Hey Folks,

We have a new couple, R.J. and Arlene Adams, interested in the Georgia Custom Knifemaker's Guild. They have hit the ground running with helping promote knifemaking and related crafts. Today Arlene told me of a great place to go if you want to learn to Scrimshaw. The school is the William Holland School of Lapidary Arts and it is located in Young Harris Georgia. Below is a link to the website.

The classes last for five days which is just enough time to get the basics down pat. But best of all is the cost. You get room and board (three delicious meals a day) for only $260 for double occupancy. The classes are free except for buying your supplies from the instructor. Below the link is a description of the class and what supplies you need to bring plus what the price is on those you pay the school for.

If you are interested in this don't delay because the class starts May 23. Applications can be filled out at the school's website.

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http://www.lapidaryschool.org/

Click on Updates and News to get to the class info and application.

SCRIMSHAW : This course teaches you to scrimshaw as you progress from practice pieces to finished gift quality projects. You will lean the various techniques of line-cut, stippling and tinting as you work at your own pace under the instructor's guidance to complete between two and four projects during the class. In addition, you will learn the history of scrimshaw, how to identify and work with different types of ivory, and how to make and maintain your tools. Drawing skills are not a prerequisite though patience is a plus. All ivory used in the class is either antique or fossilized, and is completely legal for use as scrimshaw.
Students will need to provide:

1. Two old t-shirts, diapers, or similar absorbent clean rags (towels are not recommended)

2. An optivisor type of headgear (suggested #5 or #7 magnification lens)

3. Small desk style gooseneck lamp w/bulb & a 12 ft extension cord

4. Roll of ½ inch masking tape

5. Bottle of rubber cement (the old fashioned rubber cement, not super glue or Elmer’s white paste)

All other needed tools, patterns and material will be provided by the instructor at an approximate cost of between $80 and $120 depending on cost of the working material at the time. Come learn its history and how to keep this traditional art-form alive, and have some fun while you are at it! Also, you will be surprised at how relaxing this is to do!!!

Rich Williams

Rich has been doing scrimshaw for approximately 20 years. He has taught at Greenfield Village of the Edison Institute in Michigan, and has had his work featured in the National Engravers Journal. He has taught, lectured and demonstrated Scrimshaw on local television, in schools and to various lapidary clubs in Michigan, California and Ohio. He enjoys helping keep this historical craft alive and teaching it to others. He also does woodwork and woodcarving, and likes to mix his working media in a final project.
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Thanks for the information Arlene!

I can vouch for the Wm. Holland School. Great place to learn lapidary, silver work, etc. The scrimshaw class must be a new one. Most of the instructors are top notch professionals in their fields still plying their trade or retired. What you can learn in a week is phenominal.
The meals and the rooms are good. You will meet alot of very interesting and talented people.
I'd try to make it a vacation trip, you can't stay anywhere esle with those accomodations for that price and learn that much, all the while enjoying yourself!
You definitely won't regret the experience.

Joan, do you think Rich and Arlene might be interested in coming up to Trackrock next weekend? If they live close we'd love to have them visit and talk scratching. I did a lot of scrimshaw backin the 60's and 70's. Still do some these days but only on request (no time issue).

Just got back in from NC.

If not them, then their son might make it. We talked Thursday night and she said her son was interested in learning blacksmithing. I invited them and their son. They seemed very interested. I am going to send them directions and your e-mail tonight so they can make their plans if at all possible for them to make it.