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Rock Collecting
A Lifetime Hobby.

I’m sure that many of you, have been picking up rocks since early childhood, putting them in your pockets, in a drawer, or on a shelf. My fascination with rocks began at an early age, and was influenced by my grandparents, who kept a small rock tumbler in their basement, and were known to collect and polish apache tears or other small stones and seashells, and use them in jewelry or to decorate mirrors, frames, and more.

Collecting minerals and fossils as an adult has been even more fun. I’ve begun to recognize many more mineral types and delight in the variety of colors, sizes, and crystal formations we see at the shows. Bringing these colorful specimens back to Kansas City and sharing some of the beauty of the earth with those who come to the store, has also brought us great pleasure. Some are looking for just the right piece to set off their curio cabinet or display. Others are just seeking a small specimen to give a child as an educational gift. Whatever their desire, the hundreds of colorful minerals and fossils we have on hand guarantee they will find a great specimen.

Dioptase
Dark Green Delight!


Photographs just can’t do justice to the beautiful dark hues found in dioptase crystals. This mineral is a hydrated copper silicate which rivals the peerlessness of deep green emeralds, and makes a great collector specimen (Yes, I had to keep one for myself!).

The dioptase from Tsumeb, Namibia is the world’s finest. Crystals have been found up to 5 cm in size, and crystals 1 cm in size are fairly common. Other nice specimens are found in Kazakhstan. The faces of the rhombohedrons, and even the prism faces, are very reflective due to a fairly high luster. Unfortunately, it is rather soft (5-5.4) and has good cleavage; therefore, it is not usually cut as a gemstone. However, the mineral specimens are truly a treasure for anyone who likes deep green colors. Fine crystals of dioptase are still in good supply, but their sources are few and the continued demand may put a squeeze on their abundance in the future.

Art & Sculpture Sale

SAVE 20% - 50%!
October 6-15, 2005


For 10 days only, we will be having a special clearance sale on sculptures and figurines. All of our high quality Mill Creek (alabaster) sculptures and many other sculptures and figurines will be reduced 20% to 50%.

In addition, our framed artwork will be 20-50% off, as well as our unframed prints and posters. This is a great time to spruce up your home before the holidays!

What is Smudging?

A common practice in the American Indian culture is that of purifying the home or body through the use of smudging. To smudge is to purify with smoke using certain sacred herbs. Native peoples of both North and South America use smoke in purification ceremonies. In North American, the smoke is created by burning such herbs as sage, cedar, sweetgrass and juniper. In Central and South America, it is more common to burn a resin derived from the copal tree.

Smudge bundles are ignited (usually with a candle, as matches burn out too quickly) over a ceramic bowl containing sand. Once the bundle is burning well, the flame is blown out, so the smudge stick is smoldering. The person then circulates the smoke around the room, waving the smudge stick in a slow, circular motion, or using a smudge fan (ceremonial, feathered fan) to fan the smoke around the room or around the person being purified. After smudging, the bundle is extinguished in the sand and stored for future use.

For those who wish to experience smudging, we carry smudge bundles in several herb combinations, as well as smudge fans. The herbs smell wonderful, and add a western desert scent to your home.

Jewelry Trunk Show & SALE

SAVE 25%
October 22


Please come join us for our semi-annual Indian Jewelry Trunk Show on Saturday, October 22. Our selection of jewelry more than doubles during the trunk show, as our trader brings in thousands of Navajo & Zuni pieces. Choose from pendants, earrings, rings, bracelets, bolo ties, belt buckles, and watches direct from the reservations of New Mexico and Arizona. Often the trader brings pottery, bows, arrows, and more, so it’s a great time to pick up authentic American Indian artifacts.

During the show, all jewelry & artifacts - either trunk show items or regular store merchandise - will be discounted 25%. This includes pottery, dreamcatchers, flutes, and all of our jewelry - even the new Black Hills Gold jewelry.

Be sure to mark your calendar. This is one event you won’t want to miss!

We’ve Got Gold!

After talking about it for years, we’ve finally brought in a beautiful line of Black Hills Gold jewelry. These gorgeous pendants, earrings, and rings are artistically decorated with pink and green leaves in 12K gold. The pink leaves have more copper in the alloy, while the green leaves contain more silver and zinc. Earrings have 14K gold posts and clutches, and pendants include an 18-inch 12K gold-filled chain. All of the pieces are made in the USA by Wheeler (out of South Dakota), and come with a lifetime guarantee.

The leaves and roses are soldered to the shanks using gold solder to give a richer look. Each piece is hand wriggled (to texture the leaves) and hand engraved. Most styles are also diamond cut with a diamond-tipped tool rotating at 35,000 RPM to mill tiny pieces of gold from the piece, leaving intricate shiny surfaces.

We also carry sterling silver pieces by Wheeler, where the pink and green leaves are mounted on silver, giving a stylish tri-color look, at a lower price. The silver earrings have hypo-allergenic posts and clutches, and pendants include an 18-inch silver chain.

Get your Wildlife Calendars


We often run out of our popular calendars a month or two before the end of the year, so we wanted to let you know our 2006 calendars are in stock while the supply is still good. One of our top sellers each year is Bev Doolittle’s wall calendar. Other art calendars by Thomas Kinkade and James Christensen are also very popular. We also have some great motivational calendars with beautiful scenery and uplifting thoughts, as well as some neat photographic calendars for those who love horse, wolves, and lighthouses.

A Bright New Gift Idea


If you haven’t visited for a while, you need to come by and see our colorful line of Oaxacan (pronounced Wa-Haw-Ken) wood carvings. These enchanting art figures have captivated collectors and enthusiasts worldwide. The highly imaginative and brilliantly colored figures are totally hand-carved and painted in tiny villages in the Oaxacan Valley of southern Mexico. Many of the carvers are descendants of the legendary Zapotec Indian Tribe of Oaxaca.

Each figure is handmade from Copal wood (a soft wood that grows in abundance in the hills surrounding Oaxacan Valley) using machetes and pocket knives. Artists carve the basic shape of a figure in a few days, then hand sand and meticulously paint each piece in great detail. Each carving is unique and can take up to a full week to complete. Carvings are signed by the artists and available in limited quantities. Appreciation in value is possible due to the high demand and uniqueness of this work. Many of these figures have become collectors' items.

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