Floy Feltmann
Lapid is Latin for stone. Lapidary means stonecutter.
The SunBird Resort Lapidary Club has one of the best lapidary facilities in the area. We do more than stonecutting in the Lapidary Room. We have classes in basic rock, silversmithing, stained glass, fused/slump glass, Ming trees, lost wax, beading, wire wrapping, rock art, and more. You must be a paid-up Lapidary Club member, but the classes are free. You just pay for supplies and show others how to do it after you learn. Check the display case on the second floor outside the Lapidary Room for class times and the instructors’ phone numbers.
When asked why lapidary, Lani Pappano said that she and her late husband Anthony joined as a couple. It was for the love of rocks, but when the club started expanding into fused glass, he made spoon rests from the glass and clocks from the rocks. She taught stained glass for many years.
Lois and Howard Anderson are proud to be founding members of the club. She teaches many of the different classes and has been president numerous times.
Marcella Diede has made jewelry that she wears and is very proud of the beautiful pieces she has created. She also works with the fused glass and has made wonderful, personalized wedding and Christmas gifts for family and friends. She is now being asked for her artwork.
Bonnie Hokanson says she is proud of her work and always has fun being creative in the Lapidary Club. She has been historian in the past.
Oscar Schroeter likes working with stained glass and makes beautiful pieces. His wife Kay also works making beautiful pieces with the glass and has taken some wire wrap jewelry classes.
Sonia and Al Sjurseth are new members and share the interest, so they are going through the basic classes, and then they can move on to the different classes. They each have different interests and options but can bounce ideas off of each other. They have found that they are meeting many new people and get plenty of help from the other members. He brings a new knowledge to the club. He takes silverware and makes beautiful rings from them. Looking forward to that class!
What is your favorite activity in the Lapidary Room? Past president Dennis Hayward and his wife Cheryl from Oregon quickly said, “all of them!” Dennis teaches basic rock, and Cheryl works with the glass.
The Lapidary Club has some wonderfully creative, talented people, and they are a friendly social group. We have two parties on the patio each year—a winter party and an end of season party. This is done so we can all get together and gather more ideas from each other.
You must live in SunBird Resort to join. We meet the first Friday of the month at 9 a.m. from October to April in the Lakeview Room, and it costs only $10 to join for the year. Contact President Jim Mitchell at 216-501-0948 for more information.