Jewelry Artist Magazine announces the upcoming contest for lapidary artists, The 2010 Gemmys.  Both traditional and original methods of cutting are welcome, but the submissions must be actual cut stones, not simply renderings.
Information and submission forms
Deadline: August 1, 2009

Here are the categories:
Faceted Gems
Stones must be flat faceted; concave or convex faceted stones should be entered in the Specially Cut division.
Cabochon Gems
Stones must be any natural gem material cut in a cabochon shape, and must be suitable for jewelry use.
Specially Cut Gems
Stones include those that have been carved; cut with regular, curved “facets”; engraved; fitted together into a composite; or cut …read more

Website: Tschetter Studio
A resident of Dallas, Texas, Patricia’s work is sold in several boutiques and galleries in and around Dallas and coast to coast across California, in Florida and in New York.

Known as a “Jeweler’s jeweler” in the industry because of her unique skill and expertise in extremely difficult cutting-edge techniques, Patricia alloys her own metals, expertly employs minute Gold Granulation techniques, is a master at Korean Keum-bu and is renowned for her Russian inspired reticulation. Even the stones she uses, such as rare Paraiba tourmalines and Chrome Diopside, show her sophistication with all aspects on jewelry-making and why she …read more

Artist: Teresa Robinson
Websites:
http://www.smallthingsdesigns.com
http://www.stoneandhoney.com
the smallthings studio is thrilled to announce the launch of our latest venture: stone&honey.
this new and innovative collection features bold, ethereal pieces fashioned from brazilian agate and our signature delicate metalwork. crisp geometric design combines with the rough-hewn beauty of natural agate for a look that is modern, eye catching and rich in contrast. because no two stones are alike, each piece is one of a kind. this singularity allows for endless possibilities and a collection that is constantly evolving. in addition to work in agate and sterling silver, we’ve also created a complementary line of delicate gold …read more

500 GEM & STONE JEWELS
Juror: Cindy Edelstein
Editor: Marthe Le Van
Entry Deadline: December 12, 2008

Lark Books seeks high-quality images of jewelry featuring gems and stones to publish in an international juried collection. Diverse materials, from rough, natural stones to fully faceted precious gems, are desired. All design and setting styles are welcome. All jewelry forms, such as rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and brooches will be considered. There is no entry fee.
Download Entry Form Here

1000 Jewelry Inspirations
by Sandra Salamony
[Wicked big disclaimer: I've got 7 pieces in this book, so of course I think it's really good!]
OK, that being said, it is really good! Page after glorious page of beautiful designs. Some so simple that you say, “Yes, of course! That’s all it needs.” Others are complex enough to make your jaw drop. I will be leafing back through this book over and over and over…
One of my pieces even (sort of) made it onto the cover! There it is – a teeny piece of it anyway – in the lower righthand corner. Here’s …read more

A super inexpensive get-a-way slash jewelry school experience is found at the William Holland School of Lapidary Arts located in Young Harris, Georgia. This is sort of camp-ground setting, so those who don’t like to rough it might not be too thrilled with the accommodations. But, the cost of these week-long classes is super economical and they have pretty much every sort of class you can imagine from lampworking to metalworking.

Okay, so what did Santa bring you? I’ll go first….
I got a simulated diamond and 14kt gold pendant (pictured) and matching ear studs from my husband, who also happened to set the stones himself. He got the stones from Diamond Nexius Labs and the settings from Tripps. He uses the easy mount system to set stones and has actually given me some wonderful pieces over the years using this method of stone setting.
On a sort of jewelry related theme, he also got me a Verizon card for my laptop so that means I can get on line any where…any time! …read more

 With the holidays coming up, what do you give to your favorite rock hound? Books on lapidary and gemstones are always a wonderful gift for the jewelry rock enthusiast. If you use gemstones, whether beads or in some other form, then you need to know your rocks. I have a pretty good rock library going on right now, and this book Simon & Schuster’s Guide to Gems and Precious Stones is one of my favorites in my collection.
My copy is pretty old and worn, but I’m still constantly using it to look up rock information. It’s got some fairly decent pictures as …read more

One of the great things about making your own jewelry is that you can use real materials. The quality and quantity of semi-precious stone beads these days are better than ever, and many of them are not that expensive either. That said, simulated stones are still an option and sometimes a good one depending on what you are making. For example, if you are making something with metal clay and you want to fire a stone in the clay, then simulated stones is a good way to go.
Lab created stones are another possibility because they are technically the same as …read more

 A few years ago I took a cabochon (aka cab) making class from my local rock and gem club. I took it because originally my husband wanted to take the class, and I really wasn’t interested, but I’ve always thought it is a good idea to at least have an understanding of other jewelry making techniques even if you don’t ever plan to do them regularly. For example, I did buy cabs, so taking a cab making class would give me a better understanding of what goes into make a quality cab. This would help be learn how to buy quality …read more