Amethyst shopping
Although much of the Amethyst we see in Canada comes from Thunder Bay, here there is a much greater selection. The crystals of amethyst are the darkest at the tip and the palest, often light lavender or almost white, at the base, where they are the largest. I am always searching for the best pieces I can get from the tips and today I found a motherload of deep purple polished stones.
Buying beads and stones here is not like going into a supermarket for beads, except for silver.
I search store after store, garnering a bit here and bit there. I visit the night market where, if I am lucky I may find a string of this or that, I comb the antique shops too. Today I found a real treasure in a small dusty antique shop I not even noticed previously. It is 6 stands of deep pink oblongs interspersed with nice sized garnets and gathered in the centre with a large silver barrel. I mighty have a hard time parting with it.!
I have already met with some of the hill tribes artists who have promised some interesting carved pieces. One brought me two wonderful carved horn dragonflies and 3 amazing double-sided horn butterflies. They will make wonderful pendants when I get home.
Between shopping, going to the markets, eating and having massages I have had no time to actually make anything from the stash of beads and stones I have already collected-boy I am going to be busy when I get home!
Am thinking of going to Burma for a day or so to see what I can find there. That is when I have exhausted all the markets here.
Sunday is the big, big street market with hundreds and hundreds of stalls, massage places and food. Lots of food. More on food later.
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