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Show Promises To Sparkle

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 3, 2007

BRANDON - The Entertainment Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds will sparkle with crystals, sterling, tanzanite and agate at the Tampa Bay Mineral & Science Club's 48th extravaganza.

About 40 vendors will be hawking everything from fossils to fine jewelry during the Gem and Mineral Show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 27 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 28.

Hobbyists can purchase slabs of jasper and agate that can be cut and polished. Jewelry makers can purchase supplies for their craft or attend classes to learn new techniques.

Children can dig through a sand pit for fossils and rocks.

Proceeds from the show will keep club's doors open and its equipment up-to-date, said club President Jan Hendershot. The show also is the single event that tends to draw new members to the club.

Visitors to the show can view jewelry and lapidary work done at the club and take classes taught by instructors who teach at the clubhouse.

There also will be a silent auction and games. A drawing will offer prizes such as a rare Tampa Bay fossilized coral, a crystal geode, hand wire-wrapped jewelry or a replica of a prehistoric shark's tooth.

The grownups are more likely to enjoy the polished rocks and jewelry.

Nina Megginson will teach a process that uses pure silver powder mixed with an organic paper pulp to create a precious metal clay that can be cut out, stamped, molded or pressed from a syringe to create jewelry. Once it is fired, the jewelry is 99.9 percent pure silver, she said.

Mary Liewert will teach beginner and advanced wire wrapping, which involves hand-wrapping each piece and inserting beads, stones or glass to create one-of-a-kind pieces. She also will be selling some of her work.

'Each student will get a complete kit for their project and instruction,' Liewert said. Different pieces take varying periods of time to finish, she said. The longtime teacher said a bracelet she was wearing took her about 3 1/2 hours to create. 'Earrings are harder because good earrings are a mirror image of each other,' she said.

Hendershot plans to sell some of her creations, crafted from all-natural materials.

Her pieces run the gamut from heavy turquoise and red coral necklaces to delicate pearls.

'I have regular customers that come to me each year at the show,' Hendershot said. She said she tries to keep in mind the size and bulk of jewelry her customers prefer. 'I also try to keep versatility in mind,' making jewelry that can be worn with a silk cocktail dress and a pair of jeans and a silk top, she said.

The gem and mineral show also will include exhibits of work done by club members and a father-and-son team from South Africa who will demonstrate diamond cutting.

IF YOU GO

•To get to the Entertainment Hall, enter the Florida State Fairgrounds from the U.S. 301 entrance.

•Gate fee is $5 for adults and $3 for students. Children younger than 5 enter for free. Parking costs $5.

•Anyone wishing to sign up for classes must do so in advance by contacting Jan Hendershot at (813) 671-9556. The deadline for sign-ups is Monday. Class fees will include the parking fee and entry into the show, plus class supplies and instruction.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or at yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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