Plenty, and let me tell you about it!

I’ve been to Quartzsite, Arizona for the two years previous to this, and while I know there are bigger, more sophisticated gem shows, towns with better amenities, and gem clubs with a style more dedicated to rocks and stones specifically, not to mention more spectacular regional scenery, I don’t really think there is another place in the United States that offers the special mix that I have found here in Quartzsite.

Two years ago I drove through on my way to Joshua Tree, for I had heard the place was “dedicated to gems and minerals.” My plan was to buy some cabochons and beads, which I did. However, due to my travel pattern, I arrived early in the season, before any of the shows had formally begun. Nonetheless, I found things to buy – make no mistake. I also knew, though, that I would benefit from visiting during the peak of the season, which would be mid January.

Last year I again came through early, but planned to return during the show weeks. A friend of mine who also works with stones and I came out during the Powow, which is the towns premier show. We both were in awe of the array of vendors selling everything from rough rocks they personally dug from the earth to exquisite cabochons, to factory-mined imports to – well, anything rock-related. I spent my budget easily and wished I had a magic lamp on which to make a wish for more cash. We were exhausted by mid day, and never even visited any of the several other shows in town.

One booth we passed was for the local club, the Quartzsite Roadrunner Gem & Mineral Club. They were hoping to sell us some raffle tickets as part of their fundraising efforts, and my friend probably purchased some, but I was broke and didn’t want to spend my little bit of cash on anything but an iced coffee and the gas to get back home. However, when I found out that one could join the club and learn how to shape stones…. a seed was planted. At my next opportunity I googled the club to see what they were about, and when I found out the annual membership, at $20, was SO reasonable a fee, I decided that for my 2018-19 winter season, I would come to Quartzsite and stay for a few weeks, join the club, and learn how to make cabochons.

Which….I did. I arrived mid December, and I’m still here. My intended few weeks, between 2 and 6, is now “until it’s too hot to safely stay with my little doggy in the van.” I’m hoping to get through February before that becomes a consideration, but I will need to begin traveling back east anyway, come March.

Enough with the text – let me show you what I’ve been doing!

Here’s my very first cabochon. The stone is called Chipboard Rhyolite, and though it is not a stone I feel any affinity for, it was the pretties piece of stone in the available pile to choose from. I thought I did a darned fine job and so did the class instructor. Of course, they said the same to everyone else, and even I could see with my untrained eye that was not the case. However, I did believe I did a good job. Today, when I looked at the cab after taking this picture I chuckled. The girdle(the side, flat, band circumference of the cabochon) undulates like a rolling country road in the foothills of a mountain town. But, everyone starts somewhere.

My next cab was cut from a stone the club allows new members to have when they attend the first club meeting and even though I was itching to go buy some beautiful slabs to work with, I knew I should practice a bit more. I tend to have a sophisticated aesthetic, and usually that doesn’t come cheap. I’m not posting a picture of that cab, but again I thought it turned out pretty good – until I looked at it this morning. Now that I’ve been here almost two months, and have made a few dozen cabs, I know that it was only pretty good for someone’s second attempt. Sure, I could put it in a setting and sell it, but….. I think I will use it for a giveaway or to teach someone wire weaving techniques.

Here is my first piece made from a slab I purchased. This is Chrysocolla with Cuprite and Copper, and was mined locally. I was told this material came from the Red Top Mine in Las Pas County, where Quartzsite is located. But perhaps I misremember, or the seller mispoke, because I do not see it listed when I went to look for information about the mine online.

Here’s the cabochon in a finished piece. You can see more images in my shop, Talisman Too, if you care to, by clicking here. This was the first cabochon that I made and used in a piece of jewelry. What a great feeling to have shaped the stone in my work. And – I STILL think this cab turned out pretty good!

Another of my cabochons, now in a finished piece of jewelry. This is Willow Creek Jasper.

I have much more to tell about my Quartzsite experience, but need to stop now and attend to other tasks. I hope to do a Part II over the weekend and post early next week. Stay tuned!