Carol Barnett has learned a lot during her 18 years as a member of the Maple Ridge Lapidary Club.
Barnett has created everything from small bowls to sculpted pieces in copper, and she has learned how to colour the copper with heat or with other patina inducing chemicals and enamel.
She has also started to carve soapstone into birds that are native to British Columbia.
Barnett’s work and the work of others from the club will be included in the showcases on display at the club’s annual Rock and Gem Show on the weekend of Feb. 21-22.
Barnett first joined the club with her 14-year-old daughter in 2007.
“We were searching for another artistic outlet,” explained Barnett, as her daughter had taken all the art courses offered by the Maple Ridge Arts Council for her age group – some more than once.
The Lapidary Club provided a venue for her creativity, said Barnett.
As a result, her daughter became hooked, and so was Barnett, as they were drawn into the culture of the club.
Even after her daughter completed high school, going on to receive a fine arts diploma at Langara College, and a degree at Emily Carr University, Barnett continued to attend the lapidary club, gradually learning various techniques and creating a series of jewellery and lapidary projects.
“Throughout my journey to improve technique and complexity of my projects, other members at the Club offered excellent advice, and help when I needed to use unfamiliar tools or machines, or when I got stuck with design problems,” said Barnett.
Many times, she said, the advice members gave her, saved a project that had gone very wrong.
Now, after 18 years of membership, she continues to volunteer, taking classes and workshops, and she attempts to produce a variety of creative projects each year.
Barnett has served eight years as a board director and she continues to sit on the executive as a past president.
The rock and gem show, said Barnett, is the group’s largest fundraiser, as it is run entirely by volunteers.
It is a family-friendly event for rock, fossil, gem, and jewelry lovers of all ages.
More than 20 vendors will be at the show selling rocks and gems, local artisans selling hand made jewellery, and metaphysical vendors.
There will be live demonstrations by club members, free crafts for children, and at 2 p.m. each day there will be a live auction.
Attendees can also vote for their creations by club members.
Parking is free and entrance is by donation.
The Maple Ridge Lapidary Club’s annual Rock and Gem Show takes place from 10-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21, and Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Albion Community Centre, 24165 104 Ave., Maple Ridge.