Page 36 - May 2020 Courier.pub

FEATURE ARTIST: Dave Tennies

Dave learned lapidary skills as a
lab assistant in high school. The
class helped special needs
children learn to stay focused. He
found lapidary so interesting that
he took additional classes to learn
more and was able to supplement
his college income by cutting
stones and making jewelry.

He didn’t have a lot of
opportunity to pursue his lapidary interest as career and family took
priority. When he and Linda retired and moved here, he was able to
buy some used lapidary equipment and happily resumed his old
interest. Working on his projects helps him to relax and to
constructively and creatively stay busy.

Creating jewelry from a rock has a number of steps. Dave attends the
lapidary fair in Roseville each year to find interesting rocks. He shines light
into the rock to see if there are weak spots. When he finds a good section, he
cuts the rock into slabs, using his lapidary saw. Then he studies the slab for
an interesting section. If he is doing a set, he also needs to ensure the patterns
are similar. Once he decides, he uses a stencil to draw the shape for the
finished piece. After he cuts the shape out of the slab, he uses his diamond
grinding wheel and sanding drums to shape and finish the stone. He sets the
stones himself in silver settings, which he purchases. However, when
working with gold, he designs the settings and has a jeweler make the setting
and set the stones for him. The photos show some of his projects from rock to
finished jewelry.

You can see his projects at our Club Craft Fair. He will take special orders.

May 2020 Page 36