 |
|
|
Karla Rosenbusch
is the associate
editor of Lapidary
Journal Jewelry Artist.
|
|
| |
|
Every year about this time, I start thinking past the holidays and looking forward to the annual Tucson gem, jewelry, mineral, fossil, and bead shows in January and February. As I begin to plan my trip, I always get excited thinking about the yearly pilgrimage. For anyone who loves jewelry making, Tucson is definitely the place to be! Here are a few of my favorite things about the Tucson shows.
1. Finding New "Must-Haves"
Oh, yes, I always create the recommended Tucson shopping list. The most sensible thing you can do before heading for Tucson is to come up with a specific list of items you're looking for, but I love to deviate from the list sometimes. That's how I find some amazing gemstones, beads, and jewelry findings—things I didn't even know I wanted until I saw them.
Last year, my Tucson discovery was African blue opal. I found a strand of large square African blue opal beads on a $1 sale table at the Holidome. A strand of stunning stones for only $1? Yep, I had to have them! And ever since then, African blue opal has become one of my favorite stones to include in my jewelry designs.
2. The Art of the Deal
My $1 blue opal beads weren't the only deal I found last year in Tucson. I've wanted to find some good affordable Fordite for quite some time. For those who might not know about Fordite, it's actually automotive paint that built up in the paint booths used by Ford decades ago. After the paint booths were closed down, rock hounds went in, chipped off the paint remnants, and made fabulous "gems" out of them. Since I'm originally from Detroit and come from an automotive background, I just had to have some.
Since Fordite is so rare, it's hard to find and expensive when you do find it. But I found some wonderful little Fordite cabochons in a booth at the Electric Park show—and at a great price. Because I'd bought some other stones from the same vendor, he even reduced the price a bit more. You can always find great deals like this around Tucson!
3. The Weather
Tucson in January and February can be a bit chilly sometimes, but you'll also have sunny days with temperatures in the 60s and 70s. That's heaven for those of us flying in from points north. I've departed for my Tucson trip in snowstorms and returned in ice storms. It's fabulous to spend most of my visit to the shows in sun and warmth.
Last year, the Northeast was hit with a major snowstorm during the Tucson shows. I took pictures of the lovely Tucson weather and e-mailed them to everyone back home. It seemed pretty funny until I got back to Philadelphia and had to clean two feet of snow off of my car before I could drive home. The lesson? Enjoy the weather in Tucson—but don't get too smug about it!
4. Old and New Friends
Every time I hit the Tucson shows, I see good friends that I only get to see once a year. It's delightful to hang out with jewelry makers, jewelry artists, rock and mineral lovers, gem experts, and others with shared interests. Many of these people I know primarily through e-mail and phone conversations, so it's wonderful to be able to catch up in person.
At the same time, I always meet new and fascinating people in Tucson. My advice to new Tucson visitors is to talk to everyone! It's a great way to make new contacts, learn about the latest jewelry-making trends, get the scoop on where you'll find the best deals, or just make a new friend.
5. Events, Classes, and Exhibits
A lot of people don't realize that there is much more to see and do in Tucson than just shop at the shows. There are an amazing number of special events going on in and around the city. You can take jewelry-making classes, view exhibits of gemstone art, hear lectures on the newest mineral finds and controversies, attend parties sponsored by jewelry industry organizations, listen to some great live music, and much more. Tucson is much more than a shopping trip—it's a major experience!
Advice for Attending Tucson
There is so much to see and do during the Tucson shows that my best advice is to think ahead. Make sure you have a plan in place for what shows you want to visit on which days, which vendors you want to find, what classes and events you must see, and even where you plan to eat. The best resource for planning your trip is the Tucson Show Guide. You can find all this information and more in the Show Guide, and it's an invaluable resource for finding your way around during the shows.
What are you most looking forward to at the Tucson shows? What's your best advice for anyone attending the shows? Stop by the Jewelry Making Daily forums and give us your thoughts on the Tucson shows there or in the comments below. We'll see you in Tucson!