Tucson Gem Show - Day 2 ...

Today we hit more shows and found more goodies!  We started at the Howard Johnson Gem and Mineral show.  We went there to see Rhodo Co.  They supposedly opened at 9:30 - but not really so we went wandering around the hotel rooms that were open and had a blast shopping and talking with the guys at Nevada Turquoise Co. I took a really bad picture of all of them and, of course, I forgot all their names and didn't write them down! The guy on the left (Shellbone is his name according to their web page) owns the mines that almost all the beads and cabs come from. His dad is on the right and he helps out. One of their friends, in the middle, is a direct descendant of some of the Indians who fought at the Little Big Horn.  It so happens I'm distantly related to Marcus Reno who was one of the few U.S. soldiers to survive that battle.  So we had something to talk about in addition to turquoise!		Anyway, since they mine and cut all the turquoise themselves they could tell me exactly where it came from, if it was stablized, ...  Very little that they sell is stabilized and prices were very reasonable.  I had a wonderful time in their room, their turquoise is beautiful and I highly recommend them to everyone else!
Our next stop was Rhodo Co.  Their actual website link isn't doing much but this link has some contact information.  I got some nice rhodocrosite there - but still no heart brios.  The quest for rhodocrosite heart brios continues!  Here's the rhodocrosite I bought ...

Then we wandered all around the other booths, rooms, tents, ... and thoroughly enjoyed looking at all the gem and mineral specimens that abounded.  I took pictures of some of the booths - but they were terrible!

Next up was lunch.  We went to El Minuto - right near the convention center.  The food was good, but it was incredibly busy so service was brusque.  Nevertheless we rehydrated and reenergized in preparation for the 22nd street show.  They have a LOT of fossils here and it's a retail show.  Nevertheless I did get some beautiful black agate with white quartz matrix beads.  They will make beautiful focals!  No picture of those yet though.  My mom spotted those.  I was walking right on by the tables since my eyes saw the dyed and crackle glass beads and just glazed over - LOL!  Fortunately she isn't quite so judgemental about these things.

Next up was the Lucky Gems pre-show.  A friend of mine is on their email list so she got an invite and we tagged along with her.  I had more fun and so did my mom.  She really liked the long drilled biwas and flake keishis I used on her eclectic necklace and wants a necklace with just those.  She went looking for those and I just went looking.  I found some nice rondelles at a wonderful price which I think will go well with some of the turquoise I bought.  Here they are ...

Last on our stop was a quick run through the Gem Mall (we had to go that way to get to our car - so why not shop on the way out????).  I found my favorite sterling seller, Kalpataru, bought some things, talked a bit with the owner (no picture - again!) and by then we were pretty much done.  We glanced at tables as we left - but I was just too tired for any more shopping.

So that's it for today.  Now it's time to hit the sack and get some rest in preparation for the Holidome tomorrow!  Sweet, sparkly dreams all!