The End of Another Gem Show!

Marsha, Ginny and me at the Gem Mall

  

Well, it was a fun few days that I spent down in Tucson at the Gem, Mineral and Bead Shows last week.

 

Janet - Not sure where,...possibly the Doubletree Hotel - TBTB Show

 

I have some pics my sister took of all of us at the gem show.  Most of mine came out kinda blurry for some reason.

 

Marsha, Ginny and Janet at the Gem Mall

 

 

Marsha - again, not sure where - possibly the TBTB Show
at the Doubletree Hotel

 

 

Marsha, Janet and I stayed with Ginny and Dan during the week (thanks Dan for the wonderful scrambled eggs and bacon on Thursday morning - they were  yummy!!)
 

 

Ginny at the Sketchers Store - she's already laid down
a few boxes,....she had so many you couldn't even see her!!

  

We won't mention the trip to the Sketcher's Store

or Ginny's obsession with Pink Shoes!
 

 

Janet picks out some goodies at the To Bead True Blue
Show at the Doubletree Hotel

 

While Marsha and Janet headed up to Sedona after a couple of days of "Gem Shopping", I headed over to Nina and Steve's on the North West side of town for a few days until my boys arrived for the weekend. 

 

Nina, Garrett, me and Logan
Notice the bunny ears and someone grabbing someone else's ear??
Yep - that's how we all roll, baby!!

  

Nina and I had fun goofing around with our boys.
Gosh they're getting so tall! 

But we forgot to get pictures of us and our Hubby's!

Yes, that guy belongs to me!!

Well, almost!

 

Woke up to snow on the Catalina Mountains on Saturday Morning

 

 

Saturday morning, we woke up to snow on the Catalina Mountains and Saturday evening we were treated to a gorgeous sunset! 

 

 

The Sunset reflecting on the Catalina's from Nina's backyard Saturday evening.

 

I never get tired of the beauty around Tucson!

Except for maybe these,...not real fond of running into these,...or scorpions either!

 

Nina ran into this on one of her walks. Glad I was not w/her when this happened.
He is rather pretty though, isn't he?!

  

Even though we've all had our flu shots, both my son and hubby came down with what seems like a flu/cold combo so Sunday we jetted home early so they could get some rest.

Oh, and here's a few pics of some of the goodies I picked up while I was in Tucson - can't forget those!
 

 

Charms and Pendants from Silver Sparrow Beads, Blingy Goddess Pendants and a
beautiful Jasper focal bead my sis got me from Silk Road Treasures.

   

 

A beautiful Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Focal Bead and a strand of really pretty
Turquoise nuggets from Mexico - Yummy Turquoise!!

 

 

 

Clay Beads - made to look old.  Cool and Fun!!

 

 

Unfortunately I only saw a couple of people I knew at the booths I stopped at - everyone else was on a break, or teaching a class or off eating somewhere.
 

 

Ayla,....one of my "Pearl Connections" I've had for several years!
And a fellow Illinois gal, too!

 

I didn't make it around to all the booths I wanted to either this year.  It was a rather hectic few days with not as much time at each location as I normally have - but it was still fun none-the-less. 

 

 

Steve with Pacific Silverworks
Have you seen his cool rings?!!

 

I mean, who wouldn't have fun strolling among pearls, beads, findings, gems and more pearls, right?

 

 

Beautiful, Beautiful Pearls!
These are some of the strands that came home with me!!
(happy dance!)

 

Until Next Time,
 

Peace, Love and Sadly,
The End of Another Gem Show!!

Cheers,

~Shel~

BTW and Shows to Check Out!

It's Bead Table Wednesday and here's what's on my Bead Table today ~

More "Norm" Sytle Earring Wires

Also, I wanted to give you a head's up on a few "Must See" shows to check out while you are down in Tucson during all the gems shows this week and next.

The Whole Bead Show - Windmill Inn, River and Campbell.  Feb. 1st - 6th. This is usually my first stop as I pull into Tucson because I can go there and shop for a couple of hours with some of my favorite vendors and then walk across the parking lot to Vivace's and have lunch with my girlfriends! They've got everything and most of the vendors have been at this location for many, many years!!

To Bead True Blue - Double Tree Reid Park Hotel.  Jan. 29th - Feb. 3rd. This is usually my second stop. Again, lots of vendors I love, tons of beads and findings, great classes, and if you feel like stopping for a glass of wine while shopping, they've got a restaurant here for that as well!  This show ends on the 3rd of February, but "morphs" into,....

The Tucson Bead Show - Double Tree Reid Part Hotel.   Feb. 4th - 6th. Some of the same vendors remain through this weekend at the Reid Park Hotel - but there's some new faces this weekend too - and you don't want to miss them!!  So - visit this hotel/show twice!!

The Best Bead Show - Kino Veteran's Memorial Community Center - Feb. 1st - 5th. Tons of beads and findings to drool over, great vendors and classes to boot! Parking can be a hassle - but it can be a hassle at all the shows - so if you don't have to drive or park and can take the shuttle - do that.

G & LW Show - BIG!!  The Holidome (Feb. 2nd - 10th) and the Gem Mall (Jan. 28th- Feb 10th).  They're crowded, and for good reason!  I get lots of my pearls from Majestic Pearl and they exhibit at both the Holidome and the Gem Mall and it's a great idea to hop around to both, cause there's different vendors at each.  My friend Karen, whom I've known for something like 20 years, works with registration at G&LW, and she's the best when it comes to customer service - make sure to be nice to her when you're checking in!
 (again, parking's a pain - take the shuttles if possible)

Mineral And Fossil Marketplace - Jan. 28th - Feb 11th.This is actually 4 shows (click on the link for the locations/times) But we go to the Hotel Tucson City Center.  This place is really cool - especially if you've got family that wants to see things other than beads and gemstones.  They've got huge dinosaur fossils, mega-sized Amethyst Crystals, cool meteorite and rock displays, jewelry, books, minerals galore and it's just a fun and funky, laid-back vibe from the minute you walk through the door. 

(Yes - The pic of my hubby's face through that huge Amethyst was taken at this show!)

 Tucson Gem Show - Tucson Convention Center. This is the big daddy - well, to me it is. My boys don't like this one cause most things are behind glass counters and they're the 'touchy-feely' sort of folks. But me,...I just drool over all the amazing gemstones, pearls, cool minerals, diamonds and fabulous jewelry!!  I go to this one by myself so my friends won't get mad when I spend 20 minutes looking at one stone!! 

Create Your Style with Swarovski Tucson 2012 - Westin La Paloma. Jan. 31st - Feb. 2nd. (Open to the public) Again - another one Nina and I will attend by ourselves. Our boys just don't get all the sparkle! And, the La Paloma - wow - the views!  They sparkle, too!! 

GJX - Gem and Jewelry Exchange - Downtown on Granada. Jan. 31st - Feb. 5th.  Parking can be a pain, but if you want to purchase some great quality gemstones at a wonderful price - this is one of the places to do just that!

Globe-X at the Days Inn - Jan. 29th - Feb. 13th. Off of Freeway Ave. Lumped into the shows known as the "Freeway Shows",  Globe-X (and the rest of them have) everything from rocks, fossils, minerals, beads, fancy cut gemstones, rugs, ethnic/tribal finds, right on down to some great little food vendors.  

J.O.G.S. Show - Tucson Expo Center off of Irvington. Jan. 27th - Feb. 7th.  Okay - this is one to see as well - has everything. Tons of great beads/gemstone strands and findings galore! Plus, fabulous jewelry for your store (if you've got one) and you can find some really great finds and some really great prices here, too.

And, here's the Tucson Show Guide link to a bunch more shows and places you'll want to check out!

I hope you enjoy your visit to Tucson should you be there this year!!

Until Next Time,

Peace, Love and Heading Down to the "Annual Drool Fest"!!

Cheers,

~Shel~