Gem Trees

I just finished posting some of my competition gem trees for sale on my 1000 Markets site. Currently I have 4 of them posted, an Opal tree on Opal base, Peridot tree on Stilbite mineral base, Sugalite on a Fluorite base and a Lapis tree on a matrix base imbeded with Chalcopyrite crystals. I really hate to give them up but I already have so many trees and I'll be making more for my upcoming competition in Billings this Summer. The Lapis pictured here is my favorite one.
Enjoy the new site and let me know how you like it.

Thanks, Dana

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Coming Along

The closer I get to finishing the book on Gem Tree Sculputures the more excited I become. I have finished my initial edits received back from my editor and now I have to insert all the pictures. Okay, first I have to take the pictures, then my husband edits them to black and white, then I can insert them. It seems like I still have a lot of work to do, but my deadline of next Monday still seems do-able. I may change my mind after this weekend.

Hopefully I have caught your interest with all the talk of my book. I am sorry about the web site, but I will include anyone on my notification e-mail list that's interested in when the book is published and I will also provide a link or instructions as to where you can purchase the book. Currently I am putting a few items out on ETSY for sale and I plan on checking to see if I can offer the book for sale there. I'll let you know.

Since I plan on making an instructional DVD on the standard gem tree design and I don't have a video camera....does anyone have a favorite video camera that they use? There are so many, I'm just not sure which one would be best for this application.

Thanks, Dana

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Web Site Lost ... :-(

For all of you looking for my web site and are just receiving an error message, we lost our server from the host this week. We are looking for a new host and will get it back up and running but because all the data was stored and backed up on that server, we will be starting from scratch. More work for me, but you will get to see a new and improved web site.

Until then, please feel free to contact me at djames50@gmail.com for any jewelry or gem tree requests or you can visit my Etsy site for a list of items for sale. As I am adding items daily to this site until my web site is back up and running, please check it often. I'll keep you updated on how it is going.

I do have a gem and mineral show in Castle Rock, WA this weekend (9/20-9/21), so if you are reading this and live in the area, please drop by and see me. We will be at the Fairgrounds.

Thanks, Dana

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The Imposed Deadline

Just thought I would throw out a few tidbits to get everyone interested in the book. Currently, it has 8 tree designs along with creating a tree to eliminate stress. I've had my edit groups make all the trees using the instructions and it is being finalized by my editor. Later this week will be my final run through to make sure I have all my photos and illustrations in the correct order and complete any final edits as suggested by the edit group on the instructions. My deadline to the publisher is September 29th. We shall see if I can make it.

Here is a list of the tree styles that will be included in the book.

• Standard Gem Tree (includes a mini version)
• Alternating Leaf Tree
• 2 Leaf Tree
• Early Variant Tree
• Down Under Tree
• Pine Tree
• Bonsai Tree
• Jewelry Tree

I'm excited to see how all of it will turn out in book form. If you would like your e-mail to be added to the notification list for when the book is published, please leave me a comment with your e-mail (I won't post it) and will get you added. Thanks for keeping me going and asking me questions about the trees because if it wasn't for all the questions, I probably wouldn't have thought of writing the book. Cheers, Dana

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Thanks for the Comments

I have received several comments on my competition trees. Thanks so much for all your feedback and wonderful comments. Competition next year will be tough so I'll have to start developing my palm tree soon.

For those that have asked, the book should be published in November if all goes as planned. Currently, I'm reformatting it into steps to make it easier to follow. I also plan to do a DVD companion that you can purchase separately on how to make the standard gem tree. Stay turned for more news.

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Competition

Well we made it back from the Regional competition in Ontario, Oregon. Boy was it hot. Going from 60 degrees to 90 degrees was a bit much and drained us completely of energy by early afternoon. I set up my display case on Thursday and the judging was on Friday. I had the unfortunate luck of not having any lights in my display during judging. Thankfully, they did not count that against me....not something I had control over. I was dinged on a couple of other items but that is fixable. The trees however were a big success and everyone including the judges thought they were great. Here is a picture of my display case showing the trees and the blue ribbon earned.
The pine tree in the back row seemed to be the favorite from most everyone I talked to with the bonsai tree front right was next.

I was able to promote my upcoming book as several people came up to me and wanted to know how to make them.

I have a couple of additional questions out to one of my judges for clarification of labeling for my competition next year. Next year it has to be perfect to take the Sweepstakes award at the National level.

Of these trees, I will be holding onto the Smoky Quartz (top left), Malachite Pine tree (top middle) and the bonsai which is a Pearl tree on Carnelian (bottom right). One of the new trees I will add to this collection for next years competition is a palm tree made with Labradorite stones. The palm tree is a completly different style as the limbs wire is braided vs. twisted and the trunk wire is woven on a support core of copper tubing. I have a year to make it so I'll have to get started on a prototype. I'll post a picture out here when it is finished.

If you have any comments, I would love to hear from you. As I have mentioned before, some of my previous posts for 2007 in this blog do have instructions for building a gem tree.

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The Gem Tree Winners

Gemtree Giveaway is now Closed and we have Winners!!!!

The winner of the finished gem tree is Paul and the winner of the gem tree kit is Capall. If you could e-mail me your mailing address information, I will get you your items. Thanks for all your participation and I will be doing this again in the future, so keep an eye out for more giveaways. I will leave this open for 1 week and if no contact is made I will give the item to another participant.

Thanks, Dana djames50@nventure.com

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