The Smithsonian does rock! In So many ways.

After my over the top, forever memorable lifetime experience with RBG and the fabulous Craft2Wear show, I had a morning free before my flight home. I wandered down to Washington’s Mall and eventually into the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History.

Dinosaur bones, insects, ocean exhibits were enticing but it was in the Hall of Geology, Gems and Minerals that I landed.

Disclosure: Other than the most rudimentary level of understanding, I know nothing about geology.

But I do know what I like! And I most definitely liked this exhibit.

The most gorgeous, colorful, pretty, odd and strange formations that collectors and others have dug up from the earth.

Dug up! Found! These gorgeous things just there, slowly growing and forming.

Some looked like something an avant-garde radical artist might have created to express the conflicts of contemporary life.

Beautiful sculptural forms with wonky scientific names, “Elbaite, with hydroxylherderite.”

Perfect geometric forms growing out of a rock. How can that be???

Every kind of shape. From lumpy cauliflower like forms to a delicate dandelion just about to blow off its seeds.

Funny little fluffy growths on aqua colored crystals.

I could not stop taking pictures! So cool! Every superlative you can think of. That is this collection.

These are a teeny fraction of the pictures I took and they are a teeny fraction of the entire collection.

I am so pleased that 20% of the sales of my and all the artists at the Craft2Wear show went to the Smithsonian to benefit the 19 museums and the research, conservation and exhibits. Except for December 25th, the Smithsonian museums are free and open to the public every day of the year.

Thank you Smithsonian Women’s Committee! The funds you raised could not have gone to a better organization!