Visit LW’s lapidary shop

One of the great amenities in Leisure World is the Lapidary Shop in Clubhouse 4. Lapidary is the art of cutting, shaping and polishing stones. Once finished, the polished stones can be placed in many types of jewelry or kept for display. Classes are available at the shop to learn the basics of lapidary using state-of-the-art CabKing machines—taught by Greg Myers, a talented lapidarist.

The club has saws with up to a 20-inch diameter, allowing members to start with a rough rock and follow all of the steps to produce a polished stone.

There are endless possibilities of what people can do with their polished stones.

One option is wire wrapping, a popular jewelry making technique that opens doors to a whole array of beautiful jewelry. Materials and instruction are available at the shop. Beading is also taught at the lapidary shop and can be used to enhance many types of jewelry.

The club has a tremendous variety of beads, plus all the tools and supplies that a new learner would need.

Making a pendant can be as simple as gluing a bale onto the back of a piece of polished stone and then enhancing it with beading. Cutting and polishing stones is rewarding in itself, but the ability to turn the polished stone into a piece of jewelry is especially rewarding.

The Lapidary Shop is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. People can stop by for a tour and to sign up for classes. The club has a friendly atmosphere and many knowledgeable people to help out.

—Jan Friedland

Cut and polished stones