Rock Gem 'n' Bead show returns to Scotland

Rock Gem ‘n’ Bead Show – April 2018 – Musselburgh Racecourse

Hello all.

If you have visited the club since Saturday 10th March you may have noticed a few Rock gem ‘n’ bead show posters have gone up around the building on the notice board and the back of the main door; this is to advertise the upcoming Rock gem ‘n’ bead show being held at the Musselburgh racecourse on the 7th + 8th April 2018.

Visit Rock N Gem website for more info

This will be the first time that a Rock Gem ‘n’ bead show has been held within Scotland in the last 10 years or more. The last show was held within a hotel in central Edinburgh and was not a success for the traders and or the public in regards to difficulties in parking, cost etc. The advertised show will be held in the Musselburgh race course pavilion; these shows are held inside out of the inclement weather.

The shows are a good mix of stands selling minerals from Scotland and the world, fossils, beads, crystal healing items, findings with jewellery equipment, rough material etc. Generally the faceters’ guild has a stand showing faceting with a machine and is available for advice etc.

We have been given a unique opportunity to promote our club at the Musselburgh show, this will be to show what we do as a club i.e. lapidary, silverwork, faceting, collecting minerals and agates etc.  We have 12 ft. of table space to promote our club over the two days, hopefully we will attract interested people and maybe more people who would like to join our club. At present from my knowledge we are the only lapidary club showing at this event.

A general meeting will be held on Thursday 22nd March at 7:30 pm to discuss and agree what we would like to use to promote our club and the skills that we use. This meeting is open to all members who wish to partake in the event.  We have a limited number of rock gem ‘n’ bead discount vouchers of £1 off entry which will be available for collection, from this meeting onwards.

The company organising the rock gem ‘n’ bead event has been kindly to send out some A3 and A5 posters with discount vouchers. These are to be used to promote the event around Edinburgh and surrounding areas to promote the event.

We have made up the following poster packs for distribution:

  • A3 Poster with approximately 30 discount vouchers (9 packs)
  • A5 Poster with approximately 10 discount vouchers (42 packs)

I need to ask you all for the following to help with this event.

  • Volunteers for the show (maximum of 4 for each day) – this will include talking and promoting our club to the public.
  • Examples of members work – this is probably one of the best ways to promote what we do as a club.
  • Promote the event – take a poster pack and ask if this information can be displayed in your local libraries, community centres etc. Please note where you are taking the posters so we do not pester the same people over and over again.

Please attend the event to make it a success so we do not lose it again for another decade.

If you have any questions you would like to raise for the meeting please contact me on my email noted below. For pictures of previous event and ideas of what is on sale please visit  www.rockngem.co.uk hopefully this may give you some ideas.

Kind Regards

Richard Butler

SMLC at Our Dynamic Earth

The Scottish Mineral & lapidary Club have been invited to display at ‘Our Dynamic Earth‘ on Holyrood road, Edinburgh from the 19th to 22nd October 2017.

This is a fun event for kids and adults alike with a host of mineralogical and geological items on display. There are rocks and crystals, agates from all over the world as well as microscope displays and even a chance to polish your own stones.

All set in the fabulous Our Dynamic Earth building nestled beneath the impressive Salisbury Crags.

come along and find your hidden gems…

SMLC display at Our Dynamic earth SMLC display at Our Dynamic Earth

SMLC display at Our Dynamic Earth SMLC display at Our Dynamic Earth

SMLC display at Our Dynamic Earth

SMaL-talk newsletter July 2016

Here is the latest newsletter, including updates on recent club activities, and an inspiring article on jasper and agates of the East Lothian coast.

SMaltalk July 2016

SM&LC Display at Edinburgh Central Library

Last Year saw a display promoting the Scottish Mineral & lapidary Club in the stairwell foyer of the Edinburgh Central Library on George 4th Bridge.

The display comprised of minerals, club specimens and members work along with a selection of books and pictures that are relevant to the work we do.

We hope to have future Exhibits, with the help of the Edinburgh Central Library, so please check back for updates.

smlc-library01

Crystal Reunion by Richard Gillanders SMLC mineral curator

Towards the end of 2012, Brian Jackson, recently-retired curator of the National Museums of Scotland mineral collection, remarked on the large crystal specimen of galena in our display case.

It is an unusually large crystal (14x14x14cm) which had been broken sometime in the past, exposing a bright cleaved face. Brian said that the Museum had a very similar specimen in their collection and that it would be interesting to compare the two.

Galena-specimen