Tucson Gem and Mineral Show

My parents have told me about the Tucson Gem and Mineral show, and I have witnessed my mother's growing collection of turquoise, pearls, and other shiny and wonderful beads and stones (not to mention dad's balafon, the growing drum collection, the recycled African and Indian fabric stamps), but we were able to go to the show ourselves this year and wow! I was blown away. There is just so much. Miles and miles. Tents the size of football fields. Conference room-sized booths with tables piled 2-3 feet deep with strands of pearls. Acres of ammonite fossils, crates of prehistoric bones still buried in sand and dirt, amethyst geodes 10 feet tall, shelves of crystal balls in all sizes... It was overwhelming, actually.

I didn't take all that many photos, partly because my mom took enough and together we just felt like gemstone paparazzi. But here are a smattering:




The first thing I thought upon seeing these baskets: what fabulous wedding favours! oh wedding-brain.