CLASS INFORMATION AND SHOP ACTIVITIES
The Grand Junction Gem and Mineral Club offers classes in a variety of lapidary and jewelry making techniques. Each class is taught by an experienced instructor. All classes, with the exception of faceting, are 6 weeks long and cost $20.00 for members and $80.00 for non- members. A materials list will be provided by the instructor before the class. Please contact the instructor if you are interested in taking any of the classes. For any other questions regarding classes or shop functions, please feel free to contact JoAnn Piburn.
Lapidary class – grinding and polishing of rocks into cabochons
Instructor – John Giles
Dates – Friday afternoons 12:00 – 3:00 pm
Precious metal clay – these are metal clays that, after the pieces are formed and put through the kiln, produce a piece that is pure silver, copper, bronze or gold.
Instructor – Kathy Armour
Dates – Monday evenings 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Wire weaving – wire is braided or woven into necklaces and bracelets.
Instructor – JoAnn Piburn
Dates – Tuesday evenings 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Chain making – making various types of chains with metal rings – silver, copper, brass. A great way to learn to solder.
Instructor - Wayne McMacken
Dates – Wednesday evenings 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Silver smithing – this involves forming silver wire and sheet into rings, pendants, and other things. This is a beginning class.
Instructor – Russ Adams
Dates – Saturday afternoons 12:00 – 3:00 pm
Wire wrapping – wrapping wire around beads and stones or cabochons to make earrings and pendants.
Instructor – Terry Drost
Dates – Sunday afternoons – please contact the instructor
Faceting – cutting glass or semiprecious materials into faceted gems.
Instructors – Irv Nutting, Connie Duncan, Doc
Dates – contact Irv Nutting to arrange one-on-one classes with the instructors
Filigree – scroll work and lace work in silver. Learn to prepare the wire as well as create fine jewelry pieces.
Instructors – Pam Burch and JoAnn Piburn
Contact JoAnn if you are interested in this class
Intarsia – cutting rock material and piecing them together to form pendants and other great items.
Instructors – Jim Lynch and Brent Jensen
Dates – Monday evenings 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Other shop activities:
Chain gang – people interested in making chains who have already taken a chain making class can get together to share ideas and create chains together. This is not a class but a time to work on chain projects.
Leader – JoAnn Piburn
Times – First and third Tuesday of the month 6:00 – 9:00 pm
Cost - $2.00 per session
Open shop – a time to get together with fellow members to work in the shop on projects in the making. This is not class time and instructors may not be present but people are willing to share ideas and information. Some experience is necessary. Larger rocks can be cut with the assistance of the shop leader at $.15 per square inch.
Shop director – JoAnn Piburn
Times – Saturdays 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Wednesdays 12:00 – 3:00 pm
Cost - $3.00 per session.