Tucson 2025 - A desert oasis in the middle of winter. The entire city of Tucson is taken over with gem show after gem show, each offering different facets of the jewelry world.

As I walk the gem shows I weave between fancy, indoor showrooms and dusty outdoor bazaars. The airconditioned shows lined with fancy cut diamonds, arrays of the largest emeralds I’ve ever seen, rare rubies, rainbows of sapphires, finished jewelry, all the sparkle and glam with multi thousand dollar deals being made left and right. The outdoor shows host a taste of that elegance mixed with dusty rows of uncut rocks, smelly miners who live in the outback more than the city, trays and trays of color sorted rough gems, ethiopian and australian accents blending to create a cacophony of opalescent interest. At every show, what I feel is an intensity of anticipation, untapped potential dripping from every table, from the uncut stones awaiting to take form to gems fantastically faceted awaiting a final setting, to beads and tools I’ve been lusting after for years. It’s a miracle I stay inside my skin walking the blocks of this gem city. My being almost lost in possibility while simultaneously making instant business decisions. What is this stone WORTH? I could easily spend more than I’m worth in gold but I remind myself that I am not a dragon. Unfortunately. I do not need a cave, or safe, hoarded with more gems than I’ll ever use in one lifetime. I do, in fact, have a family to feed so I keep my senses, make some smart choices and bring home gems I can utilize this season. 

Inspired by our time in Mexico this January, I am designing a FLOW collection to release in the autumn so I sourced gems that fit that vibe - opals, turquoise, chrysocolla and sapphire. I met with sapphire miners from Montana and Australia who I sourced gorgeous green and yellow sapphires from - all of which are perfect for engagement rings. Both miners invited me to their mines - more travel blogs to come from those adventures.

The desert landscape has as much pull on my being as the crystal lined streets. Every morning I set out with stars still shining to drive out to the Saguaro forest, catching pink striped skies behind looming saguaro cacti, arms reaching high into the sky, dwarfing my 5’2” stature. Just like uncut gemstones, there’s something about the desert that awakens a curiosity of dormant possibility. Such an arid landscape vibrating with life, cacti sharp as crystals, whose forms approach the flowering season. Gravel everywhere underfoot, dry creek beds, 3 coyotes cross my path. Where in hell do they find a drink? The rabbits skitter away. Coyotes howl at the sunrise. If this much beauty blossoms here, then what more? Is anything actually possible? It’s good for my soul to explore, remember my own potential and how it’s formed from my own wild wanderings. I know the office awaits, the emails and the payroll and taxes, the “adulting” business requires, but I also know my office resides in a beautiful art studio where I create tokens of power, meaning, connection, POTENTIAL. Talismans to remind you who you want to be and encourage you to stay the course. The office work sometimes tempts a draught of passion, but the desert reminds me that the boldness of action is like rain in an arid land, promising to awaken the waiting gems.