North Brisbane Lapidary Club

We Dig Rocks

And the winner is….

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6

The Synthetic Opal (Aurora)

Thanks to all of those that voted in our Most Appealing Gemstone challenge. Traditionally the stones are viewed and voted on by those who attend the yearly gem show, due to the show being cancelled this year we used a combination of Facebook/Website followers and members at the club house to participate.

8
A5
6
2
1
A4
3
Agate Cabochon

Most Appealing Gemstone

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Please join us to choose the most appealing gem stone. Each year the members of North Brisbane Lapidary Club work on pieces to enter in the annual competition. Faceting, Cabbing and Metalsmithing categories are judged externally, but the Most Appealing Gem Stone category has always been judged by the public at the show. As this year the show has been cancelled we are asking you to submit your vote by clicking on one of the pictures below.

One entry per person

Votes will be counted Thursday 17th March 2022

You entry has been received, thanks.

Raffle 2022

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The Gem Show may have been cancelled, but the Raffle is full steam ahead with fantastic prizes to be won. Tickets can be purchased at the club house, and now online the option to purchase (full books only $20 for 10 tickets), and have them posted. Just complete the form below and someone will be in contact with payment details.

Results will be drawn Sunday 6th March.

1st Prize – Garnet and Spinel ring valued at $2600
3rd Prize – Cedar and Huon Pine Jewellery Box valued at $400
2nd Prize – Sterling Silver Bracelet valued at $2000

You are required to complete all fields below before submitting. You will then be sent the bank account details to deposit your funds, once received your ticket stubs will be posted to the address supplied.

This form is currently closed for submissions.

Faceting Competition

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 *****     Congratulations to Brenda on her wins in the Cairns Show Lapidary Competition    *****

The criteria was a Standard Round Brilliant, with faceted girdle design in any colour quartz. Competing with 19 other entrants she achieved 1st and 2nd prize for her work. Check out her scores they are amazing.

Brenda thanks her expert mentor Vicki for all the help over the last couple of years.

1940’s Brooch

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by Thierry

Enhancing a 1940’s Sterling Silver Brooch – The original Brooch had a Green Cut Glass Stone with a Golden Mirror backing. The patterns were covered in black paint of a sort and the Brooch took a bit of bashing. I first removed the back paint and restored it to shape, to discover a delightful and intricate Brooch. The Green Cut Glass didn’t do it justice, so I cut a piece of Maryborough Chrysoprase as a Cabochon. The Apple Green colour of the “Australian Jade” adds Charm and Elegance to this Sterling Silver brooch. A Christmas present for my Mother in Law … Why on Earth should I be so nice to her?

Topaz Ring

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by Thierry

"The Brilliance of a Topaz" or "The Art of Fitting a Round Gemstone in an Oval Ring!"  - A rather humble but elegant Lost Wax Casting Ring designed for an Oval Gemstone. I had the perfect stone for it! A brilliant cut blue Topaz, but it was round! So I carefully reformed the ring to accommodate the Gemstone. I did set the Topaz low so to enhance the ornate design of the ring, but also to give it this magical brilliance as if the ring was alive. Cast by Joyce, embellished by a 'Frog'!

Butterflies

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by Carol M

I have been playing again. This time using silver foil and enamel paints.

It started with a demonstration of sawing/piercing to some of our newest converts to the Silver Smithing area.  I thought I would demonstrate that sawing can be used not just as a means to cutting links for making chains.  I had seen some beautiful enamel work on Facebook with leaves and butterflies so thought I would give a butterfly a try.

I started by using my Wildlife of Greater Brisbane book to find a butterfly with the colours I thought I could reproduce, especially some of the transparent colours that can be achieved on silver foil.  See the Meadow Argus (pictured above). I then drew a diagram with a plan of the colours I would use and how that would relate on the copper. I then used a flux on the copper before placing silver foil on the areas I wanted to shine.  The rest was wet packed and finally enamel paints on the final layer.

Most of the work was torch fired, because I was impatient and doing it at home, but ideally as the piece was so big it would have been better kiln fired.  It was hard to keep the heat on the whole piece.  The last fire I did do in the kiln just to give it the gloss finish.

Conversion of a Brooch

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by Thierry

Brooches tend to stay in drawers, unloved nowadays, but many of them can be adapted to wear as pendants by making some simple inserts.

Here is an example of two inserts. A chenier and rabbit ears bail fitted over the pin; and a square with a standard bail.

Chains

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by Mary

Chain variations that Mary has worked on since the President’s Challenge, a bracelet and necklace.