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March 2012

The trip out to the Quartzite and Tucson shows went fantastic. I flew out on January 26th into Phoenix. Thanks to friends, Jill and Gerald Phillips, for picking me up at the airport and driving me to pick up the RV I rented. I was a bit nervous driving the big vehicle, but it worked out all right and it was cheaper and more flexible than staying in a motel.

We missed the main mineral show in Quartzite, but there were still a lot of rock dealers set up. I have never been to a town that is so dominated by RVs. The world's largest flea market, swap, whatever you want to call it involves three miles of booths and shops – on both sides of the road! I thought that the prices were a bit better than Tucson, but the selection of material was not as good.

After a couple of days in Quartzite, AZ we headed off and camped on BLM land for a night and rounded up some chalcedony roses. Then we drove to Tucson. Thanks to friend, Karen Boaz, who lives in AZ during the winter (and in the U.P. during the summer) for picking us up and driving us around. Not only does she know the roads in Tucson better, but it was easier for her to drive and park her smaller vehicle than it would have been for us to drive and park one of our RVs.

The next day was the "Author's Event" sponsored by the Gem Shop. Other than myself the authors were: Roger Clark, Scott Wolter, Brad Cross, Hans Gamma, and Johann Zenz. Thank to all the staff from the Gem Shop who did a terrific job marketing the event, clearing out the space, and hosting the reception. Around 100 people showed up and seemed to enjoy the talks. Our task was to explain our connection with the rockhounding world and what led us to be standing up at the podium. I, of course, told everyone about the museum founder, Axel Niemi, and how he influenced me to be a rockhound. Thanks to everyone who organized the event, to the participants who attended, and to all those with whom I shared great conversations.

Before leaving Tucson and heading north with Jill and Gerald for a few more days of rockhounding, I dropped my purchases off with Richard Whitman (Red Metal Minerals), who arranged for shipment of my things and his back to Michigan. Thank you, Richard, for making it a whole lot easier than if I would have had to ship the almost 600 pounds of rock back myself. I'll be going to Ontonagon, MI in early April to pick up my boxes. If any of you are in the western Upper Peninsula between April and late fall, make sure you stop by the store owned by Richard and his wife. More information is available at http://www.exploringthenorth.com/upcandle/shop.html.

A few photos are below that show the rockhounding areas that we visited while in Arizona.

Since arriving home I have been working diligently on the online rockhounding adventures. This is definitely the hardest project on which I have ever worked. As I explained in past postings, the first adventure is called "The Basics." I start with the Big Bang and trace the evolution of the Universe, our solar system, and the Earth. For all the other adventures, the reader will travel in a "rockhounding time machine" back to when the Earth first formed and trace geologic history as an atom of silicon from a specific place on the planet. Then, as an atom of silicon, a rock or mineral is formed. Using photographs, readers will interactively "rockhound" by identifying specimens or certain rock characteristics. The first rock and location is, of course, a Lake Superior agate found in Grand Marais, Michigan. I hope to complete at least one more adventure before launching the project at the international agate show in Minneapolis in July. Watch this web page for further information.

The other project I have been working on is my speech for the International meeting. This event will be held the last weekend in July. The title of my talk is: The Story of Silica: Cosmic Source through Agate Genesis during the Seminar Day on Thursday, July 26, 2012 at "A Celebration of Agates." See the show listing below for additional information.

For those of you who miss the monthly pictures (since I am only updating the web page every few months as time permits), make sure you check out the photo journal blog at www.agatelady.blogspot.com. I post new pictures almost daily.

Please remember that the museum does not have regular hours during the winter. I will be reopening the museum in mid-May. If you are in the Grand Marais area, or plan to be in the near future, please feel free to make an appointment. Either call me at 906-494-2590 or send me an email at .

Happy Rockhounding!

Karen Brzys
Gitche Gumee Museum
E21739 Brazel Street, PO Box 308
Grand Marais, MI 49839
kbrzys@Jamadots.com or Karen@agatelady.com
906-494-3000 Museum
906-494-2590 Home number
906-450-5033 (Cell phone -- not always turned on. I use it only when I travel.)

Regular webpage www.agatelady.com
Photo Blog www.agatelady.blogspot.com

The museum's hours are:

Last half of May	Sunday thru Friday	2-5 pm
	Saturday	12-7 pm
June	Sunday thru Friday	2-5 pm
	Saturday	12-7 pm
July	Monday thru Saturday	12-7 pm
	Sunday	2-5 pm
August	Monday thru Saturday	12-7 pm
	Sunday	2-5 pm
September	Sunday thru Friday	2-5 pm
	Saturday	12-7 pm
October - Mid May	I am travelling a lot during these months exhibiting my mineral art at shows. Please call 906-494-2590 at least a week in advance of your visit. A donation or purchase is requested for all private appointments.

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Art and Mineral Show and Agate Talk Schedule

• March 23-25, 2012 EXHIBIT BOOTH – TV6 Escanaba, MI Spring Craft Show. Located at the Ruth Butler Building, UP State Fairgrounds, 2401 12th Avenue. A map is available at Map Available here. Show hours are Friday 5:00 to 9:00, Saturday 10:00 to 6:00, and Sunday 11:00 to 4:00. More information is available at Upper Michigan Source.
• May 11-13, 2012 EXHIBIT BOOTH – TV6 Marquette, MI Mother's Day Craft Show. Located at the Superior Dome, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue. Show hours are Friday 5:00 to 9:00, Saturday 10:00 to 6:00, and Sunday 11:00 to 4:00. More information is available at Upper Michigan Source.
• July 21-22, 2012 EXHIBIT BOOTH – 43rd Annual Moose Lake, MN Agate Days. Located at the Moose Lake High School, 413 Birch Avenue. Event hours are Saturday 9:00 to 5:00; Sunday 9:00 to 4:00. The Clark-Olsen Agate Stampede is at 2:00 on Saturday. More information is available at Moose Lake Chamber.
• July 26-29, 2012: PRESENTATION AND EXHIBIT BOOTH -- A Celebration of Agates International Show. Located at Lindbergh Center at Hopkins High School, 2400 Lindbergh Drive, Minnetonka, Minnesota. Seminars will be held on Thursday from 8:00 to 5:00. Register for the full day of seminars on the Minnesota Mineral Club website: www.minnesotamineralclub.org. On the website, click the show link on the left hand side of the page and then scroll down to the Event Registration link. If you register before APRIL 1st the price is $95; after that it is $125. The seminar payment also gains admission to the rest of the events throughout the weekend, other than the banquet which is $25. The banquet at the Menasha, WI show sold out, so get your banquet order in early. Event hours: Friday, noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 10a.m. to 4 p.m. More information is available at http://minnesotamineralclub.org/2012show.htm I will be speaking at the seminar on Thursday. The title of my talk: The Story of Silica—Cosmic Source through Agate Genesis. The times of the presentations have not yet been announced.
• October 15-16, 2012 EXHIBIT BOOTH – Muskallunge State Park Annual Rock On Agate Show. Located at 30042 County Road 407 in Deer Park, MI half way between Newberry and Grand Marais,. Show hours have not yet been announced but they will be all day on Saturday and Sunday. Camping is available. For more information please call 906-658-3338.
• October 6-7, 2012 EXHIBIT BOOTH – 33rd Annual Eagle River, WI Cranberry Festival. The art show takes place at the Vilas County Fairgrounds on Hwy 70W around a half mile west of the town's main intersection. The show's hours are Saturday 9:00 to 4:00 and Sunday from 9:00 to 3:00. For more information go to http://www.cranberryfest.org/
• October 26-28, 2012 EXHIBIT BOOTH -- 47th Annual Central Michigan Lapidary & Mineral Society Show. Main Arena, Ingham County Fairgrounds, 700 E. Ash Street, Mason, MI 48854. Event hours are Friday 6:00 to 9:00, Saturday 10:00 to 7:00, and Sunday 11:00 to 5:00. For more information please go to Michigan Rocks.
• December 1-3, 2012 EXHIBIT BOOTH – TV6 Marquette, MI Christmas Craft Show. Located at the Superior Dome, 1401 Presque Isle Avenue. Show hours are Friday 5:00 to 9:00, Saturday 10:00 to 6:00, and Sunday 11:00 to 4:00. More information is available at Upper Michigan source.

As you can see, I have cut down the list of organized shows. Because of the success in setting up the agate talk with mineral art sales at the nature center in Holland, MI last year, I plan on setting up more of these events. I will be contacting nature centers in Michigan and northern Wisconsin over the next month to try to set up these presentations for the fall. If there is a nature center in your area, or if you would like to sponsor a Gitche Gumee Gathering, please send me an email at Karen@agatelady.com.

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March 2012 Update

Current Grand Marais Scenes
Mineral of the Month Mexican Crazy Lace Agate
Customer Agate Find
History’s Gem of the Month John Keating –The Sweater Knitter
On-line Gift Shop A new deck of playing cards featuring 52 different images of Lake Superior scenes is now available.
Gitche Gumee Gatherings Information about scheduling private, in-home private art shows
Rockhounding and Adventure Trip Arizona Trip 2012
Media Coverage Petoskey News
Correspondence Testimonial from a Mineral Art customer

 

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Gitche Gumee Museum.
E21739 Brazel Street
Grand Marais, Michigan 49839