June Meeting

Hello SJVLS Members!

The cookies are returning… 🍪✨

Join us for the return of one of our sweetest traditions — the SJVLS Annual Cookie Contest!

Bring your favorite homemade cookies and prepare for an evening filled with sweet treats, sparkling stones, laughter, and friendly competition.

📅 Monday, June 8th
⏰ Meeting starts at 6:30 PM
📍 2101 Ridge Rd
Bakersfield, CA 93305

🍪 COOKIE CONTEST DETAILS 🍪

There will be:
🏆 1st Place Ribbon
🏆 2nd Place Ribbon
🏆 3rd Place Ribbon
🎁 Plus special prizes!

Please remember to bring a small label or marker indicating whether your cookies contain nuts or other common allergens for the safety and comfort of all attendees.

✨ BRING-A-FRIEND CHALLENGE ✨

We’re encouraging members to bring a guest!

Anyone who brings a friend will be entered into a special raffle for a prize. All we ask is that you let us know ahead of time if you plan to bring a guest so we can better anticipate attendance.

Each guest will receive:
🎁 An honorary SJVLS grab bag
🎟 Entry into a special guest raffle

We typically have around 30 members in attendance, so this is a wonderful opportunity to introduce friends and family to the world of lapidary, rockhounding, and our amazing community.

These Cookies Rock! 🍪💎

We can’t wait to see everyone there!

— San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society

Hello SJVLS Members!

FREE ROCKS ALERT! 🪨✨

We have a wonderful opportunity to help clear out material from Liz’s mom’s property — and in return, the rocks are FREE for the taking!

There are approximately a dozen buckets of assorted rough rock material available, including:

• Mojave Desert Jasper
• Material from San Simeon
• Mixed lapidary rough and decorative stones
• And more surprises throughout the collection!

Please note:
The original buckets are collapsing with age, so you MUST bring your own buckets, boxes, or containers to transport material.

These rocks are perfect for:
• Slabbing
• Cabbing
• Tumbling
• Jewelry projects
• Rock gardens & landscaping décor
• General collecting and experimentation

Liz plans to be available during several time intervals this Saturday and Sunday for members who would like to come by and collect material.

To coordinate a pickup time, please contact:

Liz
(661) 205-9266

Pickup Location:
3325 Century Drive
Bakersfield, CA 93306

This is a great opportunity to rescue some beautiful material while helping out at the same time. First come, first served — so don’t wait too long!

This morning, April 19th 2026 from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM, members of the San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society gathered for a hands-on workshop focused on one of the most rewarding skills in the craft—cutting and shaping stone into cabochons.

Participants learned the fundamentals of slab selection, grinding, shaping, and polishing, transforming raw material into smooth, finished stones ready for setting or display. These sessions are part of our ongoing commitment to sharing knowledge, building skills, and keeping the art of lapidary alive within our community.

There’s nothing quite like the moment a stone begins to reveal its hidden beauty—and today was full of those moments.
Interested in joining us next time?

Become a member or reach out to learn more about upcoming workshops and events.
👉 Join us at SJVLS.CLUB
👉 Or contact us directly to get involved

There’s something special about spring—the energy, the color, the sense of renewal—and this weekend, we’re bringing that spirit to life at Garden Fest at Bakersfield College.

The San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society will be on-site with a vibrant booth full of hand-selected minerals, polished spheres, unique specimens, and handcrafted pieces that reflect the beauty of the earth and the passion of our members. Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a curious beginner, or simply looking for something beautiful to take home, we’ve created a space for you to explore and connect.

Garden Fest is more than just an event—it’s a gathering of community, creativity, and shared appreciation for the natural world. It’s a chance to slow down, ask questions, discover something new, and maybe even find that one piece that speaks directly to you.

Our society is built on learning, sharing, and celebrating the art of lapidary—and events like this are where that mission truly comes alive.

So come find us, say hello, and spend a little time surrounded by stones, stories, and good company.

We’ll see you at Garden Fest 🌿💎

Hello SJVLS Friends,

Spring is in the air, and we’re looking forward to gathering once again for our monthly meeting this Monday!

🕕 6:00 PM
📍 East Bakersfield Veterans Hall
2101 Ridge Rd, Bakersfield, CA 93305

This month’s theme is:

🌿 Spring Fling Salad Bar 🥗

Join us for an evening of good food, great company, and all the things that make SJVLS special — fun, entertainment, education, and a shared passion for all things rock and lapidary.

Feel free to bring a salad, topping, or side if you’d like to contribute — or simply come as you are and enjoy.

As always, we can’t wait to see familiar faces and welcome new ones into the fold.