The Makery
Lapidary: Basics and Beyond with John F. Heusler, G.G. !
Lapidary: Basics and Beyond with John F. Heusler, G.G. !
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at our Texas studio!
Join us for two amazing days with Gemologist John F. Heusler as you learn the basics (plus advanced techniques!) about creating your own beautiful cabochons. John will introduce us to basic gem cutting skills using traditional lapidary methods, and a variety of stone and rough types. We will cut multiple cabochons, and learn how to cut and polish both rounded gems and angular stones with instruction on concave cutting and polishing. And if you've taken this class with John before, this is your opportunity to work on more advanced shapes and skills with John's help and guidance. Best of all, everyone will have a dedicated lapidary machine to work on - no sharing! - so you'll have a full two days to work on a machine and practice your new skills with John's experienced guidance.
Your workshop and materials kit fees will cover absolutely everything you need to participate in class, including rough slabs, polishing materials, and the use of all the equipment needed to successfully create your own cabochons. And as an added bonus, you'll get 30 days access to the same videos our online participants will get... at no additional cost!
No prior experience is necessary - this workshop is perfect for beginners. But because of the diverse range of cutting and polishing techniques John will share with us, this workshop is also perfect for more experienced lapidarists who want to level up their skills.
Please note: If you have rough you'd like to cut, you're welcome to bring it but we will not be set up for slabbing, so any rough you bring must be pre-slabbed.
Information about taking workshops with us
can be found at this link.
Note: We recommend bringing your own eye magnification to help you see as clearly as possible while working. Because these needs are so personal, it's impossible for us to have the right thing on hand for every student. Need help with this? Call the studio or send us an email.
About John Heusler
John is a lapidary, gemstone cutter, and a jewelry maker/designer who has been at it for over 53 years! After owning a fine jewelry store for 31 of those years, he retired in 2009, and now sells his self-cut gemstones and jewelry on social media, in galleries, and national juried fine art shows. He teaches classes in gem cutting highlighting techniques like Basics to Advanced, Inlay 101 to Advanced and Gemstone Carving gemstones. John has been featured in Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist magazine and has been on the cover 14 times.
Since retiring from his fine jewelry store 14 years ago, he has made it his mission to help others in this industry just as his mentors helped him. His hobbies are too lengthy to list but caring for wild bobcats on his property has proven to be his favorite!