Bullets, Tongues and Sugarloaves with John Heusler!

This workshop is being held live and in-person
at our Texas studio!

Can't make the trip?
Live online seats are available at this link!

Flat-backed cabochons - even unusual freeforms - are just the tip of the iceberg in the world of lapidary... so if you've ever wanted to take a walk on a slightly wilder side, this is the workshop for you! Join us for three days with Graduate Gemologist John Heusler exploring less usual three-dimensional lapidary shapes and forms. We'll learn the tips and tricks that produce sleek tapered bullet shapes and dimensional elongated tongues. He'll show us how to make chunky sugarloaves, a distinctive antique cut featuring a pyramid shape composed of four sides that curve gently to a central meet point. Although fabrication is not part of this workshop, we'll also talk about the setting considerations for each stone type and how to cut them for optimum usability.

This workshop is open to all levels from beginner to advanced! Beginners will leave with at least one completed cabochon of each type, while students with prior lapidary experience may be able to complete more pieces. Best of all, because we're limiting registrations to eight seats, every student will have their own lapidary rig (no sharing!) with plenty of supporting equipment (trim saws, dop pots, etc.) to limit wait times. As an added bonus, the entire class will be recorded and you'll get 30 days access to the same videos our online participants will get... at no additional cost!

Bring a pen and notebook for note-taking and eye magnification if required*, but otherwise everything you need will be provided! Just plan to come and have a good time!

IMPORTANT NOTE: While we make extensive use of the JoolTool here in the studio, this workshop will not address using the JoolTool for lapidary work. 

Information about taking workshops with us
can be found at this link.

Workshop fee (non-taxable): $425

Materials fee (taxable): $50
(taxable and payable in the workshop)

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
November 7, 8 & 9, 2025
9:30 am to 5:00 pm daily (central)

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!