Yesterday was Mother's Day, so we decided to load into the van and head over to Franklin, NC, where the gem show was held. I found my long time friend Jessica, from Jess Imports and we stood around catching up about the kids, my mom (and her love of Phillipine boxing star Manny Paquiao). We also planned some exciting pieces for her line (new bees!) to debut in a couple of months. Above is a vermeil ring featuring the Green Girl classic mermaid button, one of my Mother's Day gifts.
These sparklies are rose cut Champagne Quartz cabachons, destined for some limited edition pieces. I saw them at Sona's table and thought how great they would look on a ring, or even set onto a bit of enameling, to magnify and glitterize the color.
I found this unique amulet at a table selling pieces from various Boudouin tribes and couldn't resist shifting through the pile to find one with a.) a perfect stone with no cracks b.) really sharp carving. It's a quartz crystal sliced like a loaf of bread with an image of a gazelle or rabbit creature carved out. Looking at it put me in the mood to sit down at my lapidary grinder and have at it. I have some gorgeous rough stones that need attending to.
While at Sona's table, I found more stones to add to my hoard (from the top down): micro faceted sapphires, chrome dioxide teardrops, top drilled mini faceted black spinel, rainbow tunduru sapphire rondelles, rough cut diamonds, faceted pyrite rondelles and peach colored andalucite. Unfortunately, they don't have a website, so I have to wait till a gem show rolls around or call their offices in Morgantown, PA (610-856-7211) but their prices are great and I love the quality, so its worth it.
What a beautiful collection you acquired on Mother's Day! Love the Champagne quartz. Really lovely. You should press out the amulet in a piece of polymer for the full effect. Sometimes there's background details. I got a cylinder seal one from an Afghani trader and it's of a dragon. Another was of a wizard communicating with animals.
ReplyDeleteOh and your stash from Sona is a thing of beauty! Love the green color of the chrome dioxide teardrops, and of course I love the diamonds! Such treasures! Too bad they're a few hours away! Otherwise I'd go just to ogle the sparkling strands of goodness!
ooooohhh, Sona! Nice haul! Someday I'm going to actually spend some money at their booth. Such high quality stones. Gotta say, I usually head for the crunchier, less expensive varieties lurking in the dark recesses of the show. I do like inclusions!
ReplyDeleteHappy late Mom's day!
OMG!!! GORGEOUS that ring is too sweet and the cabs and beads are quite a yummy snack too. It is amazing how such tiny things can't bring so much enjoyment!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that ring!! Will something like that ever be available for purchase or is it on of a kind??? Gorgeous stones too.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks everyone! Yep, I was pleased with my haul. SOna is awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure the ring is available all the time from Jess Imports. If its not on the site, call them and they can send you one.
Ditto everyone else's comment on your ring...it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you had a very beady-full Mother's Day :-)
Thank you Cynthia! I will give them a call.
ReplyDelete