At this year’s Fall 2025 Colors of the Sun show, more than 300 artisan/vendors will have their creations for sale. Along with the vendors and as part of the show, workshops are planned, teaching skills such as wire wrapping and miniature painting. Credit: (Colors of the Stone/Submitted)

The Casino Del Sol will be busy this weekend, not just with gamblers and performers, but with artisans and shoppers when the Colors of the Stone gem show opens Thursday, Aug. 28.

More than 300 curated exhibitors will be showing and selling their creations. Look for glassblowers, silver- and goldsmiths, jewelers, bead makers and mineral collectors, to name a few.

Show organizer Casey Kennerson said this show is an ideal precursor to Tucson’s winter gem and mineral show. Because of its size, it serves as a practice for artisans and customers.

“It can be a little overwhelming for the big winter show, so this is a good one to come and get started and scope everything out,” she said. “But it’s big on its own.”

The Fall 2025 Color of the Stones show is Thursday, Aug. 28, to Sunday, Aug. 31. Credit: (Colors of the Stone/Submitted)

Phoenix resident Marsha Hedrick is one of the artisans. A member of the Oklahoma Choctaw Tribe, she makes native American jewelry, beads and porcelain figures and small cabochons. The jewelry is unlike Navajo jewelry.

“(About) 99% of native jewelry is silver with turquoise,” she said. “I don’t do that.”

She uses a lot of small porcelain beads that she has created and then painted, using Mimbres and Hohokam imagery to create necklaces and earrings. 

Shoppers will be able to find their spirit animals at her booth as well.

“There are rabbits and eagles and owls,” she said. “I do hummingbirds. They are some of the most popular. I do frogs and wolves and little sun faces.”

Dragons are also depicted in the work.

Along with the vendors, there will also be artists who are leading workshops in skills such as wire weaving and miniature painting of desert scenes. Find those classes and others at colorsofthestone.com

Kennerson said the show is growing, but the venue and the number of artisans make for comfortable shopping.

“We are very accessible,” Kennerson said. “It’s a great place to come and visit. Don’t feel like you’re going to be overwhelmed. … It’s a great place to get out of the heat and shop.” 

Colors of the Stone gem show

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28, Friday, Aug. 29, and Saturday, Aug. 30, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31

WHERE: Casino Del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Road, Tucson

COST: Free admission

INFO: colorsofthestone.com

This article appears in Aug 21-28, 2025.