Wow, What's Happened?

The past couple of weeks have just been booming for gem trees, gem tree kits and books. I'm not sure what has happened, but I like it. We demonstrated at the Southern Washington Gem & Rock show in Castle Rock, WA last weekend. It was amazing. We sold 11 trees and 5 books on a two day show and we weren't even vendors. My husband did teach a young girl to make her own tree and then she turned around and spent her money to buy a tree for her mother. What a great hobby. We have reduced the price of our trees at these shows to allow for more sales since we are making them left and right. They just accumulate here at home, so I figure someone else can enjoy them in their home for awhile. I didn't push the book too much which is probably why I only sold 5, but combine that with the order I received this week for 12 books and it was a great week of book sales.

In other news, I have started my outline for the next book. I'm thinking it will be called "Gem Tree Sculptures II". Yes, not too original, but follows the first book and does let people know that there must be a book one. So far, I'm planning on including some instructions for accessories to add to your existing trees and some more advanced features for larger trees. I do have plans for new tree designs like my palm tree and a couple of new willow type trees. I may even have a chapter on how to design your own tree. What I haven't decided yet is if I will add any more gemstone lore or healing gemstone information. Still thinking about that one as making a gem tree is very therapeutic.

I'm still working on a special vendor order of 10 small gem trees. I'm almost complete and just need to get them mounted on a rock base before mailing. This is a vendor that will be a the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February. If you have never been to this show it is huge with gem, mineral, bead and rock shows at every venue in Tucson. We went last year and only made it to a few of the shows, before we were tired of looking at rocks and gems.

If some of you are wondering where I get my supplies for my gem trees, I go to a local bead shop in Lacey, WA called Shipwreck Beads. They also have an online store. This is one of the largest bead shops you will ever go into. Simply amazing with all the various beads and supplies. I did take my book along with a vendor order sheet and leave it with their book buyer so hopefully I'll get some book orders from them. If you want to check out their web site, here is the address: http://www.shipwreckbeads.com/. Here one of the new trees I'm working on that includes freshwater pearls and glass leaves.

Enjoy and have a great day.

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Featured Artist - Apryl Mott

I talk about my gem trees, competing, the book and tutorials, but I never talk about the other amazing gem tree artists. Here is one of my fellow gem tree artisans who has a shop on ArtFire. She creates small trees that remind me of a fantasy.

Apryl lives outside of New Orleans and was trained in gem tree sculpture by her grandmother and wire wrapped jewelry by her grandfather who traveled to various craft shows all over the U.S.

Take a look at her shop here and let her know how amazing her creations are.

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Gem Tree Sculpture Book Update

For all of you who have e-mailed me wanting to get a copy, please be patient. The book is with the publisher for formatting. As soon as I get my proof copy I'll be sure to let you know. This book is laden with pictures and diagrams so hopefully they aren't having too much trouble with it.

If you are new to the Gem Tree world and want some basic instructions, I do have an earlier post from 2007 that you can search for here in my blog or e-mail me separately and I'll get something out to you.

My next goal is to get my "Dew Drop" tree completed for competition and a prototype palm completed. These two trees along with 3 trees from last year will be entered in Billings, Montana this summer at the American Federation of Mineral Societies show. It will be my final year of competition if I make "Masters". I'm going for it with my two new tree designs. Cross your fingers for me. Just as an FYI, the "Dew Drop" tree is called the "Down Under Tree" in my book, so those instructions will be provided in this first edition. I know what your thinking, she's going to do another book, well I'm thinking about a more advanced book for those who make gem trees and want additional ideas, like my palm tree. I'll post pics here when they are finished.

Cheers for now...

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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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Gem Tree BOOK Update

I wanted to provide a quick update to those that follow my tree making adventures. I have found a book publisher and have contracted with them for self publishing. It appears I still have a lot of work to do, but I’m hopeful that by Christmas my book will be published and available for gift giving. Any instructions that you find here on my blog or any of my other blogs or web site will be included in the book with additional diagrams, pictures and hopefully easier to read instructions. Additional instructions for new designs and shapes have been added as well as ideas on how to use the trees in your home and everyday life.

Don’t forget to leave a comment on my blog for the Gem Tree Giveaway. We have just a little over a week before I announce a winner - Deadline is May 26th.

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The Gem Tree Giveaway

WIN BIG * WIN BIG * WIN BIG * WIN BIG * WIN BIG

I always have people interested in my trees, "How do you make them", "My mother would love one of those", "Do you teach classes", etc. Here is your chance to win either a completed tree like the one pictured or a Gem Tree Kit. The kit will contain everything to make the tree including written instructions and all the gems you will need.

"What do I need to do to win one of these prizes"? you ask, Post a comment letting me and the readers know why you would want one of these trees. What draws you to them? For each comment you will get one entry. Comments will be moderated, so no SPAM (selling of any products), or profanity. When posting a comment you will need to let me know how to get a hold of you or you can send me a separate e-mail to let me know your online name so that I can associate you to it. The drawing will be on Memorial Day. I'm sure you are now asking, "Why Memorial Day and not Mother's Day", well I have no good reason, but it is my giveaway and I can pick whatever day I want.

If you would like to check out other pictures of completed gem trees or purchase a kit or completed tree, please see my links and click on Dana's Jewelry Design to visit my web site. You can also contact me by visiting my site and clicking on the Contact Me link.

I'm currently in the process of making trees for competition in June, so if you are the winner of the finished tree you may get an e-mail from me with tree options such as the type of stone and base rock since I make several and choose the best to use for competition. Sorry, if you are not winner, you are welcome to purchase a completed tree or tree kit from my web site or request a special order tree. I welcome all your comments and look forward to reading them. - dana

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The Gem Tree Class - Part 2

The "Class" as I fondly call it, didn’t turn out as overwhelming as I thought it would be. There was another large community event that same day that took some of the kids that would have joined in, plus it was the first 70 degree plus day of the year, so who wanted to be stuck inside. All in all we had 26 participants with two of them adults. I had four helpers that floated around the tables helping out when the kids or adults ran into problems along with a few parents that helped out.

The girls were very well behaved, paid attention and hopefully learned enough to create a tree on their own.

The hardest part was gluing all the trees to the rocks at the end of the class and making sure they were secured with rubber bands. Since there were so many, it took longer than expected but we still finished within our 4 hour estimate. If these had been adults we would have had them glue their own tree, but the glue is messy and can be toxic, so I did most all of them.

I’m sure that I will be offering this to other Girl Scout troops or Boy Scouts for that matter, but we will be limiting class size to 20 total participants to make it a little bit more manageable. Since this was a non profit group we only charged for our costs of material. For any other group, we would have also charged for our time.

My last post mentioned my Stress Reduction Tree Class and how it turned out, so I have scheduled another one. This time I will be teaching the standard gem tree design in 3 lunch sessions. Since these are work associates, and I’m hoping to make one of my competition trees during this time, I am only charging for the materials.

I also have found a work associate who will do freelance editing for my book. I may actually get this finished prior to some of my demonstrations this Summer.

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Making Gem Trees the BOOK

Just to let everyone know, I've started writing a book on how to make gemstone trees. I've been gathering all my current designs and creating a few more along with taking pictures and drawing diagrams. I would say I'm about half way in the writing process and would like to have finished and available this Summer. My husband and I will be self publishing the book and are looking at some publishers that support that option. I don't plan on taking any of my instructions off my blogs or web site at this time, but please be aware these are copyrighted and can not be shared for profit. If there are any gem and mineral clubs, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts or any other youth club interested in obtaining instructions for their hands on/craft sessions, I would be happy to send out the .pdf version.

If anyone has any suggestions that they would like to see in a book or in a blog on how to make these wonderful little trees, please let me know. I would also like to know of any issues you are having in following the current instructions and how I might make them better.

Thanks, Dana

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