- A few more opals . . . and lots of rain

Palm Harbor, FL USA

Here are a few opals I've recently cut:

The mining season in Koroit is just starting. The big news from the desert is water - since around Christmas it has rained and rained and rained and flooded in southwest Queensland. Apparently there was more rain and more water than at any time in recorded history. Luckily it appears my mine is ok.

Friends have told me it's greener in and around Koroit and Cunnamulla than they have ever seen before. It sounds pretty. However, all of that water will mean many things are growing and reproducing - grasses and other plants, mice, those who eat mice - like snakes . . . and the kangaroos will over-populate. It's an extreme ecosystem. The addition of a large amount of water will tip its delicate balance. All of that water could make the next couple of years rather interesting, unusual and potentially dangerous.

I'm eager to get out there and see it for myself.

I've made a few improvements to my website.

You might want to take a look: www.koroit.com

Now off to show and sell a few beautiful opals!

- A few opals

Palm Harbor, FL - USA

Here are a few small opals I just cut. . . .





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- Tucson

Palm Harbor, FL - USA

I'm back home, unpacked and back to work. However, I wanted to mention a few things about my recent trip to Tucson.

The number of buyers attending the shows in Tucson this year appeared to be significantly down from last year - and attendance last year was very low. Other dealers I spoke with agreed that attendance was down. It also was clear that the number of dealers was down.

However, in spite of the smaller number of buyers, I was very pleased with the results. The buyers who did show up were interested in buying opals and spent a few dollars.

On my last night in Tucson I went out for for dinner with Mauro (an Italian gemologist, stone wholesaler, dealer in antiquities, manufacturer of glass cameos and my next door neighbor in Tucson for over the last 10 years). We went to a very nice seafood restaurant (curious to eat seafood in Tucson) and met a few other folks for dinner. Among those at our table for dinner were a talented metalsmith who conducts hollowware workshops in Europe, an award winning gem cutter, a former editor of a major industry publication and a gentleman who once actually held the unset Hope diamond in his hand. Conversation that night was entertaining and the mahi-mahi I ordered was delicious.
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- Back Home

Palm Harbor, FL - USA

Yesterday I finally got back home after a trip of about 4,600 miles.

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by my booth in Tucson. I very much appreciate your business and you visiting my booth to say hello.

Soon I'll be back to work, slicing and cutting new material . . . yes, I'll be posting pictures.