Choose Your Favorite Travel Destination...Explain Why?

OK, once again I am going to fudge a little on this topic.  Off the top of my head I can think of two trips I've made that we now repeat almost annually.  But, these are favorites for very different reasons.


Destination #1:  
Tucson Gem Show, Tucson, AZ


I undertake this annual pilgrimage with an almost religious fervor.  From the day I send my deposit in, to the day I leave, not a minute goes by that I am not planning or packing or doing something that pertains to Tucson.

I like to plan this trip out before I go because there is just so much to do there that I can get side tracked pretty easily.  With over 40 individual shows throughout the city of Tucson you are sure to find something to please everyone in your party.



This trip isn't as expensive as some might think...and you have to balance the costs with the education and experience you gain with each trip.


More info:  http://tucsongemshow.blogspot.com/




Destination #2:  Oregon Sunstone 


This is a great driving trip and, when you work in front of a computer like I do, it is so much fun to just get outside and dig in the dirt for a week or so.  The Sunstone Fee Digs are all in basically the same area of Plush, Oregon so you can check out John's Double Eagle Mine, Don's Dust Devil Mine, and Chris' Spectrum Sunstone Mine, all within about 5 minutes of each other.  Last year a new mine opened for Fee Digs...the Sunstone Butte Mine, it is about 15-20 minutes away, but well worth the effort.


You can camp at most of the mine sites, there is a BLM area for free camping  and Lakeview is under an hour away if you prefer a hotel/motel.   Our favorite is the Tipi at the Spectrum - the Tipi is awesome, but we just enjoy hanging out with Chris or Jessica when they are in town.


If you have the time and can make this a 2 week trip - there is Juniper Ridge Opal near the Sunstone and Virgin Valley is about an hour away and over the Nevada border.  There are three Virgin Valley Opal mines that operate a Fee Dig - The Royal Peacock  (they have a camp grounds that can accommodate a tent or an RV) - Bonanza Opal Mine - Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine 


Please click through the links below for the blogs of my fellow Blog-o-sphere Think Tank members to see which destination they chose as their favorite...


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Review: 500 Silver Jewelry Designs

by Robyn Hawk on May 11, 2012



500 Silver Jewelry Designs: 
The Powerful Allure of a Precious Metal


I have been meaning to post a review for this book since the day I got it (thanks Lark Crafts)  but, as I tend to do, I get lost in it every time I open it!


500 Silver Jewelry Designs is, as the title reveals, on of Lark's "500 Series".  I don't know about you but these books have helped me through many a design drought...
Loretta Tryon's Satin Curve Cuff

The Lark "500 Series" if you aren't already aware of them, are brilliantly curated books that showcase some of the most incredible artisans in the field.   Each bares the unique viewpoint of the person that juries the work in it along with the editing genius of Marthe LeVan.  The juror in this issue is Israel born, Talya Baharal - who, like so many took her first Jewelry Design class at the 92nd Street Y in NYC. Known for her sculptural style Talya has had exhibits throughout the country and was written up in Metalsmith magazine.
Vina Rust: Stained Cell Series: Equisetum Bracelet


These will be the books that will service as a reference library for appraisers decades down the road --- they are the only thorough look at Art Jewelry in the 20th & 21st Centuries.


This particular edition is great in that it encompasses all forms of design as long as the piece is silver...and the range is amazing!


From the subtle sexy movement of Loretta Tryon's "Satin Curve Cuff" chosen for the Title Page with her feature on page 415  (shown above) to the insanely intricate work of Vina Rust, whose work is featured twice...pg. 46 "Eastern Cottonwood Defense" (shown below right) and  pg. 181 "Stained Cell Series: Equisetum Bracelet" (shown above).
Vina Rust: Eastern Cottonwood Defense




With this addition to the 500 Series Lark once again provides maximum color photos of amazing jewelry at a very economic price - these books run around the $25 - 30 price point.  Worth EVERY penny!

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Happy Earth Day!!!

April 22, 2012

Happy Earth Day!!!Go outside and touch the Earth!

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Blog-o-sphere Think Tank: Your Favorite Tool

April 20, 2012

Our Blog-o-sphere Think Tank Topic For April is…Your Favorite Tool!Yeah – like I can pick just ONE favorite tool…so – I have decided to give you my favorite tool for each of the lives I lead:@AFlyOnTheWall – Social Media Manager:Online, my Fav…

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Review: Cartier and America

April 19, 2012

Cartier and Americaby Martin Chapman5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars For The Photos Alone……but this isn’t just a pretty coffee table book, with Cartier and America, Martin Chapman also feeds your brain.Chapman comes with a background of cu…

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Color, Texture & Casting for Jewelers by Carles Codina

April 12, 2012

Color, Texture & Casting for Jewelers: Hands-On Demonstrations & Practical Applicationsby Carles CodinaWould you like to WIN this book?  Check out the contest on the Google+ Community Page – Jewelry Artisans, Designers, Metalsmiths – QUICK…

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GIVEAWAY!!! Lark Studio Series – the Entire Series!

April 10, 2012

OK – this is your chance to win a really fun set of books – get inspired by new crafts and reinforce current techniques!see Review at: http://flyviewsandreviews.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-lark-studio-seriesthe-little.htmlGIVEAWAY – I am giving to…

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Review: Lark Studio Series….the little books!

April 10, 2012

From Lark Crafts:”Each Lark Studio Series book is like a portable art gallery, offering over a hundred images on a given theme, as culled from our best-selling 500 series, on the topic of Handmade Dolls, Ceramic Sculptures,&nbs…

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Kevin Potter on the NEW PotterUSA 20Ton Hydraulic Press

March 26, 2012

Kevin Potter talks about the new design of his 20 ton Potter USA Hydraulic Jewelry Press…first run was in PURPLE…This new style is stronger and only has welds in the compression state – no welds in a tension state. The press is also powder-coated p…

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Blog-o-Sphere Think Tank – Inspirational Photo

March 20, 2012

Just discovered this meme on Kathleen Krucoff’s fabulous Mystical Mythical Metalwork blog!  BTW - meme ( /ˈmiːm/ meem) is used to describe a concept that spreads via the InternetMarch’s topic for the Blo…

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