If you have ever read any of my blogs, then you probably have heard of William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Young Harris, Georgia. I have taken multiple classes at this school through the years and gained most of my jewelry making skills under different instructors. This past fall I took a cabochon cutting class. Cabochon cutting, or cabbing, is a process by which a gemstone is shaped and polished rather than faceted. The cabochons are most often flat on one side and domed on the other. A cabochon is cut from a rough rock or stone that is usually sliced into slabs about 1/2″ thick. When I cut a cabochon, I first consider stone pattern, color, and the shape that will best fit the jewelry design I have in mind. I draw straight lines and shapes directly on the slab. Next, I’ll cut out a rough shape using straight lines with a trim saw. Then I adhere a short dowel with “dop” to the back of the stone. The “dop stick” allows me to hold the stone more easily while grinding and polishing. Then I begin the grinding and polishing process moving from a course abrasive grit to a fine polishing grit using the shape I drew as my guide. The cabbing machine has six wheels, three grinding on the left and three polishing on the right.

An important aspect of cabbing is that all cutting, grinding, and polishing takes place with water dripping constantly over the saw blades and wheels. I must admit one of my favortie parts of the process is playing in water for hours. Another aspect of cabbing is that you never really know how a finished cabochon will look. It is exciting because as the stone is ground, new colors or patterns may emerge. The anticipation is part of what has drawn me to this process and made me fall in love with cabbing!

I will never look at rocks in the same way. I didn’t know that some of the rocks I collected while fly fishing would polish up just as beautifully as the semi-precious gemstones. I look for rocks everywhere I go. Recently my husband, Bo, suggested I stop picking up gravel in our driveway after a rainy day! But whether the rocks shine up or not, I love them all!

During my week-long class I began taking notes on all the equipment I needed to buy: a trim saw, a cabbing machine, dop, dop melting pot, dop sticks, a rubber apron (while I like to play in water, I like for my clothes to stay dry!)…not to mention the ongoing purchase of the next cool slab to cut. The list got long and expensive. But I was in love! Before I returned home from class, I had rearranged my entire jewelry studio in my mind. I figured out exactly where all my new equipment would go.

I came home and began making jewelry with my new cabochons. All the while plotting how I could afford all the equipment I needed. I guess it is good I have a better half. Bo is much calmer, more realistic, and less impulsive than me. He suggested that first I look for used equipment or someone who might be willing to share equipment with me. Of course I was overwhelmed with how I would go about finding somene. But you know what? I am a lucky girl! Within a few weeks of returning home from my class, I went to Sawtooth School for Visual Art in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to drop off some jewelry. I had recently been accepted to sell my jewelry in the shop at the school. While I was checking in each item, I noted which pieces included cabochons I had cut myself. One of the women present said, “Did you know we have open space studios here that you can sign up for on Wednesday afternoons to cut cabs?” What? No way! This is too good to be true! One afternoon a week of cabbing would be perfect!

Needless to say, Bo was quite relieved and I get to cut cabochons most weeks. The best part of all, I did not have to rearrange my jewelry studio space. I just have one more thing to balance: cabbing and jewelry making!

Thanks for checking in!

Bibba