Contact: Ann Hatch
214-378-1819;
ahatch@dcccd.edu
For immediate release — July 15, 2015
(DALLAS) — Viking jewelry chain knitting, opal stone processing, jewelry, fossils, gold prospecting, treasure hunting and more will fascinate gem and mineral enthusiasts and professionals alike during the second annual Corporate Employees Recreation Association (CERA) Gem, Mineral and Jewelry Show at the Brookhaven College Geotechnology Institute in July.
The show, which is free and open to the public, will be held two days: Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Brookhaven College gym in Building T. The college is located at 3939 Valley View Lane in Farmers Branch.
Two free workshops will be offered. The first class, “How to Make Viking Weave Jewelry,” is scheduled on Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Attendees will learn how to knit metal weave to make Viking jewelry chains using everyday tools. That type of ornamental metal weaving first appeared in the ninth century in Viking culture. Although the class is free, participants will need to purchase materials for two different copper chains, which is $20 per person.
The second class, “Hand-cut and Polish Opal,” will be offered on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Participants will learn how to select, hand-cut and polish precious opals. Participants also can view a display of opal samples from around the world. This workshop also is free, and participants will need to buy an opal kit for $30, which includes files and approximately one gram of rough Ethiopian opal that normally sells for $30 to $40.
Both classes are about two hours long. Participants can sign up as they enter the show.
The event will feature more than two dozen vendors, who will sell gold prospecting equipment, metal detector and treasure hunting supplies, beads and beading supplies, and handmade jewelry and art. Visitors also can view metal sculptures, rocks, gems and fossil specimens. Stained glass art and fused glass jewelry will be available; food will be sold on site as well.
The show is presented by CERA and the Brookhaven College Geotechnology Institute.
For more information, please contact Steve Shearin, commissioner at Cowtown Gem, Mineral and Glass Club, by phone at 817-777-1997 or by email at
steve.l.shearin@lmco.com; or Melanie Gamble, director of the Brookhaven College Geotechnology Institute, by phone at 972-860-4269 or by email at
mgamble@dcccd.edu.
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