2020 has proven to be a memorable year to say the least! For FMJB it began pretty much as usual with attendance at the great Gem and Jewelry Show in Tucson, AZ. But soon after that life as we all knew it changed dramatically. As a primarily online business, we weren’t affected as much as many small businesses, but we did miss seeing our customers at the few shows and festivals we usually attend. Hopefully we’ll be back by next summer. We do want to give a big shout out to the women of Sedona Kind who made a large donation of lovely jewelry to support our causes. Many pieces have been added to the website and watch for more to come soon. Our hearts go out to people who have lost businesses or loved ones due to COVID this past year. We remain strong in our commitment to provide assistance to women and children and their causes. Thank you for your support!
Author: Connie Hensley-Jones
The Road to the 2020 Tucson Gem & Mineral Show
I’m on my way once again to attend the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show. This Giant of all Gem Shows is the largest of its kind in the universe! It began 65 years ago as a free exhibition at a Tucson elementary school in 1954. It has grown over the years to today hosting researchers, gemologists, authors, artists, miners and nearly 4,000 trade companies that gather for 3 weeks in January and February at over 40 venues all over town. They come from every continent to share their treasures, knowledge and expertise with tens of thousands of attendees. Earth’s gem and mineral riches are on display and for sale in huge circus tents, expo halls, hotels, warehouses and the Convention Center. Besides the gem and mineral shows there are shows that feature every conceivable supplier of tools and materials that artisans use to create jewelry. These artisans also provide classes for attendees to learn every technique involved in making jewelry. The show features all the latest trends in jewelry and I’ll be bringing that information to you in the coming weeks in this blog and with new jewelry that I’ll be posting on the website. Stay tuned, you’re in for a treat!
New classes, new jewelry, new ventures.
I’m back in Tucson for the 2019 jewelry and gem show and to attend some great new classes on the latest trends in handcrafted jewelry making. I look forward over the next few weeks with sharing some of the new jewelry I’ve added to the collection. Leather is still a bold look in jewelry this year and I’m anxious to post new pieces to the website. I’m taking classes in leather braiding incorporating pearls and other semi-precious beads, silver cuffs that integrate set stones, and another class in advanced kumihimo braiding. From My Jewelry Box will also be participating in a limited number of shows this year. I did my first show here in Tucson in February 16th and it was very successful. Hope to do a few more this year. I’ll keep you updated on where and when.
Patricia Healey – Metal Artist Extraordinaire
You may have noticed by now the name Patricia Healey coming up on the website repeatedly. That’s ’cause we really love her artistry! Patricia is a metal jewelry artist who crafts a new twist on traditional beads, findings, pendants, and components. She works with solid copper and gives her whimsical rustic pieces a dazzling red orange patina. We’ve paired most of our Patricia Healey finds with leather. Check them out and add a true piece of art to your jewelry collection.
Ancient art is all the rage in contemporary jewelry.
Kumihimo is an ancient Japanese form of braiding using multiple strands or cord and/or ribbon and can incorporate beads. It’s very popular for bracelets and necklaces. An infinite number of designs and patterns are possible by changing the braiding material, adding beads, and varying the thickness or number of strands. At the Tucson Jewelry Show this year Kumhimo workshops were among the most popular. Check out the “Kumi” pieces we’ve recently added to the website. One bracelet can even be customized. We’ll be adding more of these braided masterpieces in the coming months.
Notes from Tucson January 2018
I’m back in Tucson for the 2018 Bead, Gem and Jewelry Show. Took a class yesterday on Kumihimo braiding with jewelry artist, Yin Guang, and made a beautiful bracelet. If you’re not familiar, Kumihimo is a traditional Japanese technique of braiding strands of cord and can also incorporate intricate bead patterns. In Japanese the word kumihimo means to gather. Kumihimo is a big trend in jewelry design right now as evidenced by its big presence at this year’s show. Be sure to look for Kumihimo pieces on the website soon. Also did some fantastic networking with other women in the class and learned about a possible new international women’s charity worth supporting in Nepal. More on that later. I’m taking six jewelry classes this year and will keep you posted.
Labor of Lust
Started what I’m calling a “labor of lust” project yesterday and I’m really pumped for this one. When I was attending the GJX Jewelry Show in Tucson last February came across the Pearl Exporting Company booth that featured pearls and pearl jewelry that really blew me away. They specialize in pearls from the Japanese Akoya culturing process and one of their specialities is the Keshi Pearl which is Japanese for “poppy seed”. These are tiny seed size pearls which are unbelievably beautiful and very expensive. One particular necklace they featured in the booth caught my eye, and of course, as fellow jewelry fanatics will understand, I couldn’t get it out of my head. It featured these tiny Keshi pearls in multi strands (I mean like 24-30 strands!) interspersed with rainbow colored sapphire faceted briolette stones. I spent the rest of the show sourcing affordable tiny seed pearls and I’m using 32 carats of tiny rainbow tourmaline briolette stones. I’ve purchased all my other materials: silk thread, cast sterling silver calla lily cones, and a beautiful sterling and pearl clasp. It’s tedious work stringing these tiny pearls, so I figure at one strand per day it’ll take me about a month the complete the project. I’ll keep you posted. It’s going to be fabulous!
New Jewelry from Sanchi and Filia P Designs
Check out our new jewelry from Sanchi and Filia P Designs 2017 Showcase. These incredible pieces use real semiprecious stones such as agate, quartz and druzy to create beautiful, truly unique statement jewelry. Multi-stone pendants set in sterling silver hang from faceted semi-precious stone necklaces. Matching earrings in stud, hinged and ear wire styles complement the various pieces. The collection also includes multi-stone bracelets and even some rings. These are new pieces purchased at the 2017 Tucson Jewelry Show where then Sanchi booth was one of the most trending and talked about vendors of the show. Show your support for women in need by making on of these Sanchi and Filia P Designs pieces part of your personal collection!
Passing Through Quartzsite, AZ
Just 20 miles east of the Colorado River dividing California and Arizona on Highway I-10 sits the town of Quartzsite, AZ. It’s a place I’d heard about and always wanted to visit because of the rock and gem show that takes place there each January and February. Called a “rockhound’s paradise”, this small town of 1,900 people that sits in the desert at the foot of the Castle Dome Mountains, truly holds the crown jewels and more with over 2,000 vendors of gems, minerals, fossils and beads during the show. As many as 750,000 to 1 million people, mostly in RV’s, converge on Quartzsite each winter, some staying a few days, others a few months, and they stretch out over the desert as far as the eye can see. I hope to find some special pieces to add to the website while I introduce more people to the important work we are doing to raise the status of women and girls. Next stop Tucson.
Traveling to Tucson
I’m traveling to Tucson, AZ for a couple of months to take a break from the snow in Central Oregon and enjoy the sunshine in the Southwest. Tucson is home to The Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, the world’s biggest gem, jewelry and mineral show. Coined the “World’s Greatest Treasure Hunt”, it takes place the last week in January and the first few weeks of February every year. I’ll be surveying the newest trends in jewelry, taking classes to learn new jewelry crafting techniques, and hunting up new treasures for the From My Jewelry Box web site. I’ll also be introducing vendors and prospective customers to the work this non profit does in supporting the causes of women and girls worldwide. Rumor has it that cuffs are the new big fad in fashion jewelry this year and I’ll be taking classes from renowned jewelry artists using the newest materials and techniques. Watch for details in the coming weeks as I describe what I’ve learned and find out what will soon to be appearing in the bracelets tab on the website. Thanks for your continuing support and please tell your friends about us so that together we can help make women and girls strong!
Welcome
Welcome to From My Jewelry Box. When women support each other, incredible things happen.
Our motto
“Here’s to strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them.”