Additional information
by Jim Magnuson (Author)
Take rock collecting to the next level: create gemstones that glisten and shine with beginner instructions that yield professional results.
Beautifully cut, polished, and shaped gemstones are marvelous treasures. They can be very expensive to purchase, but have you ever wondered how to create your own? You might be surprised at how quickly you can learn to do it--and how affordable it is, especially when compared with many other popular hobbies. From Rough Stones to Wow is your one-stop shop for beginning and being successful along your lapidary journey.
Written by Jim Magnuson, this accessible how-to guide keeps things simple while covering a variety of the most popular lapidary arts. The step-by-step instructions--supplemented by easy-to-follow, full-color photographs--can help you produce high-quality gemstone products that you'll be proud to display, wear, or even sell. Learn about the tools and equipment needed, as well as types of rocks and minerals you might want to utilize. Then, with Jim's focused instruction, you can discover the rewarding experience of taking rough stones and making your own creations. There's even a brief introduction to jewelry making, with seven simple jewelry projects.
You'll appreciate these features:
- Easy-to-follow directions complemented by action-oriented photos
- Recommendations on lapidary machines
- Tips, charts, and checklists to jump-start your learning
- Techniques and tools that take you from start to finish
Author Biography
For author Jim Magnuson, rockhounding is not only a hobby, but it's also a serious and rewarding avocation that helps him connect with nature. He has been an avid hunter and student of various gems, minerals, and fossils since his childhood, when he first began to hunt for stones in his native state of Illinois. These experiences taught Jim the importance of persistence and the willingness to follow the road less traveled in order to find unique or rare kinds of rocks.
Jim also enjoys sharing his passion through writing, both creatively and from a practically-oriented-process perspective. Because of Jim's in-depth knowledge, he is frequently called upon to present to groups such as rock and mineral clubs, geological societies, and educational institutions that focus on outdoor and environmental interests.
In addition to Jim's passion for prospecting and hunting, he also likes to perform various lapidary arts with the stones that he finds, and he has a small business making and selling custom-polished stones and jewelry pieces. Jim also enjoys creating photographic illustrations that are up close and personal for prospecting, hunting, and lapidary work. Jim was a photographer for his high school and college newspapers and yearbooks, where he focused on student activities that created perspectives on campus life. This experience has helped Jim capture unique and compelling photographic images for modern-day gem and mineral prospecting.
