I’m helping an excellent friend in his effort to semi-retire in the
American Southwest. Hopefully his semi-retirement will mean he gets
to go to Quartzite AZ and find more cool stuff!
Keith has been collecting gemstones for almost 50 years and some
things will be from long gone locations, other stones will just be
his special picks from the thousands of carats that have passed
through his hands over time.
This is the Top Drawer Collection Destash. [topdrawerdestash on
facebook]
Keith has something to add:
I have collected an amazing amount of hand selected stones and beads
over the 45+ years I have been involved in minerals and fossils etc.
These includes some things where I collected the rough and either
cut it myself or had it cut in either India or Mexico. I used my
knowledge of rare stones, odd colors, cuts, and quality as I
collected, produced or bought materials. I have set up and sold my
gemstones and beads at the major wholesale only shows in this country
from Tucson, AZ to Minneapolis, MN to Franklin, NC.
I almost always selected the most exclusive items for my inventory.
As Vickie and I go through inventory, which will be a long time, we
base our prices, as was done at the shows I sold, on the knowledge of
the current markets, and the rarity and knowledge of stones.
Most of the items have not been seen by the public since 2006 when I
closed my last store. Even in a 1500 SQ ft store with 27 jewelry
cases most of this inventory was packed away and only pulled when
needed.
Pricing in Top Drawer Destash is and will be based on these factors
and they will run from wholesale to very sharp pencil as I am willing
to let things go.
Good luck with closing up which it appears you are doing. Don’t know.
But I am now 82 and I have quit doing most things I did for years
and years (jewelry, painting, gardening etc.) and am now busying
myself with getting rid of things I absolutely don’t need anymore
and getting ready to retire (yes, I say that, but who knows).
Possibly I will go back to painting. Will be interesting to see what
I might do. And it could be just nothing because I am now 82 and
have worked and created things most of my entire life (even while I
was raising 4 kids). It will be interesting to see what I do when I
have rid myself of most things I now have. Most of them I have given
to art schools or art labs - I figure I got my use of the equipment
and don’t do it anymore so…
But we’ll see. Nice to be in this position - I can do just about
anything I decide to do at this point - I seem to be blessed with
tons of ability in the art field, so who knows, what I will do. For
the time being I am just getting rid of things, and undecided about
my house and yard (though I do need to put out new mulch both front
and back). My kids would love for me to move into a setting where I
could be taken care of later on - but we’ll see what I will do. I’m
an aggravating old person at this point. I simply seem to do what I
want to do. I mean, give me a break, at what point do we do just as
we please? Would seem to me that it is time. I think at the age of
82 (with plans to live to be 100 to my kids’ horror) I should be
entitled to do what I please!
YOU ROCK!! I’m officially retired, and have been thinking about the
end game. My hope is that one of my grands might become fascinated
with making jewelry. Wouldn’t that be an easy way to divest myself of
the studio contents!All four of the grands enjoy playing - hammering
and milling are two favorite activities. Also enjoy making patterns
with beads. The oldest (now a teen) could probably be trained with
the torch. Will see.
Best of everything with your future endeavors. In admiration,
Sounds like what many of us are going through. I’ll be 82 in April,
been painting all my life, worked with my husband in various
commercial art ventures, and discovered jewelry maybe 15 years ago. I
too have accumulated all kinds of art and jewelry supplies, including
many semi-precious cabs. I take classes to keep in touch, get out of
the house, and improve. I wish I could sell more, but am no longer
able do outdoor arts and craft shows.
I imagine our son would like us to get rid of a lot of stuff, but
I’ll hang on to independence and supplies as long as I’m able!
O yes, many of my art and jewelry friends are over 70, even 80. Not
all of them, it is important to have younger friends (and doctors)!
I’m an aggravating old person at this point. I simply seem to do
what I want to do. I mean, give me a break, at what point do we do
just as we please? Would seem to me that it is time. I think at the
age of 82 (with plans to live to be 100 to my kids’ horror) I should
be entitled to do what I please! Kay
You rock on Kay! You DO have that right. And you’re allowed to laugh
when you chase the kids off your lawn!
It is extremely exciting for me to read your comments (and those of
your agewho have written in to comment on your words.) As a 62 year
old life-long artist who has just started my journey in
metalsmithing, I loved hearing thatyou might or might NOT create
jewelry at this point because you might just go back to pick up
another one of your skills/gifts instead. As I am convinced that I
will be around for another forty or-so years, I love hearing that
your creative fire still burns brightly, because I expect my own to
blaze long as well. Thank you for sharing your journey!
