Rock Clubs & Jewelry Classes
Of the many emails I receive about making jewelry, one of the most commonly asked questions is where someone can find a jewelry making class in his or her local area. Believe me. They are out there. You just have to know how to look for them. One way is to hook up with your local rock and gem club.
What the heck is a rock club?
A rock club is normally a non-profit organization that is made up of people who enjoy studying rocks. And, just as there are rocks all over the world, so there are rock clubs.
What do rock clubs have to do with jewelry making?
Well, what else are you going to do with all of those rocks youve collected over the years than make jewelry with them? Many people who collect rocks eventually start making jewelry, and this has led some rock clubs to offer jewelry making classes. Usually taught by members, they include a huge variety of techniques and mediums and are, generally speaking, fairly inexpensive.
At my local rock club, I have taken metalsmithing, beading, lost wax casting, wire wrapping, metal clay, and cabochon cutting. I also found out about a glass class, for fused glass and lampwork beading making, through my club, so you could almost count that as well. My husband has taken many of these same classes as well as faceting and chain making. Most classes cost us anywhere from $25 to $35 per 12 week semester, and that included a lot of the tools required for the class. Now, rock clubs vary a lot on what they offer and how much they cost, so keep this in mind.
How do you find a club in your area?
The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies has connections to club around the U.S. and the world: http://www.amfed.org Also, the May issue of Lapidary Journal magazine has listings of rock clubs as well.
It’s worth the time to hunt down a rock club around you. They are a wonderful way to learn and get to know fellow rock and jewelry lovers.
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POSTED IN: Lapidary
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