It has been almost 20 years since I worked on a precious metal project. Recently my wife handed me a catalog from a local community college that has a metalsmithing and lapidary class. I was intrigued by the lapidary topic which I know nothing about. Upon googling, lapidary involved working with stones. I went on their website to check the class schedule hopefully for an evening or weekend class. Unfortunately, the only classes are on Tuesday morning and noon.  After calculating my work PTO balance, I decided to go ahead and sign up for the class.

I took a metalsmithing and jewelry making class 20 years ago. Again this was at the urging of my wife.  She was starting an online jewelry business selling pearls and semi-precious stones jewelry items.  She was GIA trained in stringing techniques and needed me to handle the soldering and metalsmithing tasks.