30th Annual Holiday Showcase Freeman Coliseum

This weekend is our very last show of the season, just in time for your Holiday shopping!!

In the San Antonio, Texas area, we are combining with Jewelry by CnC at the following this weekend....

30th Annual Holiday Showcase "The Big One"
Freeman Coliseum
San Antonio, Texas
November 21st-22nd
Saturday: 9:00am-5:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am-5:00pm

Our booth is on the floor of the main building, come all the way through the show to the back, first ‘cubby’ section, last booth on the row!!!

Come early as we have knocked down prices for the coming Holidays!

Wide selection of custom jewelry featuring some of the world’s most unique and unusual natural stones and cuts; and as always, each piece comes with it’s own tag describing what type of stones are used in each jewelry design.

So grab your list, check it twice and come on out and get great deals on our jewelry at year-end clearance sale prices!!

Tucson 2010 Countdown

The big event is almost here; time to get ready for Tucson 2010!! If you haven’t already made your reservations (plane, hotel, car, etc.), now is the time to do so before you miss out on the biggest event for all gem, mineral, and rock enthusiasts.

Every year, Tucson is host to the United States largest Gem and Mineral show; starting late January and running thru the middle of February. Dealers, wholesalers, and buyers all converge on the small southern Arizona town to discuss, barter, sale, buy, meet & great, and see what is new (and old) in the industry. There are hundreds of shows with thousands of vendors from all over the globe and across the United States, with one thing in common; show what they have and entice us with the newest, latest and greatest.

Some of the following shows are ones that I recommend and do attend. You’ll find a wide selection of finished jewelry, tools, findings, displays, beads, gems, lapidary, and much much more. These shows as most in the Tucson area require wholesale and business industry credentials to get into them. Check with each show’s site to pre-register for many of them, see details and check for dates; as this year, several of the shows do not overlap as in past years.

Street Vendors: This is my favorite place to shop; I’ve gotten some of the most unique and unusual items here. Miles and miles of vendors take over the hotels, parking lots, and anything in-between. Across the street from the freeway, starting at Congress and running all the way down past Freeway Aveune, you can find any type of vendor; beads, findings, silver, raw materials, lapidary, finished products, gemstones, clothes, bags; just to name a few. And best of all, most are open to the public, however check with vendors before purchase to make sure they don’t require a wholesale license.

JOGS: If you’re looking for Amber or Southwest jewelry, this is the place to be. Dealers from around the globe bring the best and finest in Amber and southwest products. The show also hosts many vendors of finished products, collectables, and raw materials. This is a wholesale only show and requires a Tax ID to register and attend.

G&LW (Gem Mall, Holidome, Grants Inn): At many of these shows you can find international dealers and wholesalers; pearls, turquoise, silver/copper, finished products, beads galore, beading findings/products, displays, and much more. This show is a wholesale only and requires Tax ID to register and attend.

China Mountain: If Turquoise is what you are after, then you’ll need to visit the buildings located between Gem Mall and Holidome, where you’ll find the well known vendor China Mountain. Plenty of Turquoise and Coral in all different cuts and styles to chose from. Also a wholesale vendor, but you’ll need to check with them at the site to see if they will sell retail.

Electric Park RV: Though I’ve only attended this one once, I understand it is a great place to get lapidary, rocks, minerals, or slabs; so I’ve added it back onto my list for this year’s trip. Most sell either wholesale or retail so check with each vendor before purchase.

While this is just a hint of what’s at Tucson, there are also many other shows like the AGTA GemFair Tucson, GJX Gem & Jewelry Show, Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, Madagascar Minerals Gem Show, Rio Grande Catalog In Motion and Swarovski Elements-Create Your Style 2010 shows. Several are also offering many of the national instructors for classes and seminars, so check with your favorite instructor or show for schedules and details.

Mark your calendar, make your reservations and start the count-down! Tucson 2010 is just around the corner.

An Art in Mosaic Turquoise

Though not entirely a natural stone, these beads are made from composites of crushed Turquoise bits. They make beautiful matrix beads and great additions to any piece of jewelry; rather the center of attention or as an accent to natural stones, crystals, metals or ceramics.







This piece is made with mosaic Turquoise, toffee ceramic beads, goldtone spacers, light gold glass seedbeads, and as a focal a beautiful deep brown Agate slice with crystallization in the center; handcrafted in bronze wire.

Available with many other uniquely designed and handcrafted jewelry on our website.

Origins of Jet

Generally classified as a lignite coal, jet has high carbon content and a layered structure. It is black to dark brown, and sometimes contains tiny inclusions of pyrite, which have a metallic luster. It tends to occur in rocks of marine origin, perhaps derived from waterlogged driftwood or other plant material. In this respect it differs from ordinary lignite in that lignite usually forms through coalification of peaty deposits on land. Jet can occur in distinct beds, such those made famous by Jet at the beach shores of Whitby, England. Jet can also e found in Spain, France, Germany, Poland, Indian, Turkey, Russia, and in the area of Raton, New Mexico.

Since prehistoric time, it has been carved for ornamental purposes; many examples can be found in prehistoric caves. The Romans carved jet, which is light to wear, into bangles and beads, some of the jet came from Whitby as early as the 1st century AD. In medieval time’s powdered jet drunk in water or wine was believed to have medicinal properties. In India and the Mediterranean, carved jet amulets were believed to protect against the evil eye, and Irish women traditionally burned jet to ensure the safety of their husbands when away from home. Native Americans today continue to use jet in their jewelry.

Traditional properties of jet are said to provide great support and help alleviate the pain and suffering caused by separation or death of loved ones. It can be used to alleviated arthritis and inflammation of the joints and is also helpful in the treatment of bronchitis, colds, and headaches. All star signs benefit from the healing properties of jet, as it also works as a protective stone for all star signs.

Visit our website for unique custom natural stone jewelry.

*Reprinted from various mineral/rock and crystal books and websites.

Calming Labradorite

The Calcic, middle-range member of the plagioclase feldspars, labradorite seldom forms crystals, but when crystals do occur, they are tabular. It most often occurs in crystalline masses that can be microscopic or up to a meter or more across, and is commonly characterized by its ‘schiller’ effect – a rich play of iridescent colors, principally blue, on cleavage surfaces. Crystals that display this effect are used as gemstones, cut as cabochon.


The ‘schiller’ effect is caused by the scattering of light from thin layers of a second feldspar that develops through internal chemical separation during the cooling of what was originally a single feldspar. The base color of labradorite is generally blue or dark grey, but can be colorless or white.

Historically, labradorite was discovered at the end of the eighteenth century on a Canadian peninsula of Labrador after which it was named. It is said to be very effective in alleviating bone problems, disorders of the spinal column, and wear and tear of the joints.

Psychologically, labradorite has a calming, harmonizing effect, spiritual connection, transformation, brings clarity, peace and progression to the wearer. Labradorite improves intuition and clarifies the possessor’s own views and objectives.

The stone is the linked to the star sign of Aquarius and is most commonly found in Finland, United States, Canada, Madagascar, Australia, Russia, and Mexico.

*Reprinted from various rock/mineral & crystal books, websites.

Strands of Stone Chips

Natural stones in chip form are sometimes hard to work with; often I use them as spacers or in earrings. In these two designs, I used them as the accent to the focal pendants. The pendants in both are beautiful Brazilian Ocos Agates; deep shades of green, black and white in one and the other is pure innocent of white. Each has been encased in handcrafted non-tarnish wire.





To the left is a 2strand in Fancy Jasper with the focal pendant of snowy white Ocos Agate.










To the right is a 2 strand in Snakeskin Japer, Sandy Opals and Swarovski Crystals, with a focal pendant of deep green/black Ocos Agate.



Both are available at our website along with many other unique natural stone designs.

Molluscs Group Goniatites Ammonites

The Ammonoidea were a huge group of mollusks, mostly with coiled shells, that lived in the seas and oceans. They started to establish themselves in the Early to Mid Devonian Period, from about 400-390 million years ago. Different subgroups came and went, some becoming incredibly numerous and widespread, until the end of the Cretaceous Period, some 330 million years later. Ammonoid subgroups included goniaties and ceratites and the ammonites. Together with belemnoids and nautiloids, as well as squid, octopuses and cuttlefish, the ammonoids are included in the major cephalopod, or ‘head-foot’, group of mollusks.

To the right; black/white Goniatite wired in silver with lava stone beads, pewter chain and spacers.




Fossils are always fun to learn about and exceptional pieces to work with in jewelry. I’ve been able to wire work many pieces, including Ammonites and Goniatites. Visit our website for these and other fossil jewelry designs.

To the left, Ammonite wired in brass with tibetan and ceramic beads, with goldtone endcaps and antique brass spacers.