Yesterday I visited the Rings & Things bead show in Trevose (Philadelphia) PA
and came home with a tremendous amount of brand new gemstone goodness!
As promised, here's a look at some of the goodies I brought home...
Let's see, I'll try to remember what these are off the top of my head...left to right:
Fluorite, Citrine, Quartz and Rhodonite, Crab Fire Agate (for size reference,
these are about the size of a penny), Blue Agate, Celestite, Magnesite, Amethyst,
Rainbow Amazonite, Blue Jasper, and Blue Chalcedony. I have to just say that
the photo doesn't do them justice - they are all so much more beautiful in person!
Big thanks to my sister Lisa for being my bead show buddy for the day! Not
only did she offer to come along with me so I didn't have to drive alone (it was
only about an hour from my home but I was unfamiliar with the area) but she
also insisted on driving us in her car. She was so patient and waited as I strolled
the bead isles! Afterward we drove to beautiful Doylestown, PA, and I treated
to lunch in a shady sidewalk cafe. It really was a great day!
I couldn't resist the skulls...and am going to do something interesting & fun with them!
Okay, left to right we have; Turquoise Magnesite skulls, bone colored Magnesite skulls,
Chalcedony briolettes, rough point rock crystal points, African Turquoise, more rough point
rock crystal points, Kyanite, Rutilated Quartz, small rock crystal points, Labradorite,
and larger rock crystal points. I seemed to be drawn to the stick shaped stones!
I've been hungering to get my paws on some natural Quartz Crystal Points, and was thrilled
to find the tiny ones (they're not cheap!) I've also been yearning for some Kyanite and
Labradorite. I love the smoky blues and grays and the iridescent flash of those two stones.
Left to right starting in the bottom left corner there's a peek of lavender Lepidolite,
blue Apatite, Rutilated Quartz, Blue Chalcedony briolettes, Amazonite, Citrine,
Pink and Purple Peruvian Opal briolettes, and Porcelain Jasper. One thing I was disappointed about when I got home was that under my jewelers loupe I could see absolutely NO inclusions of rutile - I think I got ripped off with this strand for sure - I think this strand was simply yellowish quarts point clusters. If I would have noticed it at the show I certainly would not have bought them.
Kinda spooky, but I like!
Left to right: Fluorite, Citrine (and both of those are huge! They were two of the most
expensive strands that I bought), Blue Chalcedony, Blue Peruvian Opal briolettes,
Pink/Purple Peruvian Opal briolettes, Rainbow Moonstone, and, the bees...I loved the
bees! They are unlike anything that I usually work with because they are not stone,
but Thermo-Sensitive Polymer (think Mood Rings!) Yep! They change color with
the temperature: from the blue you see in the photo, to a neon green, to a warm
golden brown, etc. I think they're really unique and can't wait to make something
beautiful with them!
What do you think?
I hope you have a great week
Laura
