This was the first logo for my business. The Chinese Phoenix is a symbol of feminine energy and the ability to overcome. Phoenix is also where I grew up.

Twelve years ago I brought my Airstream to Phoenix right after Christmas. While I lived in my 22 foot trailer  I proceeded to work on raw castings for 30 straight days at the casting house I was then using. The  preparations were for the first time I was going to participate in the Tucson show. For 30 days I ground, tumbled, polished, bagged and tagged my inventory.   

I then drove to Tucson and parked my Airstream and setup my booth. It was raining and it continued to rain for almost a week. My booth was in a tent in the back of a show. 

I truthfully had no idea what I was doing. I had everything bagged and tagged on gridwall with a table in the front of the booth with samples. 

No one could see my work, especially since I had no lights and the days were dark gray. Every morning for 6 days I woke up in tears. 

The total sales at the end of the 6 days were $1000. Most of those sales were to sympathetic friends. I had no idea what I had done wrong. I couldn't just blame it on the rain.  

What I didn't know is that I had met people that would make a difference in my future. I met the owner of a casting house I used for some years. I met the lovely couple that owned Handfast which I purchased in 2008. Maude Lorah’s wonderful findings are still at the center of my work. Those people who saw me in that first worst show and still believed in me. Many are still in my life and definitely in my thoughts as I prepare for my 12th show in Tucson.

I have learned a few things in the last 12 years. A lot of them from my clients and from other vendors. I will be back in Tucson from February 2-9 2019 at the Colors of the Stone. I hope to see you there!!!!

Kim