Showing posts with label Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Show all posts

This or That Thursday!

So, last Thursday I made my way down to Tucson
for what I call the annual "Drool Fest".

Driving through the old neighborhood!


You know, The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show!

Yep - this is large alright!


It was complete with tons of way cool beads, pearls, gemstones, fossils, minerals, crystals, dinosaur bones
and more!

Now this,...I would have loved to purchase and take home
and place it inside my foyer,....or out in my yard by the lake.
Seriously - I love this for some strange reason!
But it was already sold.

You never know what you're gonna see!




Or Who!!


Yes, but it's a DRY heat in the desert!

This week, I've been catching up on tons of work,
house and home stuff and all those good things!!

How about you?

I'm also linking up with This or That Thursday



Won't you join me?

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Missing Tucson!

Cheers,
~Shel~

Wow - What A Trip!

Tucson!  


Yes, it was a whirlwind of excitement with Pearls, Beads, Gemstones, Findings, Tools, Fossils, Minerals, Crystals, Geodes, Dinosaur Bones, and more - EVERYWHERE!!


 
I'm trying to get back in the groove of things today.

You know,...back to REALITY!


It's always so hard to leave behind
all the beautiful treasures!


 
But it's good to be back home, too!




I'll be talking more about the Gem and Bead Shows
in another post, so stay tuned!

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Gem Show Treasures!
Cheers,
~Shel~

BTW and Shows to Check Out!

It's Bead Table Wednesday and here's what's on my Bead Table today ~


More "Norm" Sytle Earring Wires


Also, I wanted to give you a head's up on a few "Must See" shows to check out while you are down in Tucson during all the gems shows this week and next.

The Whole Bead Show - Windmill Inn, River and Campbell.  Feb. 1st - 6th. This is usually my first stop as I pull into Tucson because I can go there and shop for a couple of hours with some of my favorite vendors and then walk across the parking lot to Vivace's and have lunch with my girlfriends! They've got everything and most of the vendors have been at this location for many, many years!!



To Bead True Blue - Double Tree Reid Park Hotel.  Jan. 29th - Feb. 3rd. This is usually my second stop. Again, lots of vendors I love, tons of beads and findings, great classes, and if you feel like stopping for a glass of wine while shopping, they've got a restaurant here for that as well!  This show ends on the 3rd of February, but "morphs" into,....



The Tucson Bead Show - Double Tree Reid Part Hotel.   Feb. 4th - 6th. Some of the same vendors remain through this weekend at the Reid Park Hotel - but there's some new faces this weekend too - and you don't want to miss them!!  So - visit this hotel/show twice!!




The Best Bead Show - Kino Veteran's Memorial Community Center - Feb. 1st - 5th. Tons of beads and findings to drool over, great vendors and classes to boot! Parking can be a hassle - but it can be a hassle at all the shows - so if you don't have to drive or park and can take the shuttle - do that.



G & LW Show - BIG!!  The Holidome (Feb. 2nd - 10th) and the Gem Mall (Jan. 28th- Feb 10th).  They're crowded, and for good reason!  I get lots of my pearls from Majestic Pearl and they exhibit at both the Holidome and the Gem Mall and it's a great idea to hop around to both, cause there's different vendors at each.  My friend Karen, whom I've known for something like 20 years, works with registration at G&LW, and she's the best when it comes to customer service - make sure to be nice to her when you're checking in!
 (again, parking's a pain - take the shuttles if possible)

Mineral And Fossil Marketplace - Jan. 28th - Feb 11th.This is actually 4 shows (click on the link for the locations/times) But we go to the Hotel Tucson City Center.  This place is really cool - especially if you've got family that wants to see things other than beads and gemstones.  They've got huge dinosaur fossils, mega-sized Amethyst Crystals, cool meteorite and rock displays, jewelry, books, minerals galore and it's just a fun and funky, laid-back vibe from the minute you walk through the door. 



(Yes - The pic of my hubby's face through that huge Amethyst was taken at this show!)



 Tucson Gem Show - Tucson Convention Center. This is the big daddy - well, to me it is. My boys don't like this one cause most things are behind glass counters and they're the 'touchy-feely' sort of folks. But me,...I just drool over all the amazing gemstones, pearls, cool minerals, diamonds and fabulous jewelry!!  I go to this one by myself so my friends won't get mad when I spend 20 minutes looking at one stone!! 

Create Your Style with Swarovski Tucson 2012 - Westin La Paloma. Jan. 31st - Feb. 2nd. (Open to the public) Again - another one Nina and I will attend by ourselves. Our boys just don't get all the sparkle! And, the La Paloma - wow - the views!  They sparkle, too!! 

GJX - Gem and Jewelry Exchange - Downtown on Granada. Jan. 31st - Feb. 5th.  Parking can be a pain, but if you want to purchase some great quality gemstones at a wonderful price - this is one of the places to do just that!

Globe-X at the Days Inn - Jan. 29th - Feb. 13th. Off of Freeway Ave. Lumped into the shows known as the "Freeway Shows",  Globe-X (and the rest of them have) everything from rocks, fossils, minerals, beads, fancy cut gemstones, rugs, ethnic/tribal finds, right on down to some great little food vendors.  

J.O.G.S. Show - Tucson Expo Center off of Irvington. Jan. 27th - Feb. 7th.  Okay - this is one to see as well - has everything. Tons of great beads/gemstone strands and findings galore! Plus, fabulous jewelry for your store (if you've got one) and you can find some really great finds and some really great prices here, too.



And, here's the Tucson Show Guide link to a bunch more shows and places you'll want to check out!

I hope you enjoy your visit to Tucson should you be there this year!!



Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Heading Down to the "Annual Drool Fest"!!
Cheers,
~Shel~

Good Eats While Down in Tucson!!

Okay - so a while back I mentioned that I'd be giving you a line up of a few places to 'stuff your face' while you're down in Tucson for all the Gem Shows, so here's a little sample of what the Old Pueblo has to offer:

Shelly, Nina and Ginny at Vivace's Feb-2011

Vivace - YUMMY!!  On the corner of River and Campbell, Vivace's has some great Italian food, awesome service and this is where we all met last year for lunch. We just walked out of the Windmill Inn, where the Whole Bead Show is, and across the parking lot and enjoyed some yummy pasta and delicious wine!  You gotta go! (Tell them Nina E. sent you!!)   

The Girls at Vivace's - Nina, Ginny, Marsha and Janet
(I'm behind the camara - taken' the pic!)

The Blue Willow - A Tucson Tradition!  An old 1940's Adobe house turned great restaurant, the ambiance takes you back in time and their breakfasts are what so many in Tucson love!  (And their deserts!)
Lunch and dinner are always good, too. 

Casa Molina's - Another Tucson Tradition (since 1947) and great Mexican food as well!  Fabulous  Margarita's baby (Try the Berry Berry Margarita - yummy) !!

Ni Nidito Restaurant - It's been around for decades and is a must stop for some of the best Mexican food in Tucson - hands down!

Jerry Bob's - Best comfort food in the West! Well, in Tucson anyway. Both of the ones at Oracle / McGee and Thornydale / Cortaro on the NW side of town are the ones we always used to go to with our friends on Sunday mornings when we lived down there. If you're going on the weekend, get there early, cause you'll have to wait to get in!

Frankie's South Philly Cheesesteaks - Longing for some great Philly Cheesesteaks are you? Well this is the place!

Flemmings - At Skyline and Campbell, Flemmings has a nice atmosphere, amazing wine list and of course, yummy salads and steaks that are to die-for! I've never eaten at a Flemmings that wasn't great!

Pinnacle Peak Steak House / El Corral and Trail Dust Town - Okay - it can be a little "Hokie" but Trail Dust Town is something everyone wants to see when they come to Tucson for some reason - probably because Pinnacle Peak Steak House is pretty well known,...so is El Corral.  Both have great steaks and cold beer - very yummy in the hot, dry desert!

Here's one I'd like to try because I've heard really good things about it - Azul Restaurant and Lounge inside the Westin LaPaloma. With great views of the beautiful Catalina Mountains, who wouldn't want to sip a cocktail and cool your heels at this place?!!

My favorite place in all of Tucson though is of course, my friend Nina's!  She makes the best Chili Blanco around and pours a mean glass of wine, too!   Wish I could invite you all over there to enjoy it with me, but even with a couple of acres, I'm not sure we'd all fit!

Shelly and Nina
Ready to Enjoy Some of Nina's Famous Chili Blanco!


Steve and Mike
Cooking in the Kitchen with Nina

There's tons of other great places to sit back, relax and enjoy the views and tastes of Tucson, so be sure to ask around because every local has his/her own favorites.

And, if you hear something mentioned more than once, take their advice and check it out!!

Again, make sure you're wearing comfy shoes, have your sunscreen on and your water bottle in your hand - it's the desert (yes, I know, last year it was below freezing,...but that was a bit unusual!!).

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Hanging Out in the Old Pueblo!

Having Fun with Crazy Friends

Cheers,
~Shel~

Are You Ready for Tucson,....

Okay, so most of you know how excited I get to attend (and sometimes teach during) the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Bead Shows that happen in late January and early February of each year, right?

Oh, the pearls,...and beads and gems - oh my!


Well, this year's no exception!!  Hopefully with out the hard freeze they had last year, but hey, I will not complain either way!!


Read my article from last year's show
over on the Beading Arts Blog


I'm always busy hunting down my favorite vendors and drooling over which Pearls are the best in town but this year I'm actually looking forward to scoping out a bunch of different things that I've never checked out or attended

Some of my lovely finds



More beauties to take home

Always try something new and
venture outside of your comfort zone!


Here's a handy tip.

Get your Tucson Show Guide now! 



If you've never attended any of the shows in Tucson during this time of year (and there's a zillion of them,...honestly!!) , you're gonna want to have a 'heads-up' on what's what, who's where and how to get around. 



Meteorite Men in Tucson Again this Year


There were a couple of years where the freeway was under construction and if you didn't know your way around or take the shuttles, I'm sure you found Tucson a smidge challenging and your drive time a bit longer than expected - leaving you short on shopping and drooling time!



As for the Tucson Show Guide - I usually end up with about three of these babies in my car because once you get there they're all over and everyone grabs one and leaves it with me thinking I need another,...???

The Show Guide will help you find shows with fun things like this!!


And this wan't even the biggest one!!


This year you can even get your Show Guide digitally and not have to haul it around (How Cool Is THIS?!!) So take advantage of this nifty piece of technology, won't you?  And if you have to have one you can touch and hold, take it with you when you get out of my car, we've got enough to wallpaper the moon with! 

Tucson Sunsets are the best!

Also, you really do have to prepare for almost any type of weather.  Seriously. It's cold in the desert in February - at least when the sun's not shining. It rains each year - truly - at some point anyway. And yes, when the sun does shine or if it's a bit over-cast, you need sunscreen people or your little noses and cheeks will turn a bit red!  Just saying,....

The beautiful Santa Catalinas!

And shoes!  Okay - you're talking to the shoe diva here (see my 'Shel' section of this blog and scroll all the way down - yes I have walked in those - but never at the gem show!!).

Fashion out the window - you don't want your tootsies keeping you from all those gorgeous treasures!

Best places to stay you ask?

"Girlfriends"

Well, I'm really lucky and get to stay with one of my best girlfriends and her family. Our boys have been friends since they were two years old (we used to live in Tucson), and they always open their home to us. I usually check into the "Elliott Hilton" by myself for a few days first while I hang with Nina, some other girlfriends and my sis and check out all the shows.


Lunching with the girls

Then, the last weekend of the show, the hubby and son travel down and join me and both families enjoy a few fun days of searching for great treasures!



We have a tradition where after we're all done shopping we bring our goodies back to the house, have an excellent dinner that Nina always prepares to perfection, open a few bottles of wine and have "Show and Tell" - it's one of my favorite traditions!!

Cookin' with Nina!


Yes - we're all a bunch of dorks - but we do have FUN!!

Our boys are in high school now and they still enjoy this weekend w/us!! (Or at least they tell us they do!)

These two keep us entertained!
In another post, I'll give you some tips on some various shows and exhibits to check out, some great restaurant suggestions for your hungry tummy and a few other goodies to be found down in the Old Pueblo!



So, go download your Tucson Show Guide 2012
now and start planning away!!


Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Gearing Up!!
Cheers,
~Shel~

Something to drool over,...

Since my elbow is a bit under the weather (long, boring story, trust me - and now comes the part where you can all crack some jokes!) I've been reduced to laying down my jewelry pliers for a few days and picking up my camera and finally snapping some pics of the gorgeous little treasures I snatched up while freezing my buns off down in Tucson during the gem show.

Mind you, this is only a sneak peak, but I wanted to post a couple of shots to help you start drooling this week - incase you had a boring Monday or something!

Anyhoo,...I'll leave you with these,.....no explanations needed, right?!

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and healing vibes! (and drooling mouths!)
Cheers,

Tucson Bound!

Finally - today's the day I hop in my car and head down to Tucson for my annual "drooling over beads, pearls, gems and findings" fest!! 

I'm so excited I could pee right now.  Oops, that's probably TMI - but how many of you would feel the same if you could go, or do feel this way cause you're there (or almost there!)?

Yes, it's a beautiful site, full of beads, pearls, gemstones, findings, cool tools, new ideas, creative spirits wandering the city and over all excitement! 

I'll be posting to twitter nighting (like I'd stop drooling to text/type? Right!!)  The gems need my full attention mind you!  

I love Tucson!  I get to feast upon Nina's wonderful cooking, share a glass of wine with her and her hubby in the evening and hang out watching the sun set over the Catalinas - how wonderful is this?!! Then, my hubby and son roll into town Friday after school - they love the gem show too!! Then, all of us go in search of great things and share all our treasures and finds over dinner Saturday evening - it's tradition!

 
So, until I return home next week and get the new pics posted,.....here's some goodies from last year - and boy were they fantastic!!

Until Next Time,
Peace, Love and Tucson!!  
Cheers,
~Shel~