William Holland School of Lapidary Arts

 

 

click photo to enlarge		 The William Holland School of Lapidary Arts offers a unique and immersive learning experience for aspiring gemcraft enthusiasts. Established in 1984, the school has a rich history and a reputation as a "rockhound haven." They provide week-long courses on various aspects of lapidary arts, from faceting gemstones to cabochon cutting and metalwork. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to refine your skills, the school caters to all levels with its comprehensive curriculum and hands-on approach.

click photo to enlarge		 We have been coming here since 2017 and just love it. It is like a summer camp back in school. Your rooms are on the top floor and the bottom floor has the various classrooms and the cafeteria. We each take different classes learning various skills in jewelry making.  On this trip I took a class on Tufa Casting. You carve our the piece you want to make in Tufa stone. It is a soft material that is easy to carve. Then you heat up silver in a crucible till it all melts and pour it into your mold. Karen took another wire wrap class and this one she concentrated on making braclets.

click photo to enlarge