Irina is gathering treasures in Tucson!

Each year in late January and February, the world converges on Tucson, AZ, where legendary gem & mineral shows have been held for the past forty years.  Vendors from as far away as India and Hong Kong display their wares.  There are acres of beads, cabochons, findings, and mineral specimens.

Right now Irina is browsing through the Tucson shows, finding the interesting, the unusual, and the amazing!  She'll be unveiling these treasures after she returns in mid to late February.

Here's a sneak preview of some of the amazing beads she's found:

These crackle beads are made in a new process that Irina said she's never seen before!  They're really beautiful.

These beautiful stone beads have an amazing texture and a great natural look.

Wow...these semi-precious stone inlay beads are outstanding!  These are made by hand using traditional intarsia methods, which involve precisely cutting the stone, lining it up perfectly, and adhering it together.