A fire-breathing creature that terrorized many according to early literature, still popular today, the dragon appears in many forms.  Since there is often some truth in every legend I would suppose a creature of some kind did exist.  The Bible describes a dragon called Leviathan, an ominous creature indeed.

What is real is their popularity in Sherry’s artwork.  Pictured here is an Evershine Pewter dragon together with an ammonite fossil and a sea biscuit, a fossil sand dollar – sold.  As I complete this post, Sherry is busy making new pieces.  The dragon myth or real, will continue to live on – at least in our imaginations – and in Sherry’s work. 

Never give up on your imagination and never give up on your dreams.

Amethyst is the birthstone for February and we are asked for it often.  Considered a healing stone, its color, lavender, does have calming effects.  Quartz, and the right mix of microscopic iron, time, temperature, pressure, and solar radiation create this beautiful and diverse gemstone. 

I finished these amethyst pendant size hearts this weekend.  We will have them and more amethyst at our upcoming shows.  The hearts and many other pieces for wire wrappers and silversmiths and lapidary enthusiasts.

“Where are you visiting from?”  is a good conversation opener in the Southwest during the winter.  There is a good chance that the answer will be from somewhere cold.  Bruce, self-proclaimed “Unaminer,” was no exception.  Bruce, a snow bird from Montana, delighted us with stories of his gemstone claim, the Montana Blue Jewel Mine.  He carried a small box filled with precious gemstones, faceted and rough, the results of hard-rock mining.  The real treat was the ruby, in the rough, pictures above.

 The Gold Show in Quartzsite was the smallest and last of our six shows but, in some ways, the biggest in diversity and experience.  We are home now, but wanted to share with you one more experience of our trip to Arizona this winter.  March we will be at the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Gardens for the annual gem and mineral show, then in Death Valley National Park for the spring art show.