystals, wire, threads, cords and seed beads of all kinds and colors, wire that had been enameled, stamping tools, cabochons, glass beads, and lots more. Bonnie bought some new bezels to use with crystal clay and small stones, some threads and supplies to try out kumihimo, and some silk ribbons for jewelry. She looked at some other new things but decided that she had 3-4 new processes that she wanted to try and that was more than enough. Meanwhile I sat on a “guy chair” along with another fellow and we had a good chat.

I've mentioned the 22nd Street Show many times. Here is the tent.

After lunch we picked up Holly, our daughter, who lives not far from the “strip”. We looked through 22nd Street show then walked over to the shows at the Clarion and Howard Johnsons. We revisited some areas and found some areas we previously skipped.

Clarion & Howard Johnsons

Behind these two shows is the one of largest selection of rough rock in Tucson, at El Paso Rocks, piles of rock and 50 gallon drums. The girls were intrigued with the Bumble Bee Jasper (not jasper). The rough has an outer core that is very gray and colorless, in big contrast to the vivid colors of the best Bumblebee Jewelry. As we went back through the Rhodoco tent I went through their cabs for those that might have metal inclusions. I was told that the metal inclusions in rhodochrosite are a combination of silver, lead, and pyrite. I searched out a few pieces. I think these unusual cabochons make distinctive jewelry. I’ll show you tomorrow.