What it is

Cabochons: An Introduction to Lapidary is a two-day beginner lapidary class at Milan Village Arts School (MVAS) in Milan, Minnesota. The Silver & Jewelry page says students “learn how to cut and polish cabochon stones that can be used to make functional pieces of jewelry such as earrings, pendants, bracelets, or rings.” The first part of class introduces the equipment and techniques for an oval cabochon; the second part is open for students to pursue their own interests and refine skills.

MVAS’s About page says the school was founded in 1988, modeled after rural Norwegian folk schools, and that its mission is “to engage people in the practice of traditional, contemporary and folk arts.” Classes meet in a restored 1915 country schoolhouse in Milan.

Who it’s for

Beginners 16 and older in western Minnesota (and visitors willing to travel) who want a short, hands-on introduction to cutting and polishing a cabochon without buying a machine first. It also suits jewelers who want finished cabs for silver work offered in the school’s other jewelry classes.

Why it’s listed

It is a first-party folk-school class with printed 2027 dates, tuition, age minimum, a named instructor, supply policy and an open registration path on the school’s own site. The listing covers this lapidary class, not the whole arts school. It is Lapidary Plaza’s first Milan, Minnesota workshop (the state already has makerspace workshops in other cities).

Official URL

https://milanvillageartsschool.org/silver-jewelry/

Calendar: https://milanvillageartsschool.org/calendar/
Classes overview: https://milanvillageartsschool.org/classes/
Register: https://milanvillageartsschool.org/register/
Location: https://milanvillageartsschool.org/location/
About: https://milanvillageartsschool.org/about/
Contact: https://milanvillageartsschool.org/contact/
Home: https://milanvillageartsschool.org/

(All checked 2026-11-05 and returned HTTP 200 to curl with a Chrome user agent.)

Location

Milan Village Arts School, Milan, Minnesota 56262. The Location page places Milan at the junction of MN Highways 7/59 and 40 in Chippewa County, western Minnesota. Contact lists mail as PO Box 230, Milan, MN 56262, phone 320-734-4807, and email [email protected] (Director Ron Porep). The public pages do not print a street number for the schoolhouse.

This is a workshop (a folk-school class). It is not a club and does not sell lapidary equipment.

Notes

Dated sessions (Silver & Jewelry page, check date): Saturday, February 13, 2027 and Sunday, February 14, 2027, each 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration deadline January 23, 2027.
Tuition: member $95, non-member $110.
Instructor: Kyle Anderson.
Age / level: Beginner and above; minimum age 16.
Supplies: “Everything is supplied by the instructor.” The instructor provides a selection of stones for the original cabochon; additional stones for individual projects are available for purchase at about $10–$100.
Registration: 2027 registration began Friday, October 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Online and mail registration are described on the Register page. Classes may be canceled if minimums are not reached; students canceling before the deadline get a refund less a $20 fee.
Membership: members get a $15 discount on most classes (the cabochon tuition already shows the member rate). Memberships are annual from the date of receipt.
Small source note: the public Contact page prints a PO Box, not a street address for the schoolhouse. Confirm the classroom building with the school when registering.
Not affiliated with Lapidary Plaza. Nothing was bought, and no registration, email or form was used.

FAQ

Q: Where is the Milan Village Arts School cabochon class held?
A: At Milan Village Arts School in Milan, Minnesota. Mail and phone contact are PO Box 230, Milan, MN 56262, and 320-734-4807.

Q: When is the class?
A: Saturday and Sunday, February 13–14, 2027, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Registration deadline January 23, 2027.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: $95 for members or $110 for non-members. Stones for the first cabochon are included; extra stones for personal projects are sold separately.

Q: Do I need experience or my own machine?
A: No. It is listed for beginners and above, and the instructor supplies equipment and stones for the original cabochon.

Q: What is the age minimum?
A: 16.

Q: Is this a club meeting?
A: No. It is a dated folk-school workshop class open for public registration through MVAS.