[Heidi]

Hello Everyone!

There is a jewelery show coming up in Portland and pattye and I have been talking about coordinating a meeting among local/regional PG forum members.

It's the annual show of the Creative Metals Arts Guild, more info here. So, who else is in the Pacific NW and might want to come to this show? We're talking about meeting up either on Saturday or Sunday during the day.

As an aside, this show is held at the convention center in Portland and is in conjunction with the Potter's and the Weaver's guilds. Lots of great artisan stuff to see.

[pattye]

Hi All,

Several of the designers from whom Heidi has jewelry, shown on another thread, and the gals from Trios Studio that have Cortez Pearls (because of their connection to Tri Gems), among other artists will be there------I have attended before, and it is a source of fun and inspiration as well-----

Pattye

[pattye]

Just a reminder, Everybody!

This show will have lots of interesting finished jewelry items and more! If you can come, please email or pm Heidi or me so we can coordinate time-------hope to meet you!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Nerida]

Have a lovely time! Photos please...

[pattye]

Hi Nerida and All,

Well, I met up with Heidi today right on schedule, and we spent about 3 hours looking at fab custom jewelry, with rare gemstones, and of course, lots of pearls, interesting use of metals. The most unusual or rare IMHO was a genuine biwa pearl ring. The designer had purchased a number of biwa pearls in the 80's and this was her last one. It was a lovely pinkish purple, with a little aqua opally overtone, probably 15mm or so and very keishi like in surface quality. Unfortunately, it was waaaay out of my budget, 4 digits.

Wish more of you could have joined us. It is amazing to me that when NCNs get together, there are always lots of common interests and plenty to talk about!

There were also ceramics, glass, metal work, weaving and more for sale also. We marveled at the quality and quantity of fine crafts available. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to take it all in.

Wish we could have taken photos, but with a show like this, it is discouraged, I guess, a fear of people stealing others designs, etc. Plus the bright lights and glass cases would no doubt add to the difficulty.

We did tell some pearl lovers about our forum here, so could be we will pick up some new members next month!

Thanks again, Heidi, for such a splendid idea!!

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[jerin]

Hi Pattye

just want to thank you for this report. It would have been nice to see this BIWA pearl on a photo. Personally I think the cost is much too high for a freswater pearl, even if it comes from a now "extinct" pearl forming mussel from Lake Biwa in Japan.

[pattye]

Hi Inge,

Thanks for your comments! Probably should have mentioned the beautiful heavy gold custom mounting for the pearl ring, also there were some diamonds in it also. So for the right person it would be a very special piece. I might just also mention that I had a Biwa pearl ring in gold, no diamonds, purchased in the early 80's, that appraised for just over $1200 in 1995. Unfortunately it was stolen. I will try to post a photo of it on "my first pearls" thread. The colors on my were quite different.

Do they have art events like this where you live?

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

[Heidi]

Thanks Pattye! It sure was fun to meet a PG member and take in all the sights.

Sadly it really wasn't a place to take photographs. As much as I'd have liked to come away with visual evidence to share...

The Biwa ring in question is a heavy cast gold and diamond-accented item, hence the price. That jeweler's work is really nice the way she uses the metal and smaller gemstones to accent the main piece; very much not traditional settings. It sure did look nice on Pattye.

Many of the artists we saw use metals in creative ways, as Pattye mentioned. Some lovely work mixing color and texture. On pearls, often we saw them used to complement the color and texture play. There was a nice little cache of Sea of Cortez pearls in one case, and they instantly drew my eye. Also a pistachio Tahitian pearl ring that had multicolored sapphires channel set at either side in 18k white gold - a simple setting but a humongous impact from the color.

As part of our afternoon, Pattye was kind enough to bring some of her amazing collection to share with me including some of her own creations. I was too shy to ask her for this, so it was great that she somehow read my mind!

[jerin]

Originally Posted by pattye

Hi Inge,

Thanks for your comments! Probably should have mentioned the beautiful heavy gold custom mounting for the pearl ring, also there were some diamonds in it also. So for the right person it would be a very special piece. I might just also mention that I had a Biwa pearl ring in gold, no diamonds, purchased in the early 80's, that appraised for just over $1200 in 1995. Unfortunately it was stolen. I will try to post a photo of it on "my first pearls" thread. The colors on my were quite different.

Do they have art events like this where you live?

Pattye
so many pearls, so little time

Hi Pattye,
no here in Sweden I do know of no fairs at all, there might be one in Stockholm but I haven never seen it advertised. The only one I know of here in Europe would be the Inhorgenta in Munich/Germany. That usually opens its doors in february but then one must have a lot of money, because this fair is pearls and jewelry with stones... a paradise for sure...

Sorry to hear your ring was stolen and yes, if one really likes a certain piece, one is prepared to pay quite a lot if possible, just to get it...