I look forward to the Tucson show each year. The various venues take over much of Tucson and this year, Alisha, John and I go together. Three sets of trained eyes are an asset when ticking off the gemstones and fossils on our shopping lists. We start each day early and don’t quit until the shows close.
We hope this picture blog is both informative and amusing.
John, Alisha and Marty at the Mercado Tucson, one of the shuttle stops between shows.
We go to Tucson to buy, learn and find inspiration for new designs. Many hotel rooms are turned into temporary show rooms. We consider buying an Opalized Belemnite Squid Fossil to set in a piece of jewelry. The ones below right are from Coober Pedy, Australia. The vendor has a few freed from the rock but I stick to my shopping list and pass on this expensive whim.
Opalized Belemnite Squid Fossils
Rough Australian Opal
In one of the hotel suites, the vendor has set up a dark room area to showcase the florescent minerals. Under ultraviolet light, they glow with an amazing array of vibrant colors. The below right photo is of the rocks under normal lighting.
Florescent Minerals – UV Lighting
Florescent Minerals – UV Light
Florescent Minerals – Natural Light
The hotel fossil shows are some of our favorite venues.
Alisha posing beside a prehistoric cat skeleton.
Alisha along side Fish and Fern Fossil slabs.
Funny and Fearsome Alisha
Sharks Tooth Fossil Slab
Fossilized Planus Shark Teeth
Alisha plans to design a shark tooth pendant so we are on the hunt for fossilized shark’s teeth. Planus Shark Teeth seem to be the right size for her design and she buys many. We learn that the hooked-tooth mako shark lived during the Miocene era and are found in marine deposits along the Pacific Rim, predominately on the west coast of the United States. These prehistoric sharks were about the size of our modern day great white shark. Later in our hotel room, Alisha models the teeth for us. Shopping with my daughter is so much fun!
We spend another prehistoric day at the 22nd Street Show, an immense tented venue.
Alisha and John posing beside a Triceritops Skull.
Marty and the Ichthyosaur
At the end of each day we find a place to unwind over dinner and drinks where we discuss design ideas and cross reference our gemstone and fossil shopping list to plan our strategy for the next day.
After show drinks and dinner at the Tiki Room Bar and Restaurant
High priority on my shopping list are Mexican Matrix Opals and Mexican Fire Opals.
Marty shopping for Mexican Fire Opals at the GJX show
The Mexican Matrix Opal that regretfully got away.
Two carved Mexican Fire opal nuggets that I examine and purchase.
Immense crystals fill almost every parking lot in Tucson. It’s like walking through a museum where you are allowed to touch the exhibits.
John and Alisha flanking a giant double terminated crystal
On Tuesday, Feb 4th, the AGTA show opens to verified buyers. Much documentation is needed to be allowed entry and the security is high. Our badges are scanned when we enter and we peruse the high end gemstones and designer jewelry booths.
A panoramic view of the AGTA before opening.
AGTA award crystal
AGTA award crystals
Award Crystals at AGTA
AGTA award tourmaline pendant with octopus, pirate ship and treasure.
On the evening of the Super Bowl, we return to our hotel to find a Super Bead-a-Thon in progress in our hotel atrium. Many professional beaders have entered this event that Rio Grande and Tierra Cast, among others, have sponsored. All the participants are given an identical bag of findings and beads and have one hour to create a unique jewelry design. We arrive half way through the timed event and even John finds it interesting and suspenseful. There is an open bar and we order drinks and with mounting excitement, we watch the designs unfold.
Super Beadathon sponsored by Rio Grande and Tierra Cast
Super Beadathon sponsored by Rio Grande and Tierra Cast
The short video below is of the Beadathon:
On our final morning in Tucson, we go to the Kino show and stumble upon a tent with enormous amethyst crystals and geodes. For the modest price of $10 donated to a kids foundation, Alisha and John sit inside a larger than life geode and are closed inside.
John looking out from inside a giant amethyst geode.
Alisha looking out from inside a giant amethyst geode.
John inside a giant amethyst geode.
Alisha waiting to be closed inside the giant amethyst geode
The video below is of Alisha being enclosed inside an enormous Amethyst Geode.
Did I mention that our work is our play and that we always manage to have fun?
Alisha and John with a giant Gila Monster
Marty and John in front of the Tucson Lizard sign.