The California Federation of Mineralogical Societies
Invites You to Join us at Camp Paradise
My countdown to Camp Paradise 2025 started as I pulled out of the parking lot at Camp Paradise in August 2024. I have loved summer camp for as long as I can remember. My mom told the story that when I got home from my first year at Girl Scout camp, she asked me if I cried when I had to leave. I said that I did and next year I wanted to go for two weeks instead of just one. At the time, I didn’t realize she thought I might cry leaving home; I cried leaving camp!
Camp Paradise, my first year, I rolled in all by myself. I knew an instructor who said I’d have a great time and if I had my own tools to bring them. Shortly after checking in, I met a wonderful couple who took me under their wing and showed me the ropes. I was hooked.
The Instructors…
The instructors are brilliant and generous with their time, tools, and knowledge. I’ve become friends and look forward to seeing them each year. I will forever miss those who have retired or recently passed.
I am excited to say that I will be the Camp Paradise Registrar this year. Registration begins on March 15th, and this year, we expect to have it ready to move into the future and be online. Jill and Gary are the Camp Directors, and the camp gets better each year! Week two campers will get some extra work time to make up for the fact that we close classes early on Friday to prepare for clean-up, show and tell, and graduation. On the first night, Jill and Gary will explain what to expect for the next week and introduce the instructors. During the week, there is the Sell-a-Rama, where you can buy or sell items related to the arts offered at camp. Another night, there is a silent auction, with proceeds going to the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies. We also work to squeeze in lectures or demonstrations or some extra ‘barn-time’ to work on your projects.
What You Need To Know…
Camp Paradise is in Strawberry Valley. It’s a beautiful setting in the forest – with all that implies…peaceful setting, animals, trees, dirt, clean air, poor to no cell service, and stars. It has dorm-style rooms, couples’ rooms, cabins, and RV parking spots with hookups. The best advice I can give regarding the accommodations are that they are rustic (hey it’s camp!), bring anything you cannot live without for the week. If you expect a resort, this isn’t it, but you can create one! We have campers that bring in snacks, rugs, small patio tables, mini-refrigerators, mattress pads, and who knows what else, but I’ve seen some LOADED cars. I bring and stay in my glamper, so no judgment
from me!
There’s a barn – think warehouse, not an actual barn. This is where the courses are held; it’s next to the swimming pool. It can get hot inside, so it’s a great idea to bring one of those neck fans or a bandana that you can get wet to cool you off if needed. Or plan to hop in the sun-warmed swimming pool!
Your week at camp includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner too! We line up and chitchat with new friends while we wait for a hot, delicious meal. Our camp chef is so accommodating, he really tries to cook something for everyone. If you need a special diet, he does what he can but if in doubt bring sustenance. I tend to bring lots of easy foods, those things I can eat on the run – I don’t want to miss anything.
First-Year Campers…
You get early access to classes for the first two days. However, if the seats in one class are full, hop into another until a chair opens—there are a lot of classes to choose from. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced silversmithing, enameling, wire wrap, casting, glass fusing, gem trees, lapidary, intarsia, beading, chainmail, and cold connections are all planned for this year! (Classes may change unexpectedly.)
If you have any tools, bring them. It’s better to leave them in your car than to wish you had them. I like having a tote with me; it’s my carry-around catch-all and is handy during the week. If you don’t have an Opti-visor or magnifying glasses – shop now and bring one. Not only are they great for the close work you’ll be doing, but they also double as eye protection. After registering, you’ll get a packet of information, and you can always contact me for questions. Don’t worry if you’re coming by yourself; you’ll make friends in no time and have the time of your life!
Ann Marie McCann, registerforcampparadise@gmail.com
The following is a message from Jill Atkins, Camp Director:
Camp Paradise registration opens March 15, 2025 and I, for one, am looking
forward to another camp of learning, experiencing new jewelry and lapidary
techniques and of course shenanigans. Camp dates this year are August 17-23 &
August 24-30; $550 per person, per week. You can find everything at
CFMSinc.org. Scroll down to Camp Paradise and click on it. Thanks to Diane
Cook registration will be online and payment will be online as well.
Speaking of new lapidary techniques, this year we will have a new intarsia
program with some brand-new intarsia machines! Our instructor just returned
from Tampa Bay, FL. Where she learned about a technique called Cobblestone
Inlay, taught by Caitlin Albritton. (I don’t have a clue either but am eager to
learn.) She will also teach introductory intarsia but is working toward developing
some advanced options.
Please pass this information on to your club members and keep checking the
CFMS Newsletter and the CFMSinc.org website for updates.
CFMS – 2025 Camp Paradise Registration (Fillable)
ATTENTION: THE LINK FOR SUBMITTING THE FORM FOR REGISTRATION IS NOT WORKING!!! PLEASE PRINT THE FORM AND EMAIL TO registerforcapparadise@gmail.com
Checks will be accepted. Print out and send the form (link above) with your check.
For those who choose to electronically enroll and pay, below you will find the QR Code to sign up for Camp Paradise and pay using Zeffy!
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-camp-paradise
CLASSES:
If you have your own tools and supplies do bring them. It will speed up your work. (Make sure to mark your tools!)
Your careful use of the instructor’s equipment will be greatly appreciated.
Beginning Silversmithing: This introductory course is taught by Natalie Ede. This approximate 20-hour course is designed for persons who are new to silversmithing or in need of skills refreshment. A maximum of six students will participate in each of two classes each week: Week one: Monday through Noon Wednesday, and 1:00 pm Wednesday to early afternoon Friday. Week 2: Wednesday 1pm to Friday 1pm. The course is intended to acquaint students with many of the tools (including gas torch), materials and techniques used by the silversmith in design and construction of a piece of silver jewelry and in doing so it will provide opportunity to produce a silver pendant with cabochon insert. The project is subject to change. All necessary tools and materials are provided. A syllabus containing description of tools, materials and techniques discussed in class is also provided. Students are requested to wear long pants (or apron) and closed shoes for safety reasons. A $25.00 fee for expendable materials is charged. Natalie can be reached at 775-686-0774 or njdesignsnv.com.
Intermediate Silversmithing: Spencer got a promotion! This class is taught by Spencer Ennis and in it you will continue to build on what you learned in Basic Silversmithing. If you are new to silversmithing or uncertain of your skills then this is the class for you. Spencer will have some tools but bring your own if you have them and bring what metal you want to use. There is a materials fee of $35. Spencer’s contact info is 425-213-6752.
Advanced Silversmithing: This instructor is Jill Atkins. In this class you will expand your knowledge of working with silver. This is a hands on individualized class in which you can learn rings, earrings, bracelets, chains, hinges, box clasps, dapping, tube setting and other jewelry techniques. I will have most tooling but you will need to bring your personal tools (i.e. files, saw, flexible shaft) metals and stones. She will have a limited amount of metal to purchase.
Prerequisite: Basic silversmithing within the last 3 years. Lab fee $5 for consumables
*You May contact the instructor, Jill Atkins at atkinsdesign@gmail.com for any questions.*
Or phone number 775-232-6626. If you have a special project contact her weeks before, not days before, and she will help you choose the supplies you may need. Bring an Optivisor!
Intarsia: In the intarsia class, taught by Ann Marie McCann, you will learn how to cut, assemble, glue and finish stones that fit together that can be used on its own or in a piece of jewelry. You may want to bring small one inch pieces of stone with the same approximate hardness. Materials fee $10. Prerequisite: Prior basic lapidary class. Please bring an apron if you are attending Ann Marie’s class…it will be useful for other classes as well. Bring an Optivisor. Ann Marie’s contact info is 949-292-8167.
Basic Lapidary: This class is taught by Janet Steigerwald. In this class you will learn to cut and polish 2 stones. There are a limited number of cabochon grinding units (Genies). Comparable units may be brought for your personal use. A limited quantity of assorted slabs will be available for cab making only. Janet is not selling slabs. There will be a reasonable charge for materials supplied by the instructor. If you have an “optivisor” or similar magnifying device bring it. There is no prerequisite for this class. Contact info is 209-604-3721
Advanced Lapidary: This is Peter Adam and I will be the hard stone carving instructor at Camp Paradise. I will have 5 Foredoms as Dremel’s do not have the power needed to carve hard stones. However, if you have your own equipment and plan to take my carving class, please bring your own Foredom, or similar carving equipment. Also bring a small plastic dish like what you get from a restaurant to take home food in. Bring a small old towel. You must bring ear protection (ear plugs won’t protect you from the noise), glasses (Optivisor) to protect your eyes and help magnify your work, and dust masks. If you have questions, contact me. I will bring a starter set of diamond carving bits, nova points, lots of slabs, some preforms, polishing sticks, and polishing paste. I will not allow students to carve stones that are toxic! The project that I have in mind is not very imaginative but students should have a finished carved and polished stone by the end of the week. Yes, I will teach carving and polishing. Those are two very different set of skills. Fortunately, as technology continues to improve, carving and polishing is easier to do. Kit fee approximately $25. My contact info is 650-515-0520.
In this class, taught by Glenn Fiala, you will learn how to wrap a cabochon with wire so that it may be worn as a pendant or even a bracelet. Depending on the number of students being taught at any one time, the course can vary from beginners to advanced. He will provide the copper wire, and tools for you to use that is necessary to wrap your cabochons. For those odd, larger sized pieces, or very small pieces, he will help you consider your piece and talk about what you want to do. He will have a few cabochons that you may purchase from him for $5 ea. He will have several reference books that can be referenced for various ideas, and even include beads (you must supply) if you desire. The only prerequisite for the wire wrap class is to have an idea how you want your cabochon to be presented when worn as a piece of elegant jewelry.
Glenn Fiala can be reached at 916-878-1504 if you have any questions.
Wax Casting: Tim Steeper is the instructor in this class and he also has an assistant. The two of them are quite the team. He will teach you how to cast a wax model into a metal form. He will begin by exploring centrifugal casting of lost wax models and natural materials and some non. If time permits Tim will show you how to make molds and wax patterns from molds. There will be a selection of waxes including commercial wax patterns available for sale. Due to the number of people casting and the kiln size , you will be limited to small items such as rings, earrings , charms and pendants. He will have sterling metal available for casting or you may bring your own. There is a charge for materials. Wax modeling and finish tools will be available or you may bring your own. This is a 2.5 day class. Optivisors will be helpful. Contact info: 1(803)599-7021 for more info.
Enameling: Pam DiFilippo will teach enameling to beginning and less advanced enamelers. She will explore three styles. The sifted powder method which includes preparing the blank copper, adding color, blending, sgraffito, stencil, and adding mille fleurie, stringers, and inlay with copper. The painting with fire method which is used to make flowers or beads and Cloisonné which will be done on copper using the same torch.
Round copper blanks, rectangular copper strips, and copper beads will be available for projects. There may be a few other shapes available, but if you would like to do something specific, please bring your own copper blanks with you. Other useful tools for all participants include tweezers, a small spatula, and a mask. Limit 4 participants at a time. There is a $10 materials fee. For more information you may contact Pam at 530-417-1756 or pam2space@gmail.com.
Glass Fusion/Dichroic Glass: In this class taught by Karin Solomon and Tori Keith. You will learn how to cut, assemble, and fire glass to be used as a decorative element. They will show you techniques to enhance the look of your glass. Between the two of them you will have great fun. There is a materials fee. Contact for Karin is 1(831) 241-1550.
Beading: In this class taught by Dena Hight, you will learn to use a needle and beading thread to make fabulous beaded objects and jewelry. Dena will take you from novice to experienced in a short period of time or from an experienced beader to new “Hights”. She is an experienced teacher and an all around good person and she has a very enjoyable class. There is a material fee. Contact for Dena is bdckts@yahoo.com.
Chain Maille: This is a beginning chain maille class taught by Teri Beck. You will learn how to make chains by linking jump rings together with a choice of several different styles and patterns. A starter kit with cut jump rings and instructions will be available for a five-dollar fee. You will end up making a beautiful, finished bracelet in copper or silver colored Parawire. Sterling silver will be available for an additional fee. If you have an Optivisor please bring it. Also if you have round nose and chain nose pliers, please bring them. I will have some pliers available to use. This class is just the beginning, it is easy to get hooked on chain making! Contact for Teri is 1(831) 679-2896.
Cold Connections taught by Janet Longueira. Cold Connections is a method of bringing and attaching pieces together without heat. This class will focus on bringing stones and metals together with rivets. Please bring your own finished and/or tumbled stones of different sizes, which preferably will NOT be cabochons but about the size of a 30×40 or smaller. They will need to have a fairly flat back (some tumbled stones will be available). Kit cost will be $20. Please bring your own tools if you have them as tools there will be limited; bezel shears, metal hole punch for the rivets, roundnose and chainnose pliers, hand files, nylon or rawhide mallet, riveting hammer, and a bench block. You will also need a ruler, lightweight cardboard (like a cereal box), pen or pencil and a fine sharpie. This class is fun and creative! Contact for Janet is 1(530)308-8805.
Ming Trees/Gem Trees: This class will be taught by Priscilla Bilyeu. You will learn a variety of construction methods to form a beautiful gem tree. Wire, bases, and materials for students to create the tree of their choice will be provided. Tree of Life pendants and gem tree magnets will also be offered for those who want a quick project. This course is a great one to take back for a juniors program or a jewelry arts class.