Rain, Rock, and a Small Show

We taught a wire wrapping class and then it was time to get ready for our shows. So besides going to the shop, for more sawing, we also did some wire wrapping, and getting our display items priced and ready.

Somehow we have reached the point where we have too much stuff. I had a nice talk at the lapidary shop with our friend Mark about the difference between collecting and hoarding and we decided it’s not hoarding if you sell items.

I was actually able to finish sawing the British Columbia and Alaskan Jade and the juror is in. It’s mostly crummy jade. Yes I will be able to make some pieces and yes we do have one piece that is head and shoulders above the other rocks, but for most part the northern jade is simply too fractured, I refuse to wax and buff the jade, which hides the flaws and is what is done with all the Chinese made jade figures sold in Alaska and BC).

Renita did make several beautiful pieces on the grinding wheels, her usual stunning red jasper piece and several leopard skin jasper cabs that are almost too beautiful to sell,)ok we will sell one but only if the price is right).

Back home,(remember we live in a fifth wheel), I made a beautiful 14k gold filled wire/charoite bracelet that we are listing at $495, and that’s a good price for stunning charoite as the others on Etsy at that price are sterling silver. I also wrapped a charoite pendant to match, also in 14k gfw, and priced it at $165.

The morning of our rv parks arts and crafts sale came and so did the rain. Molly and I went for a walk and the rain hit so hard and fast that we got a free bath. It poured as it only does in tropical areas and soon the streets were flooded, (rain amounts were recorded at 3-4 inches in less than three hours.

The rain finally slowed and we were able to set up in the recreation hall. We really didn’t have a lot of hope but it was good for us to practice our setup before our big show in March, (there we have four tables reserved). Both of us were a little surprised as we filled two ten foot tables with ease, and that was just with our cabochons and custom made jewelry, (yep we made it all here in the USA and its hand made one of a kind wearable art).

A few people showed up but we did sell some pieces and we did have more people request another wire wrapping class and so that’s good.  We were not allowed to advertise outside the park as there is no parking here, but that’s ok as this really isn’t our market. Our market is at juried arts and craft shows and gem, mineral, and fossil shows,( did I mention we are also now selling fish fossils, mammoth and mastodon teeth, and even fossil horse teeth from the Peace River in Florida, not collected by us but bought from an estate sale).

So we still have some samples to saw and polish, but for the most part we are show ready. We do hope to have some more success here and we are looking forward to the coming summer in Wyoming. Now if I can just figure out how to make a five piece tiger eye pendant and matching neck wire before we get there….. Clear skies




ps, there is some ok jade in BC but its all sold to China and  the BC jade mine wouldn't sell us any. Plus even the best in Alaska and Canada is not as good as the stunning quality Wyoming nephrite jade, and you can take that to the bank!