** We're BURIED in POOP - fossil dinosaur poop, to be exact (see photo). We were excited to find a new source and bought hundreds of pounds - some end-cut & polished, some slices, some natural. Great for display or cutting into jewelry. In fact, we had to create a new section "Dinosaur Fossils" to show all the specimens.

** ANIMAL PENDANTS in COW BONE, Bali - Many new choices, from LOTS of new Bear poses, to Bunny, Eagle, Mahi, Horse, Octopus, Sea Turtles & Whales.

** GEM ANIMALS- at least 2500 added to the pages. The exciting development? The pages are finally ALPHABETIZED, merging all the types of stones for each critter. A huge undertaking, and SO worth it. And many new animals including Lion Gargoyles walking, Panther gargoyles, anteaters, octopus, quail & more.

** SHARK JAWS- Thousands more jaws added to Sharks page 9, including more Bramble shark jaws with new lower pricing, Bamboo shark jaws, Japanese Tope, Blacktip & Bull shark jaws WITH STINGRAY BARBS EMBEDDED, and many more sizes of existing jaw species. The page is so large, we will likely make a whole new category just for jaws.

** METEORITES - You will be amazed at how many more meteorites are on the pages, most small & affordable!

**RED HAT SOCIETY CAMEOS - Red and purple cameos from tiny to small to large, on their own page (Cameos page 17)

We'll tease you with a few photos of a red cameo, bear pendant, bismuth, quail & lion gargoyle...

**TOAD & PARROTFISH Wallets & coin purses

**DINOSAUR BONE SLICES & CHUNKS, many associated with the same leg, great colors & textures

**GREENLAND SHARK TEETH

**MORE BISMUTH (see below)

**SCRIMSHAW MAKO TEETH

**COMPLETE TRILOBITES (see below)

**MORE FOSSIL MAKO SHARK TEETH

**MORE BADGER CLAW NECKLACES

We're running several sales on ebay this month, and invite you to take advantage of the same sales on the website, as follows:

20% off music jewelry (not already reduced)

20% off great white shark teeth, and all fossil shark teeth Sharks Page 1

30% off all Earrings

50% off Gem Skulls $20 + up

20% off Shark Jaws $30 + up

Also check out the Closeouts Page for new Venus necklaces, and Buddha necklaces & carvings on sale there.

How to take advantage of the sale? Make a list, knock the % off as listed above, total it, and that's what you pay. Advise any questions, we're happy to assist.

Every year on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend: MAY 25, 2013, tiny Aurora NC holds an impressive festival - starting with a parade honoring all veterans. The Fossil Club shares their collections at the Community Center, fossil dealers sell fossils from booths as well as Arts & Crafts people & food vendors. The small but fascinating museum in Aurora is open, and the museum from Gastonia that sets up a great tent with one gigantic dinosaur on display. Late afternoon is the Fossil Auction, you can view the auction items during the day.

But the biggest draw of all is the giant piles of phosphate gravel dumped in the center of town for families to dig through and keep what they find. There is an ID chart to identify what you find (photo above is ONE of the charts at the main pile, an examples of what you can find), as well as other fossil experts on hand to assist with identification. ALL FREE. What more could a family ask for? Educational and fun at the same time, and free. Bring pails and small shovels (or you can buy them at the museum). A great Saturday for any family within a few hours' driving distance from this town just north of New Bern NC. Link to their site for details

Link below to view past festival photos from our website on Fossils page 9

What is opalite glass made of? (Besides glass, that is). This used to be an industry secret, but no longer. It has a gemstone status, though manmade, and looks "lit from within". Opalite is actually formed in 2 possible ways.

1) By infusing high quality glass with a milky lemon blue coloring to produce the lovely soft opalescent effect we see in the finished product.

 

2) Layers of glass are laid down with metal oxide between the layers and then the whole lot is bonded together. In this case, it is the iron oxide that causes light hitting the Opalite to diffract and produce the 'opalescence'

 

Metaphysical properties: Opalite is good for meditation and can also enhance our psychic abilities. It can increase communication abilities at all levels, and especially on the spiritual level.

Okay, so this is not a "work" tool...but Heidi has been on a mission for years to find Glenn the perfect bread knife. We can't say just how many knives ended up chucked in the trash that wouldn't hold a sharp edge or other issues. Until we found the "Wusthof 8" Classic Bread Knife". Glenn now has his I-CAN-CUT-ANYTHING-KNIFE and is a happy camper. Mission accomplished.

Screenshots from Google Earth. Glitches sometimes occur when 2D satellite imagery & 3D terrain don't line up quite right, creating fabulous and unintentional distortions. View others at this link on