Here are two pieces done by Japanese modern lampwork artists. Amazin stuff, if you ask me.

First one is by Bernadette Fuentes, a beautiful sphere with silver inside.
Second is by Cleo Dunsmore

Jeff Rutherford is a local glass artist, and he makes some great stuff. Last night, he competed in the Flame Off. It is an annual event put on by the Sonoran Glass School to raise funds. Here you can see him making a glass lattice work piece. People bid on these pieces to raise money. I put in a (pretty high) bid on his piece while he was making it. And 5 minutes later.......it fell to the ground. He tried to make the best of it, and after the final auction (which continues to run on Facebook) is done, it will most likely be mine. It's all in the game....... Peter and Patrick could not stop laughing.

Second is a picture of us sharing lunch with Patrick and Robert.

Hello there, quick question: Does Thomas have an Webstore or does he offer items online as well. Thanks Sandro

I saw these strands in the African village. When I had a closer look, they were red, white and blue glass ribbon shaped rings. I am pretty sure they are Czech and were intended for some tourist trinkets or something like that.

The first picture shows the yellow Venetian beads that are pretty rare. One of them had a piece of cane on the bottom, which I thought was quite remarkable.

Second shows a strand of glass marble beads. Their design and size are very very good copies of antique Lauscha glass marble beads. However, these were all new. I hope these do not end up mixed in with the German marbles..... Apart from them being very shiny (which can of course be changed) they come pretty close to the original. The main thing that sets them apart, from what I can tell is that they felt pretty light compared to the German beads.

I first saw those new marbles around 2007 and can be found in different Swirl and colours too. but quality is totally different from the original.
I believe they are Chinese blown glass.

The second picture shows three mulberry beads that are stuck together. I thought that was pretty interesting.

On our last day in Tucson, Stefany wanted to go to one more venue, and I picked Howard Johnson in order to find Bill Boss, who did not seem to be there. But, that is how we stumbled across Leo's room. Stefany found a number of treasures there - maybe she will post some pictures.

I feel that the discovery of Leo is a prime example of the "positive bead karma" that permeated Tucson. Wonderful beads and wonderful bead people - all in one place each year! If you haven't made the trip - try to get there next year and you won't be disappointed!

Here's another find from Leo - extra-large Russian blues, about 13-14 mm diameter and showing lots of softening of the facets from many, many years of wear. Strung on buckskin, from one of Leo's Rendezvous sales piles, I imagine.

When we walked back from the African Village, we saw these rock sculptures by the side of the road. All of the rocks are balanced on top of each other, nu glue or anything. Curious who did them. I don' t think they were there a few days ago.

Second, carved bird skulls, which I think are beautiful.
You really can see all sorts of interesting things when in Tucson.......

What wonderful photos! Thanks for sharing Floor, wish I had been there to see you and everybody else. And the beads of course!

http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/when-is-mardi-gras.html

I know! We were looking for a nice train stop in between Tucson and New York. It was after we decided to go to New Orleans that we realized it would be Mardi Gras. We have brought some orange stuff: we'll dress up as Dutch soccer fans.
Fun, food and beads!

Thanks for all the nice pictures. One day I will make it there!!

Eric