The Kingston Lapidary and Mineral Club is in full swing this new year, with a full slate of courses scheduled.
Metal working skills begin with the Beginners Silver Smithing course. This course is a prerequisite to most other metal working courses offered by the club. You can choose to do five three hour sessions in consecutive weekly afternoons or evenings, or you can do a weekend session which runs 9 to 5 on a Saturday and Sunday. All club instructors are volunteers. Your $90 course fee will go towards club rent and utilities, as well as maintenance and replacement of tools and equipment. In addition to the course fee you will have to buy a $20 yearly membership. Materials will run you about $25 to $40. After learning the basics of sawing, piercing, hammering, shaping, soldering and bezel setting, you will be raring to go and tackle the many other courses the club offers.
Intermediate and advanced offerings include: spinning rings, lost wax casting, etching, enameling, riveting, chaining, channel bracelets with Polymer clay inserts, wire weaving, precious metal clay, and so much more.
There are regular open shop times scheduled as well, where you can work independently on your projects. One of our Lapidary volunteers would be happy to help you cut your very own cabochon.
Contact Eileen at emoss@cogeco.ca for more information about how to join in the fun.
Speaking of fun, check out some of our members showing and selling their creations at the first annual Metal Rocks show this past November.