FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[Gail]

Hugs to you Peter, and Nadia too!

We had a busy week of guests and had Kevin Schofield from HAMS over last night. ( Houston Area Mineral Society )
He is the last guest we will be able to show our whole collection to till after Springfield.
Jim and I pulled out the cart we had made special for moving minerals around in. We are underway to cull the minerals to a more realistic amount in each case. One cabinet of the Topaz shown earlier will now be divided into two cabinets.
Of course, things can always change, but we are down to the wire of photos, boxing up and storing our minerals till they are taken to the show.

As we lay out cases we find ourselve talking about what to add, photos to print out, etc. Jim and I seem to work really well when it comes to concepts. He respects my many years of operating art galleries, including my own. ( I worked at 6 before going into business for myself )

I find myself waking in the middle of the night with ideas and thoughts about labels and interesting additions. So very little sleep last night, up at 5 a.m.

In the mix of all this is our beloved Tour de France. We watch it three times a day, we can't get enough of seeing the racers. Jim and I were both racers of bicycles.
With 42 bicycles in our collection it is apparent that we are not solely into minerals.

So now that todays stage of the Tour is over, we can concentrate on our displays.

[Gail]

Just got back from a run to the Hobby store to pick up supplies to use in our displays.
We will have photos and maps to put on the back wall of the cases and don't want them falling during the show, but don't want to have to scrape things off after either. I did quite a bit of research on what would, and would not, work.

Miscellaneous papers, cutting tools, bases and paints were part of the purchases of the day.

Jim is finalizing some cabinets, photographing them, sketching the layout with each specimen number on a pad of paper, and then packaging all items and marking the box with a case number from 1 to 53.

[Gail]

After an exciting day in the Pyranees for the Tour de France, I was inspired to pull out my paintbrushes and start on the art for the display.

JIm has worked very hard this weekend, getting cabinets designed while I print out photos and add little touches to the lay out of the displays.
Everything is going smoothly, having a great time talking and renewing our passion for our minerals. When you get a display ready, you see them in a new light all over again.
Nice side benefit!

Some photos of today....

[Gail]

Well on my way to having this one done....It takes me about 2 1/2 hours to paint a mineral if it isn't too varied in colour, etc.

[Gail]

I am glad we have no entertaining planned soon, our kitchen, dining room and sun room are a mess with boxes, flats, packing material, paints, glue, tape, photographs, minerals, labels, tack, hot glue guns, pens, pads of paper and basic clutter.
But that's okay, we need it that way to get the job done.

With our passion for the Tour de France, we find ourselves jumping to minerals during the breaks, but running back in to see the race otherwise. ( Go Cavendish! A Brit!!! )
( Go Lance too! A Yank! )

[Gail]

...

[Gerhard Niklasch]

Exciting, educating, and entertaining to follow your progress...

Please do keep 'em coming!!

And make sure to put a little label on each case and cabinet:
"Adularia approved"! :)

Cheers, Gerhard

[Joan Kureczka]

Cases are looking great, Gail. Will you posted photos of all the final versions? Very nice benitoite singles.

[Gail]

Yes, I will post after ths show Joan, as I want people to have something to come see in person first. We will have nice photos, maps, etc. to make the cases look better too.
Thanks for the nice comment about the benitoite.

[Gail]

Busy weekend, we had a MAD meeting to attend at the Jim and Marjorie Ferguson home in East Texas yesterday. Dr. James Carter is a member of MAD and the Wall Street Journal weekend edition had a nice write up about the Apollo 11 moon landing, and Dr. Carter was mentioned for his accomplishments.
Jim is diligent in his task of putting together a New England case while I tend to lawn mowing. He is doing a super job on this case and as members of the Connecticut Valley Mineral club we thought it would be fun to show off some of our pieces from that area.
Both Jim and I lived in New England, he in upper state New York and me in the Boston, Mass. area.

Some new "teaser" photos below...

[Gail]

I found the case empty of minerals this morning so thought I would work on a Smithsonite display. I am also using a fleck stone spray product for some bases and canvas board to give them a slight stone look. They are drying outside and ready for coat number two shortly. I will then finish with a clear laquer to set the finish.

Jim finished up with the New England case last night. We are photographing each case, noting all specimen numbers and drawing the layout on a piece of paper with each number so as to quickly set up in Springfield.

I just got through laying out some Smithsonite, researching Smithson for a little write up about who the mineral was named after. Quite an interesting man, born in Paris, France to a Lord's mistress.

[Gail]

...

[Gail]

Been diligent in designing cabinets, just started on this "The many faces of Rhodochrosite" one...this is a rough set up, just finding them and pulling them from cabinets to add to the case.

I spent yesterday packing minerals in flats and boxes and labeling them. That is very time consuming. I must say I admire dealers more and more as time goes on!

[Gail]

Between my heavy schedule of working out at the gym and boot camp sessions I am trying to pack minerals and play with design, but am making headway.
I am off to teach cycling classes this weekend, which is not really a good time to be doing so, but it is my OTHER passion...

Jim will get quite a bit done while I am off I hope.
All those empty flats I have been bothered by, under the beds, in closets, attics, etc....no longer are a bother simply because we are going to be using them all finally!

Another start of a case of displayed minerals...

[Gail]

Why....what is this???

[Gail]

Okay, the Tour de France ends today and we are glued to the television, but the rest of the day is packing minerals and going about the business of preparing the cases for the show.
Jim and I have been really working to design and pack, sketch and photo, the individual cabinet specimens.
This is work!!! I am excited to visit with many people who have written to me about coming to see the exhibit. Such wonderful letters of support, nice to see how many gracious people are in this business/hobby.

So.....

[Gail]

...

[Gail]

More photos...

[Paul Bordovsky]

Hi, Gail.

Thanks for the interesting "rockumentary", on the preparation required prior
to displaying at a show. You and Jim are doing a great job on this major undertaking.

Hope all goes well at the show.

Paul

[Gail]

Hi Paul, thanks for the compliment.
It is a tremendous amount of work, something that I expect will be a once in a lifetime adventure. The big thrill for us is that Jim's parents will be there and they are very excited to see our minerals exhibited in this venue.
Jim's sister and her two sons are coming also, and our own son, Tom will be arriving.

Quite a family get together! Jim's sister is an excellent artist and makes beautiful jewelry also, so she will be there with her Syracuse group showing their wares. We promised to give them a tour of our exhibit.

We are working on our talk too, Jim and I are presenting on Saturday at one....How married couples can, and DO, collect happily together.
Our enthusiasm is equal and our hobby only enhances our love for each other.

So we view this hard work as an exciting adventure and a great chance to enjoy learning together. I am married to a wonderful man.

And...I am still walking on air that Lance is coming back to race in the Tour de France for his own team, Radioshack, next year. Woo hoo!!!!