Name: Beth Conant
Email: cokids@nauticom.net
Address: 4721 Valleyfield Drive
Allison Park, PA 15101
I am a dabbler and a hobbyist. I think I have just about every book about
gemstones that’s been published and have read and reread them til they
are tattered! Visit local gem shows and collect loose gems…nothing
extravagant though I do have some nice tourmaline and sapphire. Have
‘played’ with putting gems and settings together thanks to Tripps and
their prenotched settings. Even bought a Foredom and small torch, but
haven’t had the courage or knowhow to do much with them yet. Wonder if
there are places where one can apprentice to learn the trade. I have
another career right now…educator…but when I retire which isn’t too
many years away, I’d like to learn more!
My passion for jewelry has been eclipsed temporarily with my fascination
with computers and the internet…a good combination anyway, but I do
still subscribe to Lapidary Journal and Colored Stone and continue to
read and visit shows. Don’t want this hobby to die. It’s just semi-
dormant right now. I was really excited to find this site on the web and
hope to learn more here!
Thanks all for being here!
Dr. E. Aspler
Managing Director
Ganoksin Jewelry Co.,Ltd. aspler@ganoksin.com
Hi Beth, My name is Lloyd. Congratulations on your choice of hobbies. We hope
you continue to enjoy this line of work. As you have started to gather tools
for this work you will find it gets more exciting as you gather more. I
started gathering tools for this work aprox. 20 years before I retired and
now have a great shop and enjoy it very much. This is the best site on the
web for your chosen hobby, good luck. Lloyd
Hi Beth, My name is Lloyd. Congratulations on your choice of hobbies. We hope
you continue to enjoy this line of work. As you have started to gather tools
for this work you will find it gets more exciting as you gather more. I
started gathering tools for this work aprox. 20 years before I retired and
now have a great shop and enjoy it very much. This is the best site on the
web for your chosen hobby, good luck. Lloyd
Beth wrote:
I was gathering tools for awhile, Lloyd, but my interest in computers
has taken my time and resources recently. I do continue to collect
gemstones though.
Is this a hobby for you or have you turned it into a business?
Hi Beth, It is still a hobby but we do some art and craft shows around AZ.
and I now teach a few students the bassics of silversmithing and tell them
the best places to buy silver and different items of the trade. I am
president of the Tempe Art League here in AZ. and we have aprox. 160 active
members, our big shows are at Thanksgiving and Easter. these shows are at the
Hilton, at South Mountain in Pheonix, AZ. If you are in the area at that time
come and see our show. Where are you from? Lloyd
Hi Beth, It is still a hobby but we do some art and craft shows around AZ.
and I now teach a few students the bassics of silversmithing and tell them
the best places to buy silver and different items of the trade. I am
president of the Tempe Art League here in AZ. and we have aprox. 160 active
members, our big shows are at Thanksgiving and Easter. these shows are at the
Hilton, at South Mountain in Pheonix, AZ. If you are in the area at that time
come and see our show. Where are you from? Lloyd
Lloyd,
I’m from the Pittsburgh area…too far to make it to Arizona at
Thanksgiving. I envy you though. You have some fabulous gem shows in
Arizona…in Feb. isn’t it? Do you attend those too? I think I would
die of dehydration from drooling!
Hi Beth, In AZ. we have two of the best shows in the world as far as gems and
lapidary. The show at Quartsite is the largest rock show in the world, it has
aprox. 3 square miles of exhibits, it starts Jan 15 to Feb. 15. If you go
there the best place to start at is at the place called Clouds, then start
walking. The other show is in Tucson, that is where all of the motels and
hotels are turned into stores, each room is a vendors show room. It would not
matter what type of stone or crystal you would want, it could be found in
Tucson along with opals, pearls and any other gem that is ever found. It
always starts the Jan 26 to Feb. 7. Also if you do beads the Africans are
there with literally tons of trade beads. We did both of these shows for some
years as we used to handel turquoise. We have a chain project
at,Learning Center - Ganoksin Jewelry Making Community this project is given to
all of our students when they start to silversmith. It is the one under Two
Suns Trading Co. Inc. Have a wonderful day. Lloyd