Engraving Agate

One of Ruth's larger agates

Ruth Venner lives on Macleay Island in Moreton Bay, and is an artist and calligrapher. You might be interested to know that she has been engraving agates for some 20 years, finding them by visiting lapidary shows, alternative crystal shops and even car boot sales. She kindly agreed to share the process with us. (Thank you Ruth.)

Some of Ruth's tools

The tools she uses are diamond burs in a flex drive. For lettering, a 1mm round and 10mm long bur is used, this gets shorter as the tip is has to be kept flat. She designs the lettering to suit the stone shape and size, and writes on it in gouache.

An agate being processed

This one has been written on in gouache and is waiting to be engraved. If the surface is washed thinly first with gouache the pen should write on the surface. The centre of the letter forms are then engraved, the gouache is then carefully polished off before slowing engraving away the rest of the letter forms, bit by bit. Leave the thins as fine as possible, occasionally using a ball bur for the thickest areas.

One of Ruth's medium sized projects.

A smaller agate.

This is a special piece Ruth sent to Herman Zapf, 95mm x 75mm.

If you want to see more of Ruth's tools please visit here.

Extraordinary meeting 25.8.12. 

Serious, exciting business is being considered by your dedicated committee people. Here they are from left to right - Tom partly obscured, Gill's back, Jan, Mary, Roselda has the floor, Rose partly obscured, Glenice reaching down and Hillary, the candid shooter out of shot.

We are on the move and have found a new venue for our monthly meetings and workshops. Details need to be formalised before we start there. It is quite central in Windmill Road, Epsom and we will share it with the Embroiderer's Guild. Watch this space and you will be advised when it starts. To coincide with this, a new programme will be started and we would like some feedback from members as to what you would like to see us focus on. Please, a moment of your time to take our poll in the right hand column.

We have reconsidered the Lake House, Victorian Display, mooted for nearer Christmas, and have decided not to participate with them this year. 

Dale our President is now on sick leave and Tom is holding the position in  the meantime. Get well soon Dale.