So - can I just tell you how much I have enjoyed being in Arizona for the past couple of months! It has been 40 years since we have spent winter in the warm sunny climes of California. Arizona even has that beat! We have been in the 70's, 80's, even 90's this past few weeks and it has been wonderful! No frozen toes, no shoveling snow, no cold cars, lots of ice cubes in our drinks, sunshine on our faces, walks in the evenings with the citrus trees in bloom. It has smelled like heaven around here for over two weeks. There are orange, grapefruit, and lemon trees all through the park and the blossoms have just out done themselves with fragrance.
The warmer climate has been wonderful for me and my muse. Yes, my muse decided to come along this time. I have thoroughly enjoyed being in the Lapidary Shop and the Silversmith Shop here. I have learned a few "down and dirty" tricks and have revisited some best practices as well. And they have finally decided I have some information they needed too. So it has been a win-win. I have been polishing some beautiful Rhodachrosite while I've been here. It is a lovely pink stone with white ribbons and even some cool bubbles in it. I have set the cabochons in fancy bezel wire and made pendants out of them. I have learned to make some really cool bale carriers from a gentleman who is 90 years young. He does great silver work and is always willing to share new ideas and even show you how to execute it. I love learning from Roger.
It seems like our best way to learn is by trial and error. Whenever hubby and I go somewhere new, it is best to get lost before finding our way to where we are going. We are now very well acquainted with the streets of Mesa, Arizona! Yes - we do have Google Maps on our phones - yes we DO know how to use it! But what's the fun in that??? Besides - we've never been lost in the same place twice!!!
I will be doing a download of pictures and in a separate post I will share some of the items I have made. I will be sharing and selling much of my jewelry on March 19th at the Arts and Crafts Fair here at Mesa Regal. So hopefully I will make some money so I can go shopping at the local Jewelry Supply Shop before I go home and can stock up on new bezel wires and plate so I can continue creating when we get home.
This is Rhodachrosite. The left hand picture is of the rough stone and is marked for shaping. The middle stones are shaped and ready to be polished and the right hand pic shows the stones all polished and shiny! I love taking a stone from start to finish and seeing all the transformations in between.
This is a piece of Chrisocola I purchased over 10 years ago. I finally found out what I wanted to do to it to show it off. I love this piece as it has the first "Carrier" I made on it. And of course, there had to be some decoration on the back, too. So as you can see, the juices are flowing and I am loving it!!!
