Happy Mother's Day

Flowers from Aaron that I'm sharing with mothers everywhere. 

Tips for the 2016 Tucson Gem Show

Tips for the Tucson Gem Show

        I’m counting down the days to the Tucson Gem Show.   The  Show, which is really a mix of many, many shows spread throughout Tucson, runs from mid January through February, 2016.   I’ve had my hotel reservation for months, and I’m starting to think about what clothes I want to pack.    Comfy shoes are a necessity here.

             This will be my fourth trip there.  Each time I learn a little more so I thought I’d share some of that fun-earned knowledge. 

           If this is your first trip, be prepared to be amazed.    As you drive into Tucson on I-10 you’ll start to see tents and signs.   The shows are set up in parking lots, hotels, convention and expo centers.   On my first trip there, it seemed like every flat, open space contained a bead show.   It can be overwhelming unless you make a plan and realize you can’t see (or buy) it all.    

  Here’s my advice:

                         Pick Your Shows in Advance.    

                         Different shows emphasize different things.   One show, for example, specializes in Native American jewelry.    Some shows have diamonds and precious jewels, which I don’t use at Desert Dabbler.
 

                         This chart is a great listing of the shows, with links to many of them.   It will give you a good idea of what shows would be better suited to your needs.  http://www.tucsongemshows.net/coming.html     Also, different shows start and end at different times.   Check the dates for the shows you are interested in attending.

                  My personal favs are To Bead True Blue, The Best Bead Show, Kino Gem and Mineral Show, and the JOGS Gem Show.  On the last day, as we’re leaving town, we love to walk around the Miner’s Co-op Rock Show.  You never know what rocks and goodies might show up here.   These are the shows I plan to see during the 3 days I’ll be there.  If you only have one day, pick two shows to avoid being rushed and overwhelmed. 

One of the vendors with his prize winning beads.

                         Pre-Register to Save Time

                         A lot of the shows allow you to pre-register.  There’s no cost although you do have to give them your e-mail address.    As long as you don’t mind doing this, pre-registering can save you some standing in line time.

                  Plan Your Show Route.

                         It pays to look at a map (or your app) of Tucson before you start driving to a show.   Traffic is congested around the sites, especially in the afternoon.   You’ll have more time for shopping if you know in advance the order and location of the shows.   Many of the shows are very close to one another; others not so much.  
 

                         There’s a shuttle bus system, but I haven’t used it.   I rode a small shuttle one time that traveled between two hotels with related shows.   I found the waiting time to be really long, and there wasn’t any place to sit while I waited.   

                                

                         Bring Plenty of Copies of Your TPT or other re-sale license.    

                         Some shows are only for wholesale dealers.   A few vendors have minimum sale requirements that exceed what I can spend for my little Etsy shop.   But most of the places I visit will sell wholesale if you have a copy of your re-sale tax license.   I found that making multiple copies saves time for everybody. 

                         Bring a Secure Bag for your Goodies.

                         Carrying items in your purse or, worse, multiple bags in your hands, is very uncomfortable.   Some people bring small suitcases on rollers.  I personally dislike walking around them, but I understand their usefulness.   I suggest a bag that you can carry in front of you for security.    You don’t want someone “shopping” in your prior purchases while you’re concentrating on the beads at hand.

                         It’s a good idea to bring a blanket or other type of covering to leave in your car.   I’ve never had any problem, but it might be too tempting to a thief to see lots of nice packages inside a car.  I always cover up my things and double check the car locks.

                         Set a Realistic Budget

                       It’s very easy to quickly overspend.   The quality and quantity of beads, charms and other delights are amazing.    Don’t put yourself on too restrictive of a diet if you don’t have to, but don’t cause yourself pain later on either.  

                         Cash or credit:  I haven’t had any problem with using a credit card at the shows.  I like the security and the paper trail that it gives me for my business.   If you’re not in business, however, cash might be the best option for you.   When it’s gone, you go home.            

                         Have FUN!

                         Don’t wear yourself out.   You’ll never see it all so don’t try.   I suggest you go to at least one of the hotel shows where you can have a nice lunch.   Go early or late to avoid the most crowded time.   Relax and rest us for the rest of your shopping.    If you’re like me, you’ll spend less on lunch than on the beads you would have bought during that hour.   

                    Both your pocketbook and your feet will thank you.             

                           

         

       

  

The Boutiques are Coming

       The Boutiques will be located in the Stitchers Room in the Palm Center, Remington Drive, Sun City Grand, Surprise, Arizona.   There will be over 14  participants, including me, selling embroidery and stitched items, handcrafted jewelry, and gift items of all types.
        The dates are:  

 October 31

November 7

December 5

The hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 

If you're in the area, come in!

Coloring

 

Coloring

     For years I've been a closet colorer.  I've loved to color ever since I was a kid.  For hours I would color and cut and paste. When I grew older coloring books and crayons were replaced by rubber stamps and a variety of colored pencils and pens. Once you become a grown up, coloring isn't one of those things you can admit to doing.  Until now.
    Adult coloring books are HOT.  Best sellers!  Amazon offers hundreds of them, from anatomy to zen and everything in between.  There's even a name for us adults who continue our childhood favorite.   We're "colorists".

    My newest adult coloring book--a gift from my husband--is Balance by Angie Grace.    It's a great book and the images are only on one side.   The other coloring books I have are printed on both sides, which doesn't work with Copic markers.  They bleed through thinner, softer paper.  Copics will still bleed through the paper used in Grace's books, but you don't lose any of the images.
 
    Because I use Copics, I cut the page out before I start to color.  But you could also put a piece of card stock between your image and the next page to soak up the excess ink.  On the little slip of yellow paper I write down which marker colors I've used.  I'm not sure if I'll keep this info, but it has come in handy when I've put my markers away and returned later.    
 

     There's a good video on Grace's website that gives tips for using Copic markers.  Of course you can use whatever markers or pencils you like best.  
     There's a range of difficulty in Balance, which I like.  I started with a medium one (in my opinion).   She has a LOT of books available, including ones with cats and flowers that looked really interesting.  On her web site she has some freebie images, too, that you can print out and color.  I haven't done that yet, but they look tempting.
      Right now I feel the need to re-balance and de-stress.  I'm going to color for a while.

Bears at Brooks Falls

Fishing at Brooks Falls

     For the past few weeks I've been eating breakfast and lunch with the bears at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park in Alaska.  The Park Service set up two web cams aimed at the falls and the river.  Though of us who can't make it to Alaska can see the live action, too.  Explore.org features the bears, as well as a lot of other animals, on its site.
      Last night I had an extra treat when I came in to listen to Ranger Mike talk about the different bears.  It was an amazing night at the Falls.   The salmon were huge and plentiful.   The bears would position themselves and wait for a salmon to swim right by.  At one time I counted 13 bears.  The hour flew by!

    This female bear, #409, is a great fisher.  She caught a number of fish last night.   Another female, not shown in the picture, was standing nearby waiting for a chance to take the fish away or to at least get the leftovers.

      The bears are all numbered, and some have been named by the people who watch and regularly chat on-line.   I tried to take good notes as Ranger Mike talked.  There's a free e-book available that has all their pictures and great info.

Adult male #747 fishing in the “Jacuzzi”.

     Holly and her two cubs were there, too.   The small one on the left is a female.  The middle cub is a male that she adopted.  I haven't learned the story about how that happened yet.  He's a year older than the female and doesn't like to share his food.    You can see his darker coloring in this picture.

    These two keep their mom busy all the time.   But she seems like a really good and patient mother.   They fish in an area called the Ripples, away from the bigger males.

   

       A big male with his catch.

An eagle watches from a high tree.

     Two large males engaged in "jaw popping" as they sorted out who was going to be the dominate male.   It didn't last long before one of them backed away.  I was glad to see that. The fishing was good and a fight could seriously hurt both of them.   One of the bears lost an ear in June during a fight.




       This photo was taken about 9 p.m. Alaska time.  The bears were still fishing and eating when I went to bed.

Canyon de Chelly

Canyon de Chelly - Images from an Ancient People

     Canyon de Chelly (pronounced shay) is a beautiful, unique land located within the Navajo nation in Chinle, Arizona.  It's a National Monument as well as Navajo land.   People have been living in the canyon for nearly 5000 years,beginning with the ancient Anasazi, then the Hopi, and now the Navajo.

      Wikipedia has a good article about it.

       The site cover over 83,800 acres and contains three large canyons, de Chelly, del Muerto, and Monument.  You can drive around the rim and stop at overlooks.  Or you can take a closer look by either a hike or a jeep tour with  a Navajo guide.   From the comfort of a 4x4 jeep, we toured Canyon del Muerto.

         

The Anasazi built their homes in caves high up on the canyon walls.

   The National Park Service site has much better pictures that show the vast scale of the high canyon walls.   The writing isn't graffiti but from the Anasazi.

No one knows why the Anasazi left or where they went.

How they reached these high places is a mystery to me!

      The canyon was beautiful and amazing.   Our Navajo guide, J.D., was very knowledgeable and friendly.    We stayed at the Holiday Inn in Chinle, which was great.   Clean, good food, and friendly people. They have info about the tours.  Many of the guides will pick you up there, which is what J.D., from Antelope House Tours, did for us.
      We didn't get to do the rim tours because a large storm was brewing.  So that will have to wait for another trip.   Most people visit in the spring and the fall, although J.D. said they do tours all year, weather permitting.  The Navajos don't live in the canyon during the winter because of the cold temperatures, which is a good sign that it would be too cold for my tastes.   J.D. said the summer temps can be very high.  But we were lucky and had a beautiful morning for our tour.
 

Standing on the Corner

Standing on the Corner

      Last week we visited Winslow, Arizona, made famous by the Eagles in “Take It Easy”.     

The most photographed corner in the U.S.   

Hamming it up with the girl in the flat bed Ford.

       My favorite site in Winslow was the historic and beautiful La Posada.  Designed by Mary Colter for the Fred Harvey Company, it served as a hotel and restaurant along one of the stops of the Santa Fe Railway.  It opened in 1930.     

      

      When it closed in 1957, it began to decline.   The beautiful furnishings were sold and the building was turned into offices for the railroad.  It continued to deteriorate until it was rescued in 1997 by Allan Affeldt and Tina Mion.    Along with a third partner, they have restored it and filled it with beauty and art.   They hope to continue its preservation through the Winslow Arts Trust.  

       We had lunch at their restaurant, The Turquoise Room.    I had their signature soup, a southwest mix of black beans, corn and chile cream. Delicious!    

       As you enter La Posada there’s an herb garden, wild flowers, and water features.    

A beautiful way to start our trip.