Around Annapolis: Guild members turn rocks into gemstones Annapolis Capital
After seeing it on the Discovery Channel, the Severna Park couple decided to take a trip to the Emerald Hollow Mine in Hiddenite, N.C., in 2007 to celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary. They didn't find emeralds, but their "bucket of dirt" for prospecting yielded "a lot of pretty rocks," Ken said - and a whole new hobby.
Fast forward to today, and Ken is turning rough rock into polished gemstones to make a necklace for their daughter's upcoming wedding, while Becky is working on a project to make stone crosses for their church.
The two practice their craft as members of the Patuxent Lapidary Guild, where Ken has recently taken over as president. The nonprofit arts guild promotes the skills and disciplines associated with making jewelry from rocks, precious metals and gems, and holds classes and workshops on the subject. It has about 70 members and celebrated its 50th anniversary last year.
Every week, guild members gather for an "open shop" night in their basement workshop at Annapolis Precious Metals, a small jewelry design and repair store on Defense Highway. Members pay a $5 shop fee per session plus $40 annually for dues.
"Mother Nature makes some beautiful stuff," said Ken, pointing out the rivers of color running through a hunk of picture jasper at a recent Thursday night session.
Like modern-day alchemists, guild members turn what looks like ordinary rocks of various sizes into cut and polished gemstones ready to be set into rings, bracelets, and other jewelry and decorative objects.
