Under the Tucson Sky

Yes, I said Tucson, as in Arizona not Tuscan as in Italy! I'm still here at the big Gem Show and enjoying every minute of it. Yes, I love all the rocks and gemstones that I see; but one of the things I think I might enjoy the most is the wide range of people that I meet. For many of the vendors in Tucson, this is the only gem show they participate in throughout the year. People come from around the globe to sell and to buy rocks, minerals and gemstones in all forms, shapes and sizes. Today I talked with people from Madagascar, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Hong Kong, Australia, Afghanistan and Oregon. Yes, a gem cutter who lives just four hours from my home, but I had to come to Tucson to meet him! That's the wonder of this place -- the unexpected is the norm.

Tucson Day One!

Well, it's not officially day one...since that would have been Thursday; but I figure I am close enough since this is my first official post from Tucson. If you didn't know -- I'm at the Tucson Gem Show scouting lots of new things for upcoming designs!! Along with that, it's a time for me to enjoy time with my niece, meet up with old friends and eat way too much good food.

Opulent Gemstones or Rocks in my Head?

Honestly, sometimes when I am working in the jewelry studio I think I am nuts. Why you ask? Well, let's see: is it normal for a person to actual gasp when she sees a piece of pietersite? Does a sane person swoon over kyanite or labradorite? Does a woman with even a modicum of commonsense get giddy over a pile of rocks? To tell the truth...I'm not sure. But I do know this - what other people might see as just rocks, I see as opulent opaque gemstones in so many varieties that no one person has counted or seen them all!

Oh, Ouch!

On my drive home yesterday this cactus caught my eye. I think it is the same variety that my brother, as a kid, once fell in at a friend's house. If memory serves, Jack (our friend) had to use pliers to pull out the thorns (are they called that on cacti?) that had impaled my brother's leg. Oh, ouch that must have been painful. I just remember not wanting to watch the procedure.

There's a Moon Out Tonight

It's true, I was feeling stuffed after a steak, ribs and chicken cooked-over-an-open-mesquite-fire dinner with friends, including Jay King of Mine Finds fame and two of his lapidary associates from China. As full as I was on the drive home, I just had to stop to capture the mysterious full moon over the desert. It was so beautiful as it peeked in and out of the wispy clouds.

Now That's a Front Yard

Since my usual route to the local Starbucks was washed out with Wednesday's rain, I had a bit of a windy detour this morning. But not to fear -- I was happy to drive through one of my favorite neighborhoods here in Tucson. The streets in this desert designed community are small, no curbs, single lane and are lined with the local trees (which i don't remember the names but I'll get back to you on that) and a wide variety of cacti. The homes are simply lovely, all different styles, all custom-built I am sure -- not your typical neighborhood where all the houses are lined up like soldiers wearing the same dreaded uniform.

I'm In Heaven!

Is there anyone else out there who looks at a rock and swoons? I know, I know...I'm a bit on the geeky nut side. But, what can I say...I truly love gemstones; always have...always will. I have a lot of favs and pietersite is pretty close to the top of my list. Over the years this magnificent stone became harder and harder to come by so I haven't done anything with it in years. That being said, you can only imagine the joy I felt when I saw a few mighty specimens in Tucson last February.

Rainbow Hickoryite - An Old Friend Revisited

I did my Jay King Mine Finds marathon on HSN over the weekend -- so many pretty things and such fun stories. When he presented his new hickoryite designs, I had to go through my inventory and take a look at the few pieces I have for sale on my site. I fell for this stone when I first saw it in Tucson. I hadn't seen them for a bit and it felt as if I was visiting old friends. I love how the gemstone looks "glitzed" up with the Swarovski crystal and gold-plate chain in the 3-strand design of the bracelet. But, I love the simplicity of the necklace as well. This pix shows it layered with a multi-layered link chain necklace from my own jewelry box. You can wear it alone or layer it. You get to be the stylist. I do think the hickoryite necklace and bracelet play off of each other really well.

If you didn't get to see Mine Finds this time around -- check out the new Lake Victoria Jasper necklace he offered. I honestly think I swooned when I saw it. Luckily, no one was in the room to see that! While I don't have this gemstone yet, believe me as soon as I find a source for it I'll add it to my stash. Stay tuned!

Let the Sunshine In!

Sun, glorious sun -- it's been high in the sky for two days in a row. And, the temp has moved into the high 60s. That's no small feat for Oregon. YAHOO! Maybe the fact that I finished making and then posted this new yellow jade coin necklace with a glittery over sized gold vermeil toggle clasp to the site on Friday made the weather goddess grin. These beautiful big yellow jade coins look like the sun, don't you think? All I know is I am so happy to see that yellow globe in the sky -- it means I can take off a few layers of clothes. Want to see more sun-inspired gemstone designs? Visit my site, http://www.tanyalochridge.com/. Maybe wearing one of these new creations will bring sunshine into your life, too! A girl can always hope, right?

Thinking of Green Today

Spring is almost here -- if not outside, then here in the jewelry studio. This green aventurine necklace gives me hope that soon we will be seeing green all around. This necklace is bold -- the clear crystal quartz really shines. I've layered my necklace here with a linked necklace from my personal collection, just because I can. Thought it would inspire all of you to do the same. You know me -- I always say, the more the merrier. While it's still a necklace, this prehnite beauty has a much different feel than the aventurine. The green of prehnite is so soft and the style is a little less bold. Just beautiful...I think. If you click on the images you'll get a bigger view that shows you all the details. See, pretty, huh? Check out all the new pieces at my site.

Voila! From This to This!

Yes, that is a big ol' hunk of crystal outside one of the venues at the Tuscon Gem Fair. Quartz, I believe. While I didn't bring this particular specimen home with me, I did bring home some outstanding quartz stones in some unusual shapes. Not to veer too far off the track, but why does the word "specimen" always make me think of urine and medical labs? Anyhow, back to the matter at hand. The necklace here just came off the work table and is really lovely in it's simplicity. A bit of the contemporary "downtown" flair -- and when the light hits the varying facets on the crystal quartz stones it's blinding.

So get out the shades and be prepared for lots of attention! And, just for the record, crystal quartz is often referred to as rock quartz. Whichever word you use, it's just lovely. Hey didn't Shakespeare have some line like that in Romeo and Juliet? You know..."a rose by any other name would be as beautiful" or something like that. That Willy sure knew how to make a woman swoon. Can you tell I've had a bit too much sugar tonight -- I can't seem to keep a linear thought?

Black, Grey and White -- A Stylish Combo

These black, grey and white striped sardonyx beads grabbed me when I was least expecting it. I was looking for something else totally not related in any way, shape or form to sardonyx and POW! -- there they were. Just two lonely strands of beads -- medium and large sized -- just tempting me to pick them up and see what I could create. Always one to accept a challenge (why do I think of Peter Sellers when I say that word? And, not the cheesy Steve Martin version of PS -- only the original PS.) I bought these beauties and brought them home. I must admit that they sat mocking me for a bit from their perch on my studio work bench -- then one day the inspiration hit. Here is what those beads morphed in. This bracelet now on my site and a necklace (and oh my what a necklace) still in the works. The bracelet just looks so sharp and classy to me -- it gives a twist of the "basic black" theory. I load one with some of my silver bangles and it makes quite a look. Now that the season is changing (well, hopefully some day it will change) you will wear this bracelet to punch up neutrals and pastels. Black is a nice change from the ordinary when it comes to pairing it with the lighter colors of spring and summer. So, for all you black fans -- this one's for you!

Unakite -- Captures the Colors of Venice

I love unakite -- unfortunately the colors of the stone don't come to life in photog for some reason. Well, perhaps they do for someone who really knows how to do the perfect lighting and settings on their camera -- but as we know, that's not me! Anyhow, I was going through some old pix and found one from Venice that actually looks like the colors you find in unakite. So, I thought I should post it here and then, perhaps, you will understand why I am ga-ga over this gemstone. Oh and it goes without saying that I am over-the-moon when it comes to Venice, as well.

Little Red Hen

Some days I feel like the Little Red Hen or the Dunkin' Donuts guy ("gotta make the donuts"). I'm not complaining because I absolutely love every part of it; but sometimes I just have to laugh at myself. I design the jewelry, make the jewelry, photograph the jewelry, promote the jewelry, process orders, pack up and mail the jewelry and then start all over again. But, I love it and I have all of you to thank for giving me the opportunity to do what I absolutely love and to share it with all of you. Today the challenge became on of capturing the beautiful color of the sodalite beads that make up this bracelet. I'm a bit closer, but still not there yet. This is definitely one of those pieces that you need to see to really get the color -- or that is my excuse for being a not-so-great photographer. Mixed with the Montana blue Swarovski crystals the sodalite is really nice. If you click on the image you'll see an bigger image -- I think the blue comes across better on the larger pix. For all of you who love the calmness of the color of blue, this is the bracelet for you.

Tucson -- Here Comes Tanya

Seems like I have been waiting for the Tucson Gem Show forever. And, now, the time has come. For those of you who don't know about this show -- it is the largest rock, gem, mineral and fossil show -- in the United States and perhaps the entire universe! Spanning the entire month of February and invading every known venue in Tucson -- I could stay for weeks and still not see it all. Even if I could see it all -- I think that would be just enough to push me into sensory overload. This year, my niece will be doing the show with me -- she recently moved to Tucson -- how great is that? Would I be visiting her for two weeks if she lived in Paducah? Not that there is anything wrong with Paducah-- just not sure how high it would be on my list of places to go this year! So Tucson here I come. I thought it would be fun to give you all an insider's peek at the show day by day -- so, Blackberry camera willing, I will be doing daily posts from the niece's rocking new laptop. So keep a look out!