Intro to Lapidary: The Art of Working with Stones
with Jim Magnuson
Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed
Tuesdays October 15-November 19, 6-8pm
*We apologize for the misprint of time in the catalog, which noted that the class ended at 8:30*

Ages 18+ (Please contact us at dsegerstrom@paramountarts.org if you have a younger student interested in participating) 

Learn fundamental lapidary equipment, tools, & processes from expert and author Jim Magnuson. Learn to safely use basic lapidary equipment and operations to shape, polish, and set to jewelry.

Participants might also use their completed cabochons in the Paramount Wire Wrapping class.

• Week 1- Lapidary arts overview previewing all of the different skills and demonstration of cutting and grinding jewelry pieces, students select, stencil and cut gemstone materials using lapidary saws for two specific jewelry piece designs and then grind and shape the pieces to the given stencil outlines
• Week 2- Face polishing presentation and demonstration, students shape, sand and polish jewelry pieces started in Week 1 and can do face polishing after completing their two pieces
• Week 3- Jewelry making presentation and demo’s, students make jewelry pieces from the first two pieces made in weeks 1 & 2 and begin work on projects of their own selection
• Week 4- Tumbling presentation with slides and videos, students choose and work on their own grinding, polishing and jewelry making or face polishing projects, instructor collects items to be tumble polished at home
• Week 5- Instructor provides finished items from tumbling, students choose and work on their own grinding, polishing and jewelry making or face polishing projects

It is recommended but not required that participants acquire and review Gemstone Tumbling, Cutting, Drilling & Cabochon Making. This book can be purchased online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble websites, and they may be available at your local bookseller.

What to Bring
For Lapidary Workshop: Working type clothes – i.e. jeans & work-shirt, ball-cap or other lightweight hat, (you will get a light amount of oil or water spray from some of the machines – but it washes out easily), agates or other gemstones at home you want to polish or make jewelry with. Masks and Protective Eyewear, the instructor will have some K-95 masks and protective eye goggles/ glasses available.

Instructor Provided Gemstones
· Lake Superior Agates
· African Botswana Agates
· Teepee Canyon Agates
· Crazy Lace Agate Slabs
· Plume Agate Slabs
· Miscellaneous other Rocks & Slabs

Prohibited Gemstones
· Toxicity: Malachite, …
· Value and Hardness/ Softness: Turquoise, …

Places for Students to Acquire Gemstones
· Minnesota Lapidary Supply – Store in Princeton, Minnesota
· Kingsley North – online
· The Gem Shop – online

Jim Magnuson Biography
For author Jim Magnuson—rock hounding is a serious and rewarding avocation that helps him connect with nature. He has been an avid hunter and student of various gems, minerals and fossils since his childhood. In addition, Jim enjoys sharing his passion through showing and gifting some of his finds, and through writing, another lifelong interest. And, Jim enjoys making and selling jewelry, and both rough and polished stones.

Throughout Jim’s career as a computer professional, he developed technical writing skills while creating new processes that reduce complexity and improve efficiency. These skills proved to be invaluable when writing guidebooks for beginning agate hunters, and beginner-to intermediate lapidary hobbyists. Jim is a member of several rock and mineral clubs that help him to further his knowledge about agates, gemstones and geology.

To date Jim has authored the following publications: The Storied Agate; The Fairburn Agate of the Black Hills; Agate Hunting Made Easy; Lake Superior Agates – Identify Agates & Imposters (Laminated Field Guide); Emma’s First Agate; Gemstone Tumbling, Cutting, Drilling, & Cabochon Making, Rockhounding & Prospecting – Upper Midwest

Studio Practices- What to Expect While You Are Creating with Us!

The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all people to the Studios with the expectation of inclusion and respect towards all, including yourself, fellow students, instructors, staff and volunteers.

Instructor Prep Time: Please allow your instructor time to prepare your classroom; if you arrive more than 15 minutes earlier than the class start time, please explore one of our onsite exhibition spaces or wait in the Lobby in the Visual Arts Department.

Cleaning: Please help keep the Studios a welcoming space by cleaning up your area before departing the building.

Food and Beverage: The Visual Arts Department offers a Lobby Area for students and instructors to enjoy food and beverages. There is an onsite microwave and refrigerator, along with vending machines. For your safety, we ask that you please do not eat in any of the Studios.

Supplies and Materials: For the safety and wellbeing of all visitors to the Paramount, we ask that materials that are used in the studios are the recommended brands and grade, as described in the materials list, or are approved by Paramount Staff.

Weather Closures:  In the event of severe weather, the Visual Arts Department will update the phone messages on the Information Desk (320) 257-3125, announce closures on the Paramount website homepage, and will communicate via email to any students whose class meeting time is impacted by the closure