sharing the rough

Holiday Gift Ideas for the Socially Conscious: Jewelry Gifts That Give Back

The shopping days are winding down for the 2016 Holiday season, but you don’t have to panic yet. I have a few ideas that are not only perfect for last minute, but they give back in some way or another, too! The Gift of Education…

#idazzletravels: Boston, Harvard, and Quadrum Gallery!

So many exciting projects going on for idazzle and ANZA Gems! I just returned to Seattle from the Portland Jewelry Symposium, where I had a great time catching up with old friends, meeting new ones, and participating in some interesting conversations…

#idazzletravels: On my way to #JCKTucson

I’m in a candy-colored swirl getting ready for Tucson. If you haven’t read my post about the insane Tucson Gem Shows and the strange vortex you enter, this post captures it pretty well. I have a term I’ve coined for the Tucson experience: CISO, Color Induced Sensory…

Sharing the Rough Documentary Coming to Seattle–and a Theater Near You!

Movies are brilliant. They capture our imagination as nothing else can: we’re transfixed by the big screen and stereo sound, and time passes unnoticed. Maybe that is why I’m so excited that there is a full length documentary devoted to…

#idazzletravels: 2014 Arusha Gem Show in Tanzania

“Karibu!” This word means welcome in Swahili, and welcomed I was throughout my visit to Tanzania. The word feels like a hug when spoken by the generous residents of Arusha. I traveled to Tanzania for the November 2014 Arusha Gem Fair

Las Vegas Jewelry Week 2014: The People Edition

Leaving the JCK Las Vegas and Couture jewelry shows, I was exhausted. My toes bled. I think I collectively slept about 11 hours in 6 days. But when it came time to say goodbye to friends, I was wishing for a later flight…

Guest Post: Rachel Dery, The Magic of a Picture

I am so thrilled to announce my FIRST EVER GUEST POST for idazzle.com! I can’t think of a better inaugural post than this account from Rachel Dery. Rachel is the daughter of very special people in the industry, Ginger and Roger Dery, gem cutter, dealer, and philanthropist…

Sharing the Rough Day One: The School That Gems Built

Do you ever have the sense, as you’re living it, that an experience has the power to change your perspective completely? My first full day in Africa was like that. This first day in Tanzania, we took a trip to a Maasai primary school, located a short distance from a ruby mine…

idazzle Goes to Africa: First Days and Impressions

As I was on my way to Africa to join the crew making Sharing the Rough, I had some thoughts about making a trip to Africa that was focused on the gem mining trade. I’ll be posting more about what I’ve actually experienced…

Happy New Year from idazzle.com!

I’m still a little in awe of how things and people came together for me, personally and professionally, in 2013. This past year, I interviewed and profiled no fewer than 17 jewelry designers…