Activity Time

Hello Shining SJVLS Members,

Have you ever admired those beautiful wire-wrapped Tree of Life creations and wondered how they're made?

On Saturday, July 25, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, you'll have the opportunity to learn this fun and versatile jewelry-making technique while helping the San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society prepare for the Kern County Fair!

During this hands-on workshop, members will learn how to:

Shape and form wire into a Tree of Life design
Incorporate natural stones and beads into their work
Develop techniques that can be applied to future jewelry and decorative projects
Create pieces suitable for gifts, home décor, ornaments, and craft fairs!

Best of all, every piece created during the workshop will help support our club's fair booth and contribute to future SJVLS programs, equipment, workshops, and activities.

Space is limited, and an RSVP is required to reserve your spot.

📅 Saturday, July 25
🕘 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Location details will be shared upon RSVP confirmation.

All materials will be provided. Members are welcome to bring their own favorite stones, beads, or jewelry tools (please label all personal tools).

Whether you're an experienced wire wrapper or have never picked up a pair of pliers, this workshop is designed to be approachable, rewarding, and a lot of fun. You'll leave with a new skill, new memories, and the satisfaction of knowing you've helped our club shine at one of our largest public events of the year.

Trees are a fitting symbol for our Society: deeply rooted, continually growing, and made stronger by every branch. We hope you'll join us as we gather to create something beautiful together.

Text me or email me to RSVP!

Warm regards,
Cristian Baltazar
President, San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society
(661) 472-4563

President.sjvls@gmail.com

 Hello Everyone,

Just a quick reminder that our July Field Trip to Jalama Beach is this Saturday, July 18! 

Bernie has already shared the departure details, but I wanted to take a moment to reiterate what a wonderful opportunity this is to spend time with fellow members and enjoy one of our favorite annual destinations.

If you've been thinking about joining us but are not yet a member, there's still time!

Membership is required to participate in SJVLS field trips and includes liability insurance coverage during club activities.

Membership dues are currently prorated for the remainder of the year:

Individual: $12

Household (2 people): $18

Additional household members: $9 each

I've attached a membership application for anyone interested in joining the Society. Simply bring your completed form and payment with you on Saturday, or reach out with any questions beforehand.

We will be departing from Harbor Freight (Rosedale Hwy) promptly at 7:00 AM, so please arrive a few minutes early.

We hope you'll join us for a day of ocean views, good company, and our tailgate potluck!

See you at the beach!

Warm regards,

Cristian Baltazar

President

San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society

Adventure awaits—don't forget your chair, a light jacket, and something tasty to share!

Bernie Bentsen (661) 496-7393 Field Trip Director

Just a reminder that our field trip to Crystal Tabby in Azusa is happening tomorrow!

This opportunity is open to all members who are currently active with their membership or are presently enrolled with SJVLS.

- Departure Time: 8:00 AM (Yes, be there no later than!) 

- Meeting Location: Harbor Freight

- Destination: Crystal Tabby Wholesale, Azusa, CA

Interested in ride sharing? Please reply to this message and let us know:

- If you have room available in your vehicle for additional passengers.

- If you are looking for a ride.

If you are riding with someone, please be courteous and plan to contribute toward gas expenses.

We're looking forward to a fun day of crystals, minerals, and great company. See you bright and early tomorrow morning!

Bernie will be leading the caravan tomorrow morning. 

Bernie Bentsen (661) 496-7393

I will be meeting you all there, but as always I am happy to answer any questions or be of any help that you may need. 

Cristian Baltazar (661) 472-4563

SEE YOU THERE! 

Yours Truly,

Cristian Baltazar 

President, SJVLS

Dear SJVLS Members and Curious Minds,

Summer is here, and it's time for one of our sweetest gatherings of the year!

Join us for our Ice Cream Social on Monday, July 13, at 6:30 PM at the East Bakersfield Veterans Hall (2101 Ridge Rd., Bakersfield, CA 93305).

Doors open at 6:00 PM, giving everyone time to visit, scoop up some ice cream, and settle in before our official meeting begins at 6:30 PM.

Ice cream will be provided! But we'd love for members to make it even more fun by bringing something unique to share if you'd like. Consider bringing:

A favorite or unusual ice cream flavor

Fun toppings (candies, cookies, syrups, fruit, nuts, etc.)

Root beer, cream soda, or other beverages for delicious ice cream floats

Any other sweet treat or creative addition you'd like everyone to enjoy!

There's no obligation—just come and enjoy the evening. Your company is the most important ingredient.

Rock Show & Tell

While you're gathering your ice cream inspiration, why not bring along a favorite rock, mineral, fossil, or piece of jewelry? Whether it's a prized specimen, a recent field trip find, or simply a stone with a great story behind it, we'd love to see it during an informal show-and-tell.

Don't Miss Our Silent Auction!

Be sure to bring a little extra spending money! We'll have our always-popular Silent Auction featuring slabs, mineral specimens, carvings, rough material, jewelry, lapidary treasures, and more. You never know what hidden gem you'll take home!

Cash and cards are both accepted.

Bring a Friend!

If you know someone who's curious about rocks, gems, lapidary, silversmithing, fossils, or jewelry making, invite them along! Our Ice Cream Social is one of the easiest and most welcoming meetings of the year for first-time guests, and we'd love to introduce them to everything SJVLS has to offer.

Come ready for cool treats, great conversations, plenty of laughter, and an evening spent with fellow rockhounds. Whether you're sharing a favorite specimen, discovering a treasure at the silent auction, or simply enjoying an ice cream float with friends, we know it'll be a night to remember.

We can't wait to see you there!

Warmly,

Cristian Baltazar

President

San Joaquin Valley Lapidary Society

"Good friends are like gemstones—each one unique, each one making the collection a little brighter." 

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.