Quartzsite the Biggest Small Town Show

Rockhounds, collectors and anyone interested in lapidary and more flock every year to the “Biggest Small Town Show” to find their newest treasures. In a little western town just 20 miles east of the Colorado River on I-10 is home to the town of a rock hounds paradise since the 1960's, Quartzisite, Arizona. Every year it is home to the biggest small town show reaping more than a million visitors is the Quartzsite show. About 2,000 vendors ranging from rocks, gems, minerals, fossils and everything in-between create one of the world’s largest open air flea markets in little Quartzsite, Arizona. 

The paradise gives way to many treasures if you are willing to dig and claw your way through tons of boxes, barrels, tubs, tables, and even trucks. There are eight major gem and mineral shows as well as vendors of raw and handcrafted merchandise selling to customers from all walks of life.

A little history on Quartziste, it was settled in 1856 when Charles Tyson built a fort to protect his water supply from attacks by Native Americas. Fort Tyson soon became a stopover on the Ehrenhurg-to-Prescott stagecoach route. It had become known as Tyson’s Wells by the time the stage stopped running and the town then became abandoned.

A small mining boom revitalized the town as Quartzsite in 1897 and it remained until 1965, when the Pow Wow Rock, Gem & Mineral Show began the rockhound winter fever migrations to Quartzsite each year. In these more modern days, the population can swell to almost a million during the January and February rockhound extravaganza.

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History Legend of Frankincense & Myrrh

Myrrh and frankincense have had spiritual significance since ancient times and they also were adopted as medicines for physical ailments. Their history dates back to the beginning of civilization and was prized among kings. Even today, Frankincense & Myrrh are still prized for their many aromatherapy uses. 

When referring to this pair of herbs, Westerners might immediately think of their historic importance in religion. The herbs are best known through the story of the Three Wise Men (Magi) delivering gold, frankincense, and myrrh for the baby Jesus; myrrh was also used to anoint Jesus' body after the crucifixion. These herbs, valued like gold, were mentioned repeatedly in the Old Testament, in instructions to Moses about making incense and anointing oil, and in the Song of Solomon.

The origins of myrrh and frankincense are traced to the Arabian Peninsula. According to Herodotus (5th century BC): "Arabia is the only country which produces frankincense, myrrh, cassia and cinnamon...the trees bearing the frankincense are guarded by winged serpents of small size and various colors." Diodorus Siculus writes, in the second half of the first century BC, that "all of Arabia exudes a most delicate fragrance; even the seamen passing by Arabia can smell the strong fragrance that gives health and vigor." He also mentioned gold mines so pure that no smelting was necessary. The Magi, carrying myrrh, frankincense, and gold, came from the East: Arabia. The frankincense trade route, with transport by donkeys and later by camel caravans, reached Jerusalem and Egypt from the Dhofar region of what is today Oman, through Yemen, turning north to follow the Red Sea coast. It is likely that the same or similar species of the resin-bearing plants grew across the Red Sea in the area that is now Somalia and Ethiopia, while the collection of the gum resins was initiated in Arabia.

In these ancient times, myrrh had been used in Egypt for embalming the bodies of Pharaohs, and frankincense had been used in India to make incense for worship (in India, a related species of plant is indigenous, though it produces an inferior product). Myrrh and frankincense, traded throughout the Middle East at least since 1500 B.C., when it eventually came to China. As in the Middle East, myrrh and frankincense were used in China for making incense, and are so used even today. But, in characteristic Chinese fashion of finding a medicinal use for virtually everything, these herbs were soon employed as medicines.

Both myrrh and frankincense grow as small trees or shrubs; they are of the botanical family Burseraceae. Their natural growing range is limited, but this has been extended by cultivation, and the current supplies are adequate to meet worldwide demand. Today, most of the internationally-traded myrrh and frankincense are produced in the southern Arabian peninsula (Oman, Yemen) and in northeast Africa (Somalia). The primary species relied upon today are “Commiphora myrrha” for myrrh and ”Boswellia caraterii” for frankincense.

Most resin (whether myrrh or frankincense) is obtained by tapping: making deliberate incisions with a specially designed tool or ordinary axe, about 2 inches long, into the bark of the tree. The milky liquid that exudes hardens on exposure to air into droplets or "tears," which are then easily detached by the collector about two weeks later. New tappings are made at the same place as old ones after removing hardened resin from the previous cut. If the tapping interval is short, then a light scratching of the wood is usually sufficient to cause the resin to flow again. The particular details of the tapping-the time of year it is undertaken, its duration, and the interval between individual tappings-vary according to the species and the customs in the area of production. For example, in Somalia there are usually two periods when Boswellia is tapped, each lasting 3-4 months, involving successive tappings at approximately 15-day intervals, with the timing of the tapping periods dependent on the onset and extent of the rains. The resin is stored for about 12 weeks to harden. The only processing undertaken after collection is sorting and grading of the resin globules, usually done by the local merchant to whom it is sold rather than the collector.

No matter what their uses are today, the history of these two herbal resins is a part of any culture and history. Still highly sought today, they are both used in aromatherapy and some who practice ancient medicine.

Amazing Agates of Brazil

Agates come in many colors of solid and banding with 'eyes' and crystals that shine.  Some of the most beautiful agates come from the mines of Brazil, but agate is found all over the world.  


Agates geodes are often cut and shaped into bookend sets or sliced and polished pair slabs or singles.

Agate is a form of quartz having submicroscopic grains of cryptocryastaline quartz, called chalcedony, in a massive form, often filling voids as veins or geodes. 

Agate is often found with color bands due to impurities in the fluids from which the agate is deposited. Agate is usually translucent, sometimes transparent, and has a hardness of 7, but has no crystal structure (amorphous).   

Shop our Etsy store for a selection of agates in bookend sets and slabs mounted on wooden bases for easy display!

Shiny Native Michigan Copper Styles

Some of nature's beauty in native US copper from the mines of Michigan.

Browse & shop our selection of copper at our Etsy shop!

Rich Uruguay Amethyst Crystal Geodes

Fine Uruguay amethyst geodes, semi-polished and rich in the purple amethyst crystal color.














Amethyst is a violet variety of quartz, a silicon dioxide mineral. Gem quality amethyst is a relatively inexpensive gemstone often used in jewelry. Amethyst mineral specimens, geodes and large cathedrals are highly sought after and prized by collectors. Amethyst occurs in a wide range of colors; but is most known for its range of purple shades from pale lilac to deep black purple.

Browse & shop Uruguay amethyst and lots of other fine minerals & fossils at our Etsy shop!

Early Bird Event - Weekly Additions!

It's Timeless Designs Early Bird Event!

Browse & shop our Etsy store for all your holiday gifts!  Minerals, fossils and custom jewelry, there is something for everyone.  New items be adding weekly, items are going quickly!

Limited Time Halloween Bash

Halloween Bash going on at our Etsy shop now until Friday, October 31^st!

Shop our Etsty Store for lots of unique gifts, collectibles, home décor, and custom jewelry. It's a great time to start that holiday shopping. 

 See our shop Banner for an extra savings code to use at Checkout on your entire purchase (including already Reduced items)!!

Designs of Double Infinity Link Earrings

These new designs feature double infinity links and then drops of gemstones.

Shop our Etsy store for these and many other designs....they are going fast!

Hammered Wired Twisted Designs

These new designs are created from twisted wire, sheet metal and accenting with different types of  beads.  I hammered, twisted (several times!) and coordinated with lampwork and Bali beads.  These gems are wearable for both men and women, making them great gifts or pick something up for yourself.  

Visit our Etsy shop to browse and shop the new selection of cuffs, bracelets and all jewelry designs!

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Global Minerals Spheres Pyramids Obelisk

Minerals from around the globe come in a variety of shapes and sizes and these beauties are no exception.

Spheres, pyramids, hearts, and obelisks available in some of the earth's rarest and unique minerals.






There is a selection of rare blue onyx from Argentina; garnet, black jet & sodalite from India; carnelian, celestite, petrified wood, & sepatarian from Madagascar and much more.














Visit our Etsy shop to shop for all kinds of minerals, gemstones and fossils.

Rare Spheres of Blue Onyx

How about some Mineral Eye Candy......Blue Onyx from Argentina! This new material is rare, extremely hard to get and very expensive when we have been able to find it. 



Blue Onyx comes from the remote Andes Mountains regions of Argentina. It is some of the most beautiful material I've ever seen....the blue hues of color are amazing, incredible marbling/matrix and so hard to capture on camera. 

We have these three spheres of this material available at our Etsy shop...browse & shop many unique items, collectibles, gifts, custom jewelry, and more!

HUGE SUMMER SALE!!

Timeless Designs is having a HUGE Summer Sale!!

We are clearing out inventory so we can bring in all new unique and bigger items this fall. 

Select items are being marked down 40% (that's HUGE!) to clear out the Etsy shop. It's all going on now for a limited time this summer.

New sales items will be listed weekly on the Etsy website, so browse & shop often for best selection. It is a fantastic time to purchase gifts, pickup collectibles or a little something for the house and/or office. 

Thank you for browsing and shopping Timeless Designs online at our Etsy shop!

 

Note: Please read all our policies at the Etsy shop. 

Any questions, please contact us prior to purchase.

New Fossils Minerals & Jewelry

Lots of new items at our Etsy shop!  Browse and shop a selection of our fossils, minerals and jewelry!!