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14th Annual Treasures of the Earth Gem and Jewelry Show July 18 to 20

Story by Celeste von Mangan Rose Wimmer is returning to the Treasures of the Earth Gem and Jewelry Show this year with her popular gem trees. The show is Friday to Sunday, July 18 to 20, at the Boone National Guard Armory.

Goldsmiths, silversmiths and jewelry makers from across the United States are congregating at the 14th Annual Treasures of the Earth Gem and Jewelry Show, Friday, July 18, through Sunday, July 20, at the Boone National Guard Armory. From 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, 15 specialty vendors will create jewelry from gems, stones, opals and crystals. Vendors will also have fossils, minerals, pearls, stone beads and amber for people who want to make their own jewelry or start or add to a preexisting gem collection. Jewelry repair will also be available.

“The show is similar to last year,” said Van Wimmer, owner of Treasures of the Earth. “Anybody in our show has to make part of their jewelry. A lot of shows don’t do that. And you can come by our show and get something custom made or repaired. We have silversmiths, goldsmiths and bead stringers—people who have very nice beads typically have to have them restrung. They can do that here. We have one bead dealer from China who only sells quality beads. She only sells real stones, no fakes or selling seconds. Seconds are stones that are drilled off-center. Anyone who comes to the show can bring their beads and we can determine the quality.”

Most of the dealers from previous years will return to the Boone event, and Wimmer has added some new vendors for 2008.

Plan to attend the Treasures of the Earth Gem and Jewelry Show next weekend at the Boone National Guard Armory for beads of every shape and color. “There’s a new mineral dealer from Florida who owns a mine called the Fort Drum Crystal Mine that has petrified clams in it,” he said. “They are millions of years old. He has petrified coral also—the coral is gorgeous. There will be four different dealers selling both minerals and fossils. One of the dealers specializes in low-cost minerals. Children love his booth; prices start at fifty cents and up.

“We have a new dealer in silver from Bali and our two dealers from last year are a silversmith and goldsmith, combined at one booth. They make the custom-made pieces and are one of our most popular vendors. The second most popular is the booth where jewelry is repaired or reworked. For example, if a mount on a ring is damaged, it can be repaired or if you have a ring from grandma and you want a more modern mount, then that can be done. The smiths use a torch and melt gold or silver to do this.”

The vendor who restrings beads can take an antique necklace or bracelet of beads and repair the piece so it is like new. Wimmer said that many people bring bead jewelry to the show to have it repaired and many of those pieces are heirlooms; others like to buy beads at the show and have them made into jewelry.

“Some of the most popular beads at the show are magnetic,” he said. “People swear that they help arthritis. Our beader will string whatever you want.”

Also popular are gem trees. The crafter twists wire into the shape of a tree trunk and hangs gemstones on the tree wire that look like jeweled leaves.

“And then at another booth, we’ll have wire wrap jewelry and also wire sculpture,” said Wimmer. “They are two very different things. The wire wrapping consists of taking a stone like a pendant and wrapping wire around it; the wire sculpture uses loops and curliques.”

In addition to the vendors, door prizes will be given away every hour, with a grand prize consisting of a gemstone in a gold ring setting.

“We are only charging $2 for admission,” said Wimmer. “The ticket is good for all three days. We do that because people who have jewelry made or repaired may not want to wait. This way, they only pay once. Children under age 16 are admitted for free and they receive a small bag of polished stones as a gift.”

Another show perk for children? Scouts can come to the show and earn merit badges. “We have opportunities for Boy and Girl Scouts and Cubs and Brownies,” said Wimmer. “On our website there are lists of what they have to do to earn merit badges related to geology.”

For more information call 540-384-6047 or click to www.toteshows.com.

Want To Go?
Dates: Friday to Sunday, July 18 to 20
Times: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday/11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday
Location: Boone National Guard Armory
Cost: $2 for three days/Free for children under 16