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Post by susand24224 on Oct 18, 2022 19:28:13 GMT -5
I just visited this place and was pleasantly surprised! A wholesale market of everything jewelry, including an impressive array of tools, cabochons, beads, beading material, casting, etc. Their prices were great, the selection impressive, and the cabochon and similar collection far superior to the other shops about here. I have no idea whether their online selection is as good as the "in person" but if there's something that you want that you can't find at Rio Grande, this might be a good starting point. Their website is sfjs.net/. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Oct 18, 2022 19:38:47 GMT -5
Wow. That sounds like a dream afternoon of "tool hounding"!  Is this what your cart looked like going back out to the car? LOL  |
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 18, 2022 19:51:24 GMT -5
Mandrels and dapping blocks and brass wire brushes, oh my! (and a new texturing hammer).
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 3,167
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Post by rockbrain on Oct 18, 2022 21:29:21 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing susand24224 I took a quick look on line and I'm definitely going back to check it out more. |
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Post by liveoak on Oct 25, 2022 6:33:05 GMT -5
I think Santa Fe runs cheaper than Rio on some things.
BUT, OMG I can't imagine going to a store like that in person - too dangerous (and expensive). It must have been fun. 
I miss that most places don't have printed catalogs any more.
The only window shopping is on the computer 
Patty
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 25, 2022 18:33:20 GMT -5
I think Santa Fe runs cheaper than Rio on some things.
BUT, OMG I can't imagine going to a store like that in person - too dangerous (and expensive). It must have been fun. I miss that most places don't have printed catalogs any more.
The only window shopping is on the computer Patty
Yes, in some areas they were cheaper than Rio Grande--but I didn't remember enough of Rio's prices to compare more than a few items. They also had a tremendous quantity of cabochons of all sizes, but I can't imagine them listing online one of each of a huge quantity of choices, ditto with the slabs. (some beautiful dino bone!) Dangerous is an understatement--the only thing that saved me was the knowledge that I had to fit it all into an already full suitcase since I pilfered a lot of rocks from my friends' arroyo behind their house. WARNING: TSA stole my texturing hammer. Although I respect that the fellow was doing his job, I found it somewhat amusing that a tiny, somewhat fragile hammer was a threat--I could have done more damage with high heels, or my fingernails, for that matter! |
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Post by liveoak on Oct 25, 2022 18:39:52 GMT -5
Yes, in some areas they were cheaper than Rio Grande--but I didn't remember enough of Rio's prices to compare more than a few items. They also had a tremendous quantity of cabochons of all sizes, but I can't imagine them listing online one of each of a huge quantity of choices, ditto with the slabs. (some beautiful dino bone!) Dangerous is an understatement--the only thing that saved me was the knowledge that I had to fit it all into an already full suitcase since I pilfered a lot of rocks from my friends' arroyo behind their house. WARNING: TSA stole my texturing hammer. Although I respect that the fellow was doing his job, I found it somewhat amusing that a tiny, somewhat fragile hammer was a threat--I could have done more damage with high heels, or my fingernails, for that matter! That's horrible about your hammer (and I bet it wasn't that cheap)
My sister has had them take shells and sand from her in Costa Rica at the airport security.
I mean what exactly was that going to hurt ?
I've heard of people planning by packing with them a flat rate Priority mail box & after buying stuff, (or hounding rocks) pack it & ship it back to yourself. Think of all those fine slabs & cabs that would have fit  .
Patty
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 25, 2022 18:51:24 GMT -5
That's horrible about your hammer (and I bet it wasn't that cheap)
My sister has had them take shells and sand from her in Costa Rica at the airport security.
I mean what exactly was that going to hurt ?
I've heard of people planning by packing with them a flat rate Priority mail box & after buying stuff, (or hounding rocks) pack it & ship it back to yourself. Think of all those fine slabs & cabs that would have fit . Patty
Patty, you are right. I really didn't think about TSA, but in line I thought they would take the mandrel. Wrong. The hammer was only $18.50--less than checking it, if anyone has ever checked "just a hammer." I may just call them about the dino slabs, though, I've been seeing them in my dreams in glorious blues and reds. BTW, a small flat rate of misc. finds and a medium flat rate box of "something green and translucent" is on its way to me. I really need to find someone knowledgeable about arroyo finds in Santa Fe--there's was lots I couldn't place, odd mixtures, etc. Lots of stuff that looked like rhodochrosite (but I couldn't find any reference to it being in that area) and lots of tiny crystalline growths on top of other unknowns. |
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Post by liveoak on Oct 26, 2022 7:27:00 GMT -5
I remembered now why I haven't purchased from Santa Fe in recent years, their website doesn't work.
At least for me it doesn't. Some of the time it just loads a blank page ?
When I did get it to work briefly, I thought I'd look for the dino slabs you mentioned.
Looks like on line, only cabs & beads
So be extra glad you got to go in person
Patty
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Post by victor1941 on Oct 26, 2022 10:02:14 GMT -5
Unakite is found around Santa Fe. Some of it is really pretty and solid.
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 26, 2022 15:46:56 GMT -5
I remembered now why I haven't purchased from Santa Fe in recent years, their website doesn't work.
At least for me it doesn't. Some of the time it just loads a blank page ?
When I did get it to work briefly, I thought I'd look for the dino slabs you mentioned.
Looks like on line, only cabs & beads So be extra glad you got to go in person Patty
I'm actually glad that the slabs aren't online as they were averaging around $60 and I would be *so* tempted. Who needs to eat? I haven't tried to use their website, other than a quick look to be sure there was one. Maybe that's a good thing . . . |
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 26, 2022 15:49:35 GMT -5
Unakite is found around Santa Fe. Some of it is really pretty and solid. Hmmm. It doesn't look like the unakite I'm familiar with from Virginia, but that doesn't mean it's not unakite. The feldspar portion, though, that's possible. I found some feldspar that resembled various colors of moonstone--maybe I should just call it moonstone. My most exciting find (to me) was a piece of rose quartz. Small and heavily fractured, but the only piece I've ever found, so I've been requiring everyone to look at it and pretend that it's interesting to them. |
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Post by victor1941 on Oct 26, 2022 20:38:11 GMT -5
I have some photo's showing several unakite cabs made from material collected in 3 Rock Road in Tesuque. Go to Ashley ISO Cheap Cabs several weeks ago- Oct. 11
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vance71975
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since September 2022
Posts: 760
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Post by vance71975 on Oct 28, 2022 12:11:51 GMT -5
I think Santa Fe runs cheaper than Rio on some things.
BUT, OMG I can't imagine going to a store like that in person - too dangerous (and expensive). It must have been fun. I miss that most places don't have printed catalogs any more.
The only window shopping is on the computer Patty
Yes, in some areas they were cheaper than Rio Grande--but I didn't remember enough of Rio's prices to compare more than a few items. They also had a tremendous quantity of cabochons of all sizes, but I can't imagine them listing online one of each of a huge quantity of choices, ditto with the slabs. (some beautiful dino bone!) Dangerous is an understatement--the only thing that saved me was the knowledge that I had to fit it all into an already full suitcase since I pilfered a lot of rocks from my friends' arroyo behind their house. WARNING: TSA stole my texturing hammer. Although I respect that the fellow was doing his job, I found it somewhat amusing that a tiny, somewhat fragile hammer was a threat--I could have done more damage with high heels, or my fingernails, for that matter! Was the Hammer in Carry On or was it in luggage being checked under the plane and out of reach to anyone? |
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Post by susand24224 on Oct 28, 2022 16:48:20 GMT -5
It was in carry-on luggage. I don't think it would have been a problem if I had checked it, but the cost of checking was more than the cost of the hammer--although I admit I thought about it for a minute or two.
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