2012 Tucson Show Update: Week 1

by Rose Marion, Wire-Sculpture.com

Tucson Show Update #1
January 27, 2012

Good morning from Tucson, where it’s expected to be 74° today and clear, sunny skies! I’m thrilled to be back here in Tucson for the world-famous gem, mineral, and fossil shows – usually at least 60 individual shows will be held during January and February! We arrived yesterday, and today is all about setting up our booth and classes area for our sister site, JewelryTools.com, who is hosting 120+ classes over the next couple weeks. I can’t wait to meet all the instructors and explore as many shows as I can!

We’re based out of Kino Sports Complex, at the Tucson Electric Park (TEP) Gem & Mineral Show. While the show doesn’t open until Saturday, when it will be free to the public (and free parking!), I thought I’d wander through the show while people set up their booths and show you what I found. Some vendors have been here for days or even weeks already, setting up their marvelous stock of gems! Take a look:

Strands and strands and strands of gemstone beads at TEP Gem & Mineral Show – don’t you just want to touch them?

One of the vendors here has a lot of citrine and amethyst! Since Dale wrote about them recently in her gem profiles, I made sure to get a few pictures. (Click to enlarge)

Amethyst cathedrals waiting for the big day Saturday when the show opens!

A large citrine cathedral or geode – wouldn’t that be an amazing display piece!

The TEP Gem & Mineral Show had a lot of petrified wood to look at last year; this year it’s a big thing again, too! These fossilized stumps are sure to be popular.

Here are more stumps and also slabs of petrified wood. This is just while the vendor was setting up – I will have to come back when the show starts and see if they have any cabbed or small pieces for me to play with in wire!

Last but not least, I was just turning to leave when I saw these huge pure-white quartz crystals. Can you believe them!

We’ve got a busy day of setting up ahead of us, but I’ll be in touch again with LOTS more pictures and exciting gem & mineral updates from the show in the weeks to come!

Gem profiles by Dale “Cougar” Armstrong will resume after the Tucson shows.

By the way: there’s still time to discover the world of Jewelry-Making in terrific Tucson, Arizona! January 28 – February 12, choose from full-day and half-day classes that will transform your jewelry-making forever! In media including wire wrapping, beading, etching, resin, polymer clay, metal clay, chainmaille, and even more, just stop by JewelryTools.com’s Tool Tent #ES 14 at the TEP Gem & Mineral Show at Kino Sports Complex. Click here to browse all classes!

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6 Comments

1. 

   Robyn Blaisdell

   January 27, 2012 at 4:50 pm

   Oh Yum!!! Those amethyst cathedrals, and large quartz crystals are wonderful!!!! I, for one, would never get out of there alive!!!
   • 

     Loris Drake

     January 29, 2012 at 1:19 am

     I never knew such gems exisred
2. 

   Clyda Lutz

   January 29, 2012 at 12:05 pm

   Tucson Gem and Mineral show is on my bucket list. I retire in June and definitely plan to be there next year!
3. 

   Moraima Annandsingh

   January 29, 2012 at 4:40 pm

   Oh waaooo, it is incredible, how sad I am so far away to be there. But enjoy it.
4. 

   Cindy

   January 31, 2012 at 10:47 am

   I miss going to Tucson. Used to live in Phoenix area and went every year before I moved to Colorado. Due to my work schedule I will get to go back next year and can’t wait. It is a must see and the experience of a lifetime! Hope you are enjoying the trip!
5. 

   Kathy Bankston

   April 19, 2012 at 9:48 am

   Love the citrine cathedral! Maybe next year I can go!