On the Hunt

I was in my element last week at the big Denver Gem and Mineral Shows where I scouted hundreds of booths for gemstones, beads, fossils and other goodies. I was looking for items that were unusual and intriguing for my new assemblage work. I plan to make amulets, talismans, containers and protection necklaces from these finds. Here is a sampling...

From top left, clockwise- Brazilian Flower Amethyst (looks like a little galaxy), Libyan impact glass from a meteor hit in the Libyan desert 28+million years ago (wow), Big silver and brass filligree beads from Afghanistan (nice workmanship), A big bunch of shark's teeth, (sharp), Fossilzed cave bear teeth from Romania (ugh!) and some lovely faience wheels also from Afghanistan (a fired glass/clay that was used in Roman times).

From top left, clockwise- Crystal spheres from Madagascar, Fossil disks with sea spirals, a sack of jade, ameythst, moonstone and sandstone Venus of Villendorfs from China, boar tusks from Tibet, and Coprolite (aka fossilized dung- no it doesn't smell).