What Else Will I need

I dont know if this is the correct group, but I mightt get some
direction or advise.

My daughter (12) has always had an interest in collecting rocks even
when she was a todler rocks managed to make it home in the pockets of
her pants, anyway

This year I purchsed a Rock Tumber (Dadsrockshop.com) so she could
pick up a new hobbie,I bought
Tumber
Petrified wood
Rock Mix
extra grit

I think she would have more interest making jewelry once she learns
how to polish rock.

What would be next for her to learn once the polishin part is learned?

Website to learn this hobbie from?

Books Recomended?


Making Jewelry?


Rock Identification?


Amature jewlery making?

ANyone have some recomendations?

Rick wrote:
I dont know if this is the correct group, but I mightt get some
direction or advise.

My daughter (12) has always had an interest in collecting rocks even
when she was a todler rocks managed to make it home in the pockets of
her pants, anyway

This year I purchsed a Rock Tumber (Dadsrockshop.com) so she could
pick up a new hobbie,I bought
Tumber
Petrified wood
Rock Mix
extra grit

I think she would have more interest making jewelry once she learns
how to polish rock.

What would be next for her to learn once the polishin part is learned?

Website to learn this hobbie from?

Books Recomended?


Making Jewelry?


Rock Identification?


Amature jewlery making?

ANyone have some recomendations?

Well, If she was my daughter the first thing Id do is take her to a rock
and gem show. there you will find all the rocks you mentioned in their
tumbled and polished form.
Watch what takes your daughters interest that way you will be as sure
as you ever will be what interests her the most.
To ask her to start to learn jewellery making is in my view asking too
much too soon.
Id steer her toward assembling the polished tumbled stones by gluing
onto ready made fittings and findings also available from the rock show..
Jewelly doesnt need to be made from stones and metal.
Jewelly these days can be made from wooden beads, plastic and any
material you care to experiment with.
You dont mention wether your daughter is a practical person by nature,
many children get to play with scissors paper and glue in their pre
school play groups. Did she like this sort of play?
One thought as to kit ,a water lubed diamond drill/ so she can make
holes in the stones and thread them upinto neckaces or bracelets..
Were blessed with many differnt beaches around here, and one project
with my daughter was to collect 1/2in round chalk pebbles from one such
beach dry them out drill them, paint them differnt colours and make up
into necklaces abd bracelets.she sold these at our local car boot sale
and gave these to her friends all just for fun.
keep a careful eye on any machinery like the tumbler nad drill press.
keep us posted as to progress.

"Rick" wrote in message
...
I dont know if this is the correct group, but I mightt get some
direction or advise.

My daughter (12) has always had an interest in collecting rocks even
when she was a todler rocks managed to make it home in the pockets of
her pants, anyway

This year I purchsed a Rock Tumber (Dadsrockshop.com) so she could
pick up a new hobbie,I bought
Tumber
Petrified wood
Rock Mix
extra grit

I think she would have more interest making jewelry once she learns
how to polish rock.

The major problem is that baroque stones aren't that easy to make into
jewellery and cutting stones is complicated and hard work or needs expensive
machines.

An obvious solution is to graduate the smaller stones, drill holes through
them and get her taught how to make proper necklaces.

That doesn't need any exotic tools, or heat, and I imagine you could find
some books at Amazon to teach her.

I should add that most good jewellery schools do a pearl threading course
where you can learn the 'correct' techniques (Two needles, three different
thicknesses of silk, using 'gimp' and all that) but they're probably not
suitable for a twelve year old :-)

--
William Black
------------------
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords
is no basis for a system of government

The hobby offers a lot for the family actually. Field trips, fossils,
carving, casting, mineral collecting, jewelry fabrication,
flintknapping, gem trees, faceting, gemmology and many other aspects.
Much of the above can be enjoyed after reading a few books or watching
some videos. There are a few ebsites that may be helpful too, but the
BEST way to really enjoy the hobby is probably as a member of a club.
many have 'juniors' departments with activities specific to kids (I was
a junior member as a kid/teen - then went back to the club after 23
years!) and some have equipment and classes that involve most of the
aspects of the hobby listed above.

Tumbled stones can be neat, though the satisfaction is not immediate.
Glueing bellcaps on them to be mounted like charms or pendants is
common, though 'wirewrapping' offers a lot of 'bang for your buck' as an
introduction to jewelry making. About 4-5 tools, some wire, a video or
book or 2 and you can make some very impressive items. Then you can
explore chain making as well.

http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/books/rockpups.shtml
http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/b...ire_work.shtml
http://www.rockhounds.com/rockshop/clublist.html

those links and some other suggestions here as well as some 'googling'
should get you started. Do look for a club in your area though - nothing
like hands on instruction!

Carl
1 Lucky Texan


Rick wrote:
I dont know if this is the correct group, but I mightt get some
direction or advise.

My daughter (12) has always had an interest in collecting rocks even
when she was a todler rocks managed to make it home in the pockets of
her pants, anyway

This year I purchsed a Rock Tumber (Dadsrockshop.com) so she could
pick up a new hobbie,I bought
Tumber
Petrified wood
Rock Mix
extra grit

I think she would have more interest making jewelry once she learns
how to polish rock.

What would be next for her to learn once the polishin part is learned?

Website to learn this hobbie from?

Books Recomended?


Making Jewelry?


Rock Identification?


Amature jewlery making?

ANyone have some recomendations?

--
to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 06:33:55 GMT, Ted Frater
wrote:

Rick wrote:
I dont know if this is the correct group, but I mightt get some
direction or advise.

My daughter (12) has always had an interest in collecting rocks even
when she was a todler rocks managed to make it home in the pockets of
her pants, anyway

This year I purchsed a Rock Tumber (Dadsrockshop.com) so she could
pick up a new hobbie,I bought
Tumber
Petrified wood
Rock Mix
extra grit

I think she would have more interest making jewelry once she learns
how to polish rock.

What would be next for her to learn once the polishin part is learned?

Website to learn this hobbie from?

Books Recomended?


Making Jewelry?


Rock Identification?


Amature jewlery making?

ANyone have some recomendations?

Well, If she was my daughter the first thing Id do is take her to a rock
and gem show. there you will find all the rocks you mentioned in their
tumbled and polished form.
Watch what takes your daughters interest that way you will be as sure
as you ever will be what interests her the most.
To ask her to start to learn jewellery making is in my view asking too
much too soon.
Id steer her toward assembling the polished tumbled stones by gluing
onto ready made fittings and findings also available from the rock show..
Jewelly doesnt need to be made from stones and metal.
Jewelly these days can be made from wooden beads, plastic and any
material you care to experiment with.
You dont mention wether your daughter is a practical person by nature,
many children get to play with scissors paper and glue in their pre
school play groups. Did she like this sort of play?
One thought as to kit ,a water lubed diamond drill/ so she can make
holes in the stones and thread them upinto neckaces or bracelets..
Were blessed with many differnt beaches around here, and one project
with my daughter was to collect 1/2in round chalk pebbles from one such
beach dry them out drill them, paint them differnt colours and make up
into necklaces abd bracelets.she sold these at our local car boot sale
and gave these to her friends all just for fun.
keep a careful eye on any machinery like the tumbler nad drill press.
keep us posted as to progress.

Look around and see if you can find a wire wrapping class. It's a
great way to make jewelry to show off tumble-polished stones and it's
both cheaper and safer than conventional jewelery making (no
soldering). The results can be really beautiful, much better than
buying findings and gluing stones to them.

The other thing to look for is a local rock club or gem and mineral
society. Your daughter will find lots of people who will be more than
willing to help, plus she can go on field trips to find her own rocks
with people who really know what they're looking for.

I don't think your daughter is too young to learn how to cut and
polish rocks. It's a pretty simple process, but the equipment is
expensive, so you want to find a club that's got a shop she can use.

--RC
Sleep? Isn't that a totally inadequate substitute for caffine?

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 06:33:59 GMT, William Black
wrote:


"Rick" wrote in message
.. .
I dont know if this is the correct group, but I mightt get some
direction or advise.

My daughter (12) has always had an interest in collecting rocks even
when she was a todler rocks managed to make it home in the pockets of
her pants, anyway

This year I purchsed a Rock Tumber (Dadsrockshop.com) so she could
pick up a new hobbie,I bought
Tumber
Petrified wood
Rock Mix
extra grit

I think she would have more interest making jewelry once she learns
how to polish rock.

The major problem is that baroque stones aren't that easy to make into
jewellery and cutting stones is complicated and hard work or needs expensive
machines.

An obvious solution is to graduate the smaller stones, drill holes through
them and get her taught how to make proper necklaces.

How do you suggest she drill the stones? That's not always easy.

That doesn't need any exotic tools, or heat, and I imagine you could find
some books at Amazon to teach her.

I should add that most good jewellery schools do a pearl threading course
where you can learn the 'correct' techniques (Two needles, three different
thicknesses of silk, using 'gimp' and all that) but they're probably not
suitable for a twelve year old :-)

Sleep? Isn't that a totally inadequate substitute for caffine?

Look around for your local rock and gem club. Many have youth programs.
Here in Houston, the youth club meets twice a month and we have various
activities from rock identification to paleo activities, and cabbing
classes. Our youth range from 5 to 14 years. Several of our 9 - 12 year
olds are very talented cabbers. Our youth have their own competition at our
annual show with their own cases. If you can't tell, we are kind of proud
of them.
Liz

"Rick" wrote in message
...
I dont know if this is the correct group, but I mightt get some
direction or advise.

My daughter (12) has always had an interest in collecting rocks even
when she was a todler rocks managed to make it home in the pockets of
her pants, anyway

This year I purchsed a Rock Tumber (Dadsrockshop.com) so she could
pick up a new hobbie,I bought
Tumber
Petrified wood
Rock Mix
extra grit

I think she would have more interest making jewelry once she learns
how to polish rock.

What would be next for her to learn once the polishin part is learned?

Website to learn this hobbie from?

Books Recomended?


Making Jewelry?


Rock Identification?


Amature jewlery making?

ANyone have some recomendations?

Rick wrote:
I dont know if this is the correct group, but I mightt get some
direction or advise.

My daughter (12) has always had an interest in collecting rocks even
when she was a todler rocks managed to make it home in the pockets of
her pants, anyway

This year I purchsed a Rock Tumber (Dadsrockshop.com) so she could
pick up a new hobbie,I bought
Tumber
Petrified wood
Rock Mix
extra grit

I think she would have more interest making jewelry once she learns
how to polish rock.

What would be next for her to learn once the polishin part is learned?

Website to learn this hobbie from?

Books Recomended?


Making Jewelry?


Rock Identification?


Amature jewlery making?

ANyone have some recomendations?


I have a son the same age who's been the same way. So we decided to take
it a step further this year. We've spent more or less every weekend
since the snow went being out rockhounding, or going to various events.
So far we've been focusing on identifying the rocks (bought a couple of
books), and learning various tidbits about how these rocks came about.
I've been fairly cautious about not making it too "school-like", though.
Important not to kill the interest.

We've collected some 125 lbs of rock since the snow went in early May,
and with the return of snow a couple of weeks ago, phase 2 began: Tumble
some of the rock. We also bought a combined saw & grinder, but so far
I'm doing most of the work there. However, with the safety equipment in
place, I let him grind some bits to gain experience. But I choose to
take it slowly here, after all he's only 12.

In addition to being a learning experience for both of us, we've met
many nice people, spent plenty of time together, got to travel around a
lot, and generally had a great time. And, all the rockhounding in the
great outdoors have given me the oportunity to learn my kid some basic
survival skills. These are the things that make old grunts happy.

So in ending, my advice is basically to keep the interest alive, sort of
"go with the flow", see what the kid wants to learn more about and then
go in that direction.

Rick wrote:
I dont know if this is the correct group, but I mightt get some
direction or advise.

My daughter (12) has always had an interest in collecting rocks even
when she was a todler rocks managed to make it home in the pockets of
her pants, anyway

This year I purchsed a Rock Tumber (Dadsrockshop.com) so she could
pick up a new hobbie,I bought
Tumber
Petrified wood
Rock Mix
extra grit

I think she would have more interest making jewelry once she learns
how to polish rock.

What would be next for her to learn once the polishin part is learned?

Website to learn this hobbie from?

Books Recomended?


Making Jewelry?


Rock Identification?


Amature jewlery making?

ANyone have some recomendations?

there have been some great answers to this question.
A couple of further thoughts come to mind.
What else will you need?
All the patience you can muster
And all the time you can spare.
Helping kids is never time wasted
I was asked by my sons school whan he was 10 to stand in whilst the
carpentry master was away for a year.
When we had a talk in with the kids I asked what they wanted to do
with their 2 hrs a week?
All 10 of them had a different project, ranging from horse jumps for
his sister to a bed side table to a rabbit hutch!., and they were only 10!.
Needless to say out of the 10 only one could saw straight.
but despite this we all got on well and most of the projects came to
fruition. Designing them so the kids could build them was the biggest
challenge.

Most of the time we resorted to ply wood, nails and glue.
I had a great year.
One little girl wanted to make a dolls house which she did with great
skill. It was a shame when her mother wanted to know why her daughter
had wasted her time!! douing this. The girl had real hands on talent.
Kids will absorb knowhow without even thinking IF you give them the chance.
All they need is to be exposed to the skills and see them being used.

Ive mentinoed this once before, When my son was born and then could just
walk he came into my workshop and I thought shall I shoo him out or let
him stay?
It weas the latter, and of course he asked questions and I answered,
then came more questions and it never stopped.
then he wanted to have a go at everything over time and has learned
just about all the metal working skills and the theory behind them that
we use here.
When he had to do some larger project in his CDT for his A levels, what
I made him do is think through all the options. Ie teach him how to
analyse problems and how to find answers.

Hes now doing a temp job at a welding works and he often comments how
there wasting time in some of their processes. But he doesnt comment as
he says hes not paid to think.!Hes only 20.
So it does benefit kids in the long run to help them learn all they can.
Ted Frater Dorset UK.