Easiest way for maelstrom gems would be to craft the cheapest epics via chaos orbs and de them for the shard, that is until we start de'ing stuff from raiding.
I would say that the easiest way to get maelstrom crystals is to have someone who is both an alchemist and enchanter, have them make the alchemy trinket and then de it. My pally Skiittles is able to do this if you want to gather the mats and either send them to me or meet me somewhere and I can do this for you. The mats are 50 Volatile Life, 12 Cinderbloom, 12 Heartblossom, and 12 Azshara's Veil.