Programming and classes
 
2007 Flatirons Mineral Club Annual Gem & Mineral Show

Boulder County Fairgrounds Exhibit Building, 9595 Nelson Rd., Longmont, CO

December 7-9, 2007
Fri. 10-6, Sat. 10-5:30, Sun. 10-4

 

This year's show will feature programming, demonstrations, and classes throughout the weekend.
As they are arranged, they will be posted here, as will a schedule of events as the show date approaches.

 

See program and class schedule

 

Kids' Day (Friday, 11a.m.-2:30 p.m.) – Field trips by area elementary students and home-school students, with special activities. Free admission for participating students, teachers, parents, & bus drivers.

 

Ongoing throughout the weekend: Childrens' wheel, and kids' dig sites, mineral identification by members of the Flatirons Mineral Club, demonstrations of lapidary, beading, faceting and other crafts by club members and various other artisans.

 

Programs

 

Mineral Collecting in Northern Colorado (11-noon Sunday) – Talk and slideshow by Pete Modreski from the U.S. Geological Survey.

 

Flint Knapping Demonstrations (Saturday & Sunday) – Demonstration of the ancient tool-making technique by Bob Patten.

 

Gold Panning (Saturday & Sunday) – Demonstrations and hands-on instruction for children in the art of panning for gold by members of the Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters Club.

 

Silversmithing and Pewtersmithing Demonstrations (Friday-Sunday)   Demonstrations of various silversmithing techniques by Greg Norris. He will also cast hummingbirds in pewter using rubber molds.

 

UV Room Exhibit – See what a difference ultraviolet light makes on certain rocks and minerals. 30-minute sessions: Times TBA

 

Classes

Signup sheets will be at the admissions desk. Fees are to be paid directly to the instructor.

 

 

Knotted Pearl Necklace (10:30-noon Saturday, 1 ½ hours) – Beginners' instruction in bead stringing. Limited to 10 students. Learn how to string freshwater pearls on silk, knotting between each pearl and finishing with a silver clasp. We will talk about beading materials and design, and then string your necklace. All materials will be provided. Cost: $12. Instructor: Emily Epstein.

  

Wire-Wrap Pendant (Cabochon) (1-3 Saturday, 2 hours) – Beginners' instruction in wire-wrap. Limited to 10 students. Students are asked to bring a cabochon. (If a student buys his or her stone at the show and shows Caren the receipt, she will donate $5 to the club scholarship fund.) All other tools and materials will be provided. Cost: $30. Instructor: Caren Johannes. 
 
Faceted Pendant  (12:30-3:30 Sunday, 3 hours) – Intermediate instruction in wire wrap. Limited to 8 students Learn how to make a silver wire-wrapped setting with prongs suitable for setting a faceted stone in a pendant. Students should bring their own faceted stone (minimum size 12 mm x 14 mm). (If a student buys his or her stone at the show and shows Caren the receipt, she will donate $5 to the club scholarship fund.) Cost: $30. Instructor: Caren Johannes.
 

 

Instructors/Demonstrators/Speakers

 

 

Emily Epstein is a long-time member of the Flatirons Mineral Club, who has been stringing beads for over 20 years.

 

Caren Johannes is a professional geologist, wire artist, and co-proprietor of Amethyst Rose. She is an experienced rockhound, a frequent program presenter at programs by Denver-area clubs, makes wire-wrap jewelry for a number of dealers, and teaches wire-wrap classes for Desert Gems in Lakewood, the City of Westminster, and others.

 

Pete Modreski is Geologist for Outreach and Education with the USGS in Denver. He has taught continuing education classes on many topics for The Colorado School of Mines. He co-authored Minerals of Colorado, published in 1997, and is past-president of the Colorado Chapter of the Friends of Mineralogy.

 

Greg Norris is an instructor at the Colorado Academy of Silversmithing and Art Metal in Estes Park, and son of proprietor Don Norris.

 

Bob Patten is an award-winning expert flint knapper and author from Lakewood. He is the proprietor of Stone Dagger Publications.

 

The Rocky Mountain Prospectors and Treasure Hunters Club is a group for prospectors and treasure hunters in Colorado and surrounding states. They meet monthly between Loveland and Fort Collins.

 

 

To suggest a class, speaker, or other programming, please contact Emily Epstein.

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Updated 11/28/07