Welcome to The Villages Gem and Mineral Society

Multicolor Rhodochrosite Cabochon
Lapidary Arts Faceted Blue Stone
Wire Wrapping

Below are the 2 latest posts. Be sure to check the News and Events section for additional posts about workshops, meetings, classes, etc!

Latest News
January 27, 2023Business Meetings / Classes / Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping SIG / WorkshopsThe first Thursday of the month is a busy time for all members of The Villages Gem and Mineral Society with something for each and every person. See you there! Jewelry Making Special Interest Group 6-7:30pm Our first SIG class will be held on Feb 23 and it will be on Free Form Wire Wrapping, so you won’t be able to “finish up” a project, but Nancy and Susan will be there on the 2nd if anyone wants to start their project! We will meet for 1-1/2 hours in the Crescent Beach Room and clean up and then head over to the craft room for the business meeting. Short Workshop 5-7pm As usual, prior to the business meeting the craft room will be open for us to work on our stones for 2 hours. 5:30-7pm New members session in the Crescent Beach Room This is a Welcoming session and registration for our newest members. 7:30-8:50pm Business Meeting Please download a copy of the minutes of the January Meeting and the agenda for Thursday’s meeting. BTW: If you want to see past minutes or an agenda from any meeting in the last year, you can see them on the business documents page. Raffle & Other Goodies! This month we have an auction for a week’s lapidary arts course–please be sure to read the agenda and the email from Greg for more details. Thanks to Tom for this donation. Last, but not least, we always close out the monthly business meeting with a raffle–and there are always some great goodies so don’t cut out early or you will lose out. [...] Read more...
January 27, 2023Classes / Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping SIGFree Form Wire Wrapped Stone When: Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Where: SeaBreeze Recreation Center, Destin Room Instructor: Nancy Buettner What will be covered: Wire Wrapping a Gemstone that is formed and everything is cut to perfection is what we have been working on in the past.  In this class the stones will be irregular.  The stone may be polished but it does not have a flat back.  You will learn to visualize the stone you wish to wrap.  You will use the wire wrapping methods that you used in previous classes but begin to think out of the box.  No two wire wrapped pieces will be the same in this class.  I will provide samples and then we will get downright creative with your stone Tools Required (the club has a few loaner sets of pliers–let us know when you arrive if you will need them) Round Nose Pliers Chain Link Pliers Bent Nose Pliers Wire Cutters Bead Mat Supplies Required At least 1 irregular stone.  Stones will be available for purchase (Cost $3)  Size is not a problem other than feeling it is a size that you will be able to wear…a medium size stone, approx. 1 to 2 inches. Remember:  The definition of a cabochon is a stone that has been polished and has a flat back.  This is NOT a cabochon…it is an irregular shaped stone that may have been tumbled or possibly even shined …but not cut to a standard shape. Wire – 20 to 24 gauge wire  (soft if you have it) Optional  –  4-6 small crystals or beads, 2 or 3 or 4 mm in size.  Coordinate the color with your stone. Additional Information Please bring the correct size of wire.  If it has a lower gauge, it will be almost impossible to work with.  If it is a higher gauge, it is subject to breaking as you do your wraps. The Results are In–and You All Rocked It! [...] Read more...
November 27, 2022Business Meetings / Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping SIGBusiness Meeting This Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 will be the final business meeting of the year! Christmas Party Dec 8, 2022, 5:30-9:00pm: Deadline to RSVP for the Christmas Party is this Thursday during our meeting. We need to get a headcount for all members, spouses or significant others planning on attending this year’s Christmas Party. Signup sheets for the dish you are bringing (appetizer, main dish or dessert) are on the table at our workshops. For the steal a gift portion of the festivities, please bring a gift related to lapidary, wire wrapping, mineral collecting, etc. Note: you do not have to bring a gift, only those bringing one are eligible to participate in the steal. If you are not able to attend the December meeting but plan on attending the party, please email Barb Helfer at: blhelfer (at) gmail.com Short Workshop 5-7pm As usual, prior to the business meeting the craft room will be open for us to work on our stones for 2 hours. Jewelry Making SIG Class: Christmas Earrings As a reminder, Deb Delvaux will be teaching us how to make some super cute earrings for the holidays. Kits will be available to make angels, snowmen and more! See the Christmas Earrings Class post for all the details. 5:30-7pm New members session in the Crescent Beach Room This is a Welcoming session and registration for our newest members. 7:30-8:50pm Business Meeting Please download a copy of the minutes of the November Meeting and the agenda for this Thursday’s meeting. BTW: If you want to see past minutes or an agenda from any meeting in the last year, you can see them on the business documents page. Raffle Last, but not least, we always close out the monthly business meeting with a raffle–and there are always some great goodies so don’t cut out early or you will lose out. [...] Read more...
November 19, 2022Classes / Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping SIGThis will be the last Jewelry Making SIG class of 2022. Come join us for a fun evening making holiday earrings–great your yourself or gift giving. As an added incentive, if you really need one 😇, Deb will be bringing her new tool, the One Step Looper, in case anyone wants to see how it works and perhaps put it on their holiday wish list.  Christmas Earrings When: Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Where: SeaBreeze Recreation Center, Destin Room Instructor: Deb Delvaux What will be covered: We will be making Christmas Earrings. This is a fun and easy project that can be completed in the class and ready for you to put them on for Christmas parties before Christmas or give them as a gift.  Kts will be provided for the earrings at a cost of $2.00 each pair.  Once everyone has purchased a kit, the remainder will be available to purchase and make a 2nd or 3rd pair.  And Guys, please come and make earrings for the lady in your life!!!  She will love these. Tools Required Wire Working Tools (The Club has tools you can borrow if you don’t have tools.) Bead Mat  (Sue has some loaners if you don’t have a mat) Magnifiers if you use them Supplies Required The kits are $2 each and include all the additional necessary supplies. ( Once everyone has purchased a kit, the remainder will be available to purchase and make a 2nd or 3rd pair.) Additional Information The angels and snowmen are really easy projects. The wrapped beads in the center need a little more patience. [...] Read more...
October 29, 2022Business Meetings / Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping SIG / WorkshopsBusiness Meeting This Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022 will be our next business meeting as well as our other usual pre-meeting activities and special news for the meeting itself. Be sure to read for all the details including workshop info. Jewelry Making Special Interest Group 6-7:30pm Members who attended the Lotus Bud Weave class last month are encouraged to bring in the projects and finish them up. Or if you have finished your project, bring it in and show us the results. We always like to take photo of the finished and in-process works to post on the website photo album! We will meet for 1-1/2 hours in the Crescent Beach Room and clean up and then head over to the craft room for the business meeting. As a reminder, there is no class in November. Enjoy your Thanksgiving break! Short Workshop 5-7pm As usual, prior to the business meeting the craft room will be open for us to work on our stones for 2 hours. 5:30-7pm New members session in the Crescent Beach Room This is a Welcoming session and registration for our newest members. 7:30-8:50pm Business Meeting Please download a copy of the minutes of the October Meeting and the agenda for Thursday’s meeting. BTW: If you want to see past minutes or an agenda from any meeting in the last year, you can see them on the business documents page. Show and Tell During the last 15 minutes of the Business Meeting we will have a Show and Tell–this is your opportunity to let the rest of the members see what you have been up to. Bring up to 3 of your recent projects to share. Did you face any challenges or have questions you might like help getting resolved? Have you learned something new recently? Do you have something you are particularly happy with how it turned out? Judy Mitchell has offered to photograph your projects and they will be posted on both her and our websites. If you want more info you can see the Show & Tell flier here. Artisan Show Table Drawing Immediately after the November show drawing we will have the drawing for anyone who paid $35 for a table at our February Artisan Show. If you cannot make the meeting we will draw for your table after all those present have drawn theirs. “Chinese Auction” Last, but not least, we will close out this monthly business meeting with a “Chinese Raffle”–and there are always some great goodies so don’t cut out early or you will lose out. [...] Read more...
August 30, 2022Business Meetings / Classes / Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping SIGBusiness Meeting–we’re back! This Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 will be the first business meeting since we broke for the summer. We hope that everyone had a great summer and we look forward to hearing about your trips, rock finds, and treasures you created whether you were somewhere in The Villages or somewhere ‘up north’. Jewelry Making Special Interest Group 6-7:30pm Members who attended the Wire Loops Connections class on last Thursday are encouraged to bring in the projects and finish them up. Or if you have finished your project, bring it in and show us the results. We also would like to take more photos of your finished and in-process works to post on the website photo album! We will meet for 1-1/2 hours in the Crescent Beach Room and clean up and then head over to the craft room for the business meeting. The Sept SIG class will be a special 2 part Basics of Beading Embroidery Class so start thinking about what cabochon you want to finish this month–or be sure to see Susan on Thursday as she has some suitable cabochons she bought for everyone who won’t have time or inclination to make their own. They will be for sale for about $4-6 each. Short Workshop 5-7pm As usual, prior to the business meeting the craft room will be open for us to work on our stones for 2 hours. 5:30-7pm New members session in the Crescent Beach Room This is a Welcoming session and registration for our newest members. 7:30-8:50pm Business Meeting Please download a copy of the minutes of the May Meeting and the agenda for Thursday’s meeting. BTW: If you want to see past minutes or an agenda from any meeting in the last year, you can see them on the business documents page. Raffle Last, but not least, we always close out the monthly business meeting with a raffle–and there are always some great goodies so don’t cut out early or you will lose out. [...] Read more...
August 24, 2022Classes / Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping SIGHopefully everyone had a nice summer break and you are excited to get back to learning new skills with the Wire Wrapping and Jewelry Making SIG (Special Interest Group). The August class is Wire Wrap Bead Connections taught by Nancy Buettner, Thursday August 24 6pm – 8:30pm in the Destin Room. This is a class that can provide you with hours of jewelry making using your imagination to come up with different ways of using the connections. One of the first uses that comes to mind is to make a chain to carry the Wire Wrapped Pendant that you made in Mary McGee’s class in May. Here’s an example to get you inspired– The wire wrapped cabochon is not provided Another way to use this technique is for the beaded bezel stone you created in March with Diann Eilering. Or you can create a necklace to finish your wire wrapped stone from Greg’s class in February. AND you can always just bring some beads and make a beautiful beaded necklace. You get the idea–this is a technique that can be used in so many ways. For a list of the materials and tools that you will need for this class, please refer to the original post b clicking here: https://tvgemandmineralsociety.com/august-wire-wrapping-sig-class/ More Classes to Finish 2022 You can always see what is coming up by looking at the website. Whether you are on the home page or looking at another page, in the right hand column you will see the Jewelry Making SIG class schedule under this heading: On the schedule for September is a 2-part class on the basics of bead embroidery. October we’ll have another wire-wrapping class, this time we’ll learn how to make a lotus bud for a round stone. Then it will be time for a Christmas project–yet to be announced. And speaking of Christmas, all of these classes are great ways to learn how to make jewelry for gifts for the holidays, and all year long. Basic Wire Wrapping Tools Many people don’t have their own wire wrapping tools. While we do have some loaners, we don’t have enough to go around for everyone. There is nothing like having your own set of tools, and if you are going to continue to take classes we encourage you to get your own. And of course, if you want to practice your skills or even learn on your own, you will want to pick up a set. A good basic set should include 5 different types of pliers–each with their own specific uses and a pair of flush cutters. Chainnose pliers, bentnose pliers, flatnose pliers roundnose pliers, nylon-jaw pliers flush cutters [...] Read more...
June 30, 2022Classes / Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping SIGPhoto 1 Photo 2 with optional beads Basics of Bead Embroidery Note that this is a 2 part class for the Wire Wrapping Jewelry Making SIG (special interest group). Please plan on attending both sessions. Part 2 builds upon what you do in Part 1 and therefore Part 1 is a prerequisite for anyone wishing to attend Part 2. Photo 1 above is an example of a stone without the additional rows of beads. Everyone should be able to finish this on night 1. Photo 2 above shows the optional beads: The 3mm white beads and the next row of 8/0 beads are optional.  We will show you how to put them on at the end of the 1st class if you choose to use them. When: Part 1 -Thursday, September 22 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm PLEASE BE ON TIME. It is always difficult for the instructor if you come in late and try to catch up. Be a little early if you want to pick out beads. When: Part 2 – Thursday, September 29 @ 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm Where: SeaBreeze Recreation Center, Destin Room Instructors: Susan McCauley and Diann Eilering What will be covered: PART 1: The purpose of the class is to expand on the class that Diann did in March and Susan did in 2021 where you bezeled a cabochon.  The focus of this class will be to attach a gemstone to backing material, bezel it and then embellish and back it to make it a beautiful piece of jewelry.  NO, the cabochon you already bezeled will not work!  AND YES, this is easier than either of those classes. PART 2: The second part will consist of backing the piece and attaching a bail.  Criteria for Part 2:  You must have taken Part 1 to do Part 2. You can just go anywhere with the bead embroidery technique. Tools Required Sharp Scissors (preferably with a point)Beading Needle…this is not the same as a sewing needleBeading Thread – Fireline 6#, Wildfire 6# or Nanofil 8# (# = pound)Ruler or straight edgePencil or pen to mark foundation materialBeading Mat (this is a must as beads will be all over the floor if you don’t have one) Battery Operated Task Light (Optional but very helpful) Supplies Required A round or oval cabochon approx. ¾ – 1 inch in diameter – no larger if you want to complete the classwork in class.This can be made, purchased locally or ordered online at Amazon or any reputable supplier.Cabochon should have a FLAT BACKCabochon’s will be available for purchase in class for $4 – $6 (they will be available at the Sept 1 Thursday workshop, so if you want to have first selection, be sure to come then!)11/0 or 10/0 delica beads in 2 colors that highlight the cabochonThese will be provided at no cost by the instructors but they may not be the color you prefer. Delica’s will be provided in a limited number of colors.It is your choice on whether to buy or take a chance11/0 round (rocaille) seed beads in a color that compliments the cabochon. .  If you are at the September 1 class, you can purchase your cabochon so you will know the color.  Others should just bring a neutral color if they are purchasing the cab at the actual class.  A good neutral color is pearl or black.15/0 round (rocaille) seed beadsGold and Silver will be provided.  If you want another color, you need to bring it.OPTIONAL:  8/0 round seed beads or 3mm round beads.  See sample for ideas. Additional Information SUPPLIES PROVIDED BY THE INSTRUCTORS AT NO COST TO YOU PellonStiffener (Lining)BackingDelica Beads will be provided in a limited number of colors.15/0 Round Seed Beads in gold and silver We don’t want you to have to go out and purchase a large quantity of these items when you will only be using a small amount of each item in the class. Once again, please be on time or a little early for this class. Definitely be early if you want to pick out beads available from the instructor! [...] Read more...
May 1, 2022Business Meetings / Classes / Jewelry Making & Wire Wrapping SIG / WorkshopsBusiness Meeting This Thursday, May 5, 2022 will be the final business meeting before we break for summer. If you are still in town, please plan to attend. Jewelry Making Special Interest Group 6-7:30pm Members who attended the Chain Maille-Helm Weave class on April 22 are encouraged to bring in the projects and finish them up. Or if you have finished your project, bring it in and show us the results. We also would like to take photo of the finished and in-process works to post on the website photo album! We will meet for 1-1/2 hours in the Crescent Beach Room and clean up and then head over to the craft room for the business meeting. The May SIG class will be Intermediate Wire Wrapping so start thinking about what cabochon you want to finish this month! Short Workshop 5-7pm As usual, prior to the business meeting the craft room will be open for us to work on our stones for 2 hours. 5:30-7pm New members session in the Crescent Beach Room This is a Welcoming session and registration for our newest members. 7:30-8:50pm Business Meeting Please download a copy of the minutes of the April Meeting and the agenda for Thursday’s meeting. BTW: If you want to see past minutes or an agenda from any meeting in the last year, you can see them on the business documents page. Raffle Last, but not least, we always close out the monthly business meeting with a raffle–and there are always some great goodies so don’t cut out early or you will lose out. [...] Read more...

Our workshop hours are currently Thursdays 5:00 – 9:00pm and Sunday 9:00am – noon.

Clean up starts no later than 30 minutes prior to the end of our sessions as we must be out of the room/building on time.

No preregistration for workshops is required at this time.

Please contact the group for more information including current workshop and business meeting schedules.


Workshop and meeting times are subject to change.

The Villages Gem & Mineral Society-Lapidary Artisans is an organization devoted to the collecting and study of minerals, geology, paleontology and the lapidary arts (stone cutting, polishing, faceting and jewelry making).

Members’ areas of expertise include stone cutting, jewelry making, silversmithing, gem faceting, wire wrapping, beading, metal forming, geology, gemology, fossil collecting, carving, creating mosaics, and more!

No experience is required to become a member of The Villages Gem and Mineral Society–just an interest!

New members will be trained in the use of our equipment to shape, cut and polish rocks and minerals as cabochons and faceted pieces and additional techniques, in the lapidary arts.

Our members pay dues that support the purchase and maintenance of equipment dedicated to the lapidary arts. Members teach and encourage each other in the various skills of the lapidary arts.

This website is for the members of The Villages Gem and Mineral Society. Our Mission: To teach new members the lapidary arts, improve on our own skills and to have a good time.

Here members will find educational information, announcements about upcoming events, membership news, etc.

All members must read and abide by TVGMS Safety Standards and be trained in the safe and proper use of each machine before they will be allowed to use the equipment.

Wire Wrapping SIG

The Wire Wrapping SIG consists of members who want to focus on various jewelry making techniques, including wire wrapping. This special interest group is open to all members of TVGMS.

Members of this SIG teach classes on a variety of techniques for beginners and those more advanced.

They meet on the 4th Thursday of each month from 6-9pm in the Destin Room for projects and instruction. Members also meet on the 1st Thursday in the Crescent Beach Room (aka the card room) where they can finish projects, socialize and then attend the business meeting.

The Annual TVGMS Artisan Show

Mark you calendars for Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023!

Click here to read more about the 2023 Annual Artisan Show

The annual Artisan Show, hosted in The Villages each February allows members the opportunity to sell some of the items they have created. The event is open to the public and attracts vendors from around the country who also display and sell their wares. Items for sale range from raw materials to finished jewelry. There is something for everyone available at this event, in every price point.

Demonstrations are put on throughout the day.

Field Trips

The group has gone on field trips in the past to places like Rucks Pit, Graves Mountain, Hoggs Mine and the Peace River. We are considering trips back to these places and other places such as museums, mines and beaches.

Field trips will only be scheduled when there is sufficient member interest for the trip. You must arrange your own transportation for a field trip.

Annual Pre-Christmas Sale

UPDATE Nov 8, 2022: Because of severe weather that is forecast to be in our area on Nov 10, the Board has decided to postpone the show one week: this year’s TVG&MS’ Annual Pre-Christmas Show & Sale will now be Nov 17, 2022.

This one-day annual show features work by club members including jewelry, cabochons, fossils and slabs and rocks for you to create your own treasures and gifts.

This event is open exclusively to Villages Residents and Guests (with Villages Guest ID).

Read more about this event by clicking here

 

For More Information

For further information please stop by any of our workshops or meetings or contact one of the TVG&MS officers.