A pair of Island ladies and 19 vendors are bringing some sparkle and shine to Parksville, with a gem and mineral show scheduled to take place Feb. 10 and 11.
Run by Port Alberni resident Barb Creber and Qualicum Beach resident Julia Mewhort who, together, make up 2 Girls Rock, the show follows a successful gem and mineral event they organized in Nanaimo in May, said Creber.
Now they hope to bring some locally found and made stones and jewelry to the area right before Valentine’s Day.
The show will include 19 vendors, including jewelry makers from all over Vancouver Island, who will feature both exotic and local stones alongside wire wrapping.
Terra Crystals, Milliza’s Cave and Gem Finders International will also bring crystals and gems from all over the world.
For kids (and those young at heart), Yukon Dan, a professional gold panner, will be at the show, demonstrating how to pan for gold with an interactive display.
Asked why they wanted to start up an event like this, Creber said her passion for gems and minerals comes from making jewelry as a retirement hobby and learning from her husband, Ron, who’s a rockhound. Mewhort gets her interest from her father, who was passionate about cutting and polishing stones and gems.
The event takes place Saturday, Feb. 10, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission is $2 but free for kids under the age of 12. To try your hand at gold panning is an additional $2.
— NEWS Staff/submitted by Barb Creber