This afternoon we stopped in Quartzsite at one of my favorite bead shops for an introductory lesson in soldering settings for jewelry. Because it involved using ‘tools’ I was able to convince Don that he should join me. We had a great afternoon with John Zwickl. When I think back to my first impressions of this small desert community and now realize that it has become a regular stop as we travel through the area, I just shake my...

  In December 2010 we spent almost a month at the North Ranch Escapee Park between Congress and Wickenburg AZ. What a great bunch of people at that park!  Not long after our arrival I was invited to join a very active beading group that meets twice a week.  I was immediately put to work learning my first stitches and in a couple of days had completed my first bracelet.  By Christmas I had completed about a dozen, and after setting aside...