Gulf Coast Gem and Mineral Show 2011, Robstown, Texas

It was finally time for the big event, our clubs 49th annual gem and mineral show. Roy and Pam had come to help and shop for rock,(they also do lapidary and sell jewelry), and we were excited to set up our display of Wyoming Jade.
We had just finished the last seven Wyoming Jade cabochons and had wrapped them in sterling silver so they would complete a sixteen piece set. The display would be a slab of rough and the corresponding finished piece, along with a map of jade prospecting locations.

In addition, we had also been invited to fill a last minute cancellation and show and sell our work. Its a juried show so we were pleased that the clubs board had approved our entry! It was to be our first juried show.
Jerrold and Linda and Mark W, were also going to put some of their work in our store and so we were all excited.
Our friend and mentor Dick C. had also decided to sell some of his lifetime collection and so we hoped we could sell some of our work so we could buy his cabochons, his work is the finest we have seen! He was also selling his wife's, Evelyn, collection of cabochons, matching sets of earrings and pendants that had won her a National Lapidary award.

We met the other club members and loaded the trailer at seven am on Friday and after the short drive to Robstown, we helped to unload and set up the show. We had quite a few volunteers and so it went quickly.
The next morning Renita and I left early and drove to the show. The setup of our store went easy and while it was the smallest store it was composed of one of a kid handmade pieces in which we had done the lapidary and wire wrapping. Our uniqueness is that we don't buy and resell ready made pieces and their wer only two other stores that did the same.

The doors opened and we got pretty busy, explaining our art wire and lapidary work, inviting people to join the club and learn to work stone, and thanking them for stopping buy our booth. We even sold some of our pieces and of course I ran over to Dicks booth and bought cabochons.
We also invested in a beautifully chatoyant five pound boulder of  South African gold tiger eye, after all isn't that what its all about, buying and collecting more rock,(note to self buy new tires with a higher load rating)?
Saturday drew to a close and we were all happy with the days events.
Sunday morning came too quickly, I had been up late wrapping custom orders of turquoise and Texas  Moss agate. I hope the people would love their rocks. Having people select your style of work and asking you to wrap their treasure makes it even more special. It seemed forever before they showed up and they were ecstatic! They even promised more orders and that's the way its been for us, the weeks after the show bring phone calls and requests.
Its all about getting our names out there and showing our lapidary work and wire art. Renita makes outstanding free form cabochons and I would put our precise wire wrapping up there with the best. To say we are having fun is an understatement and to say it is such a surprise is an equally true. Life is good! Clear skies.