Month: November 2016

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Happy Sunday, readers!
Jewel Envy is celebrating our tenth anniversary this year and
marking four years in our lovely studio/classroom/retail space on 151 Marion
Street.  It’s taken a lot of work to get
here—not only tenacity, hard labour (see the crazy pictures of our many
renovations below) but the dedication of two very smart and talented women,
Gillian Batcher, owner, and goldsmith and Alexis Kostuk, manager and
goldsmith.  Everyday when we walk into
the big blue house—which is not only a retail space, classroom and working
studio but also a home—we can see evidence of Jewel Envy’s dynamic duo.

Most
often we will see Alexis behind the counter talking to customers, at her bench
making incredible art jewellery ( find her at Glacialegoldsmith.com) or training her formidable problem-solving
skills to make sure the space runs smoothly for all of us.  Thank you so much Alexis for making the space
a great place to grow, for giving Jewel Envy the best you have, for your
uproarious laugh that keeps us going, and for being wonderful YOU!


In Gillian words, when she started the renovations of the
Blue House “Alexis was there to help, as she always is, every step of the way.
I couldn’t ask for a better manager or friend! “
Alexis have been working with Gillian at Jewel Envy for many
years, she knows the business better than any one, she loves what she does, and
she is a big part of this ten years that we are celebrating next Friday!
Many thanks Alexis for making Jewel Envy a great place , for
given Gillian the best you have, just for been YOU!

Lovely pic of Alexis and Gillian more than three year ago at
the renovation site.



Congratulations to Jewel Envy and to our incredible team! in these
tenth anniversary.

Helena




Trip to Stars Hollow

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Last night I took a trip back to Stars Hollow. Thanks to Netflix’s revival of the show Gilmore Girls. I had intended to try and stretch out my viewing experience over four days, but that’s not what ended up happening. Oh man. Those four words.

I think what struck and will stay with me is each Gilmore Girl’s dealing with the change in life perspective that goes along with grieving the loss of a close loved one. Each character struggles in their own way even if it wasn’t on the surface all along. It is a beautiful evaluation of loss and tribute to Edward Herrmann who played Richard Gilmore.

I still have Gilmore Girls on the brain so today while scoping through inventory I couldn’t help but think about what I would choose as gifts for each of them. And I gotta say, I am sentimental for the type of ending the revival of Gilmore Girls
gave me. I love to be left questioning things afterwards. -Alexis

For all those crazy dreams Lorelai keeps having I would give her Pash Jewellery’s Dream Catcher Necklace. 

Emily needs some modern pearls from Hyewon Jang – she did after all get herself a pair of Keds!

For Rory. Well, I couldn’t make up my mind.
BONUS! Luke Diner Pin, click here!

   

2016 is our 10th Year in Business!

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2016 is quite a milestone for Jewel Envy and its crew of talented goldsmiths. To celebrate we are going to have monthly specials for the 10 months leading up to the anniversary in December. Each special will relate to a milestone Jewel Envy achieved in that year of business as a thank you to our wonderful customers for your support and encouragement. Check this blog and our monthly email to find out what we have in store for you month by month. This event kicks off on March 1st so be sure to let us thank you in person in the store!


 
March 2016 Special:

You might think it’s no big deal signing a lease but I have to tell you it is! Signing that contract and committing to a space and business was a huge milestone! In honor of the act of signing the lease that set the stage for Jewel Envy as you know it today we had these adorable 10 Year Anniversary pens made up to include with all of your *purchases made in March 2016.

April 2016 Special:

In our second year of business we made a conscious effort to expand our network in the creative and business world by forming partnerships with other small businesses and participating in larger cultural events. To help mark this we are partnering with our favourite cafe on Roncesvalles, the 7th Sister, and offering our customers a free small coffee with the purchase of jewellery or classes this month. With your purchase you will receive a ticket that can only be redeemed in the month of April. If you register for a class online or over the phone don’t worry we will put the ticket with your class registration form and give it to you when you come in for the class.

May 2016 Special:

In our third year of business we made some big studio changes as Jewel Envy moved from a partnership to a sole proprietorship. With this shift we added two more benches and changed the format for our classes. Both of these changes meant an immediate increase in interest in the space and our classes went from running occasionally to running consistently. To thank you, our dedicated participants, we will be doing a draw for a free 1 day class. All you have to do is come into the studio this month and fill out a ballot to be entered. No need to purchase anything and everyone who is 16 and over that comes in is welcome to be part of the draw!



June 2016 Special:

In our fourth year of business we reached a full studio with a waiting list for new goldsmiths to join. This led to increased exposure for the store and we started doing a lot more custom work because of it. As a thank you this month we will be giving away a free package of earring backs with any purchase from the store. We care about protecting your precious collections!

July 2016 Special:

Our July Promotion relates to our 5th year of business when we really
expanded our repair services and offered some special events were we
would complete repairs within the hour on specified days. To honour this
milestone we want to help protect your jewellery with special 3M anti
tarnish strips. Drop in this month and receive a package with any
purchase from the store, repairs, or jewellery classes. 

August 2016 Special:

Our August Promotion relates to our sixth year in business when we reached our capacity for jewellers and classes in the space so we started to consider expansion. After many months of location scouting, 151 Marion Street was found, purchased, and the renovations began. Our thank you this month is a free key-chain with any purchase from the store, symbolizing the keys to the new space and the next adventure. Amazingly enough we are finding ourselves in the same place once again where all of our benches are full and we have a waiting list for new members to join as well as classes running at full capacity; only this time we are staying put in our forever home on Roncy!



September 2016 Special:

In our seventh year in business we immersed ourselves in local community
events such as the Polish Festival, school tours and locally curated Art
Walks. As a thank you this month we will be upgrading our Polish
Festival event held at Jewel Envy. This means we will cast your carved pieces in sterling silver and finish them for you! In previous years casting in sterling silver was only available if you took the class the next weekend.



October 2016 Special: 

In our eighth year in business we expanded our repair services and as a result our repairs usually take 1 to 3 weeks to complete. As a thank you this month we will offer 1 hour repairs on Sundays. Drop your piece off, go for a stroll and enjoy the crisp air, come back in one hour to pick up your restored jewellery.

*Please note, not all repairs can be completed in 1 hour but we will do our best!

November 2016 Special:

In our ninth year of business we expanded and upgraded some of our older pieces of equipment...again! As a thank you this month we will offer 1 free ultrasonic cleaning of a piece of jewellery while you wait. Just let let us know you want to take advantage of this offer when you come in and we’ll be cleaning while you browse!

December 6th, 2016 marks our 10 year anniversary! December 2016 Special:

Our specials culminate this month with our anniversary party! This is an RSVP event. The first 50 people that arrive will get swag bags of amazing handmade things and promotional products. There will be fun surprises during the event.

This is also the month we ask you to give back. If you have work appropriate jewellery hanging around that you no longer wear donate it to Dress for Success Toronto by dropping it off to Jewel Envy anytime until December 24th. We will clean and fix all donated jewellery before dropping it off in January.

Thank you for supporting us!

*while supplies last

Countdown to our Holiday Party

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Can you feel it?!  There’s party in the air!!  The countdown is on here at Jewel Envy: 7 dys until our Holiday Party!!!

And you know what that means, the SWAG BAGS are lined up and waiting of our FIRST 50 GUESTS to take home some pretty special loot. There’s jewellery, coupons, art work, and much more to be given away.

You know the saying “it takes a village, to raise a child?” Well it takes a village to throw a party.  We have been very lucky to have many members of our community donate to our swag bags. One of our special contributors is a new retail store in Roncesvalles Village: Earlybird and Worm.

Early bird and Worm are a kids’ concept shop–art +fashion+function at 169 Roncesvalles.  We thank them for their generous donation to our swag bags.

Check out their instagram account @earlybirdandworm to get clues to what our first 50 party guests may find in their swag bags!

Happy Movember!

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It’s that time of year again – Movember! To be more specific, we’re about two-thirds of the way through that time of year. I’m sure you’ve noticed the normally-clean-shaven-but-currently-mustachioed men, sporting the extra facial hair in support of prostate cancer research, but perhaps you haven’t seen too many ladies with staches.

Well this is Amanda Henderson. She has an Etsy shop called Sassy Septum Rings, which specializes in mustachioed septum rings for those who are follically challenged, but still want to show their support. She donates a percentage of every purchase, so go ahead and support a fantastic cause!
Here is the link:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SassySeptumRings

  Amanda also does custom work through the studio, so if you have a specific mustache in mind, get in touch with us and we can help make it happen!

Go for the ‘mo!

Gearing up for December 2nd!

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Happy Saturday Readers!

I have spent the last couple weeks collecting items for our event swag bags and raffle packages (with all proceeds going to Dress for Success Toronto).

We’re trying promote all of the local businesses that are supporting our event. Today I want to thank the Village Juicery and Imelda for their for their donations to one of our raffle packages.

The Village Juicery is the first certified organic juicery and if you didn’t know everything is made fresh daily. They believe in keeping things local from the produce they use to the locations they serve. Actual nutritionists and chefs develop their products to ensure both quality and taste!

Now that we have talked about body health lets talk about psychological health in form of some good shoe therapy. On the day we had our opening party on Roncy four years ago I ran out around 1pm with the knowledge that I had a fantastic dress to wear for the night but no shoes. Well I had spotted Imelda in the weeks leading up to the party but with the haze of renovations had neglected to go in. I was hooked from that first step into the store and was able to immediately narrow in on the perfect pair of shoes for my party. Imelda is always there for me when I need some shoe therapy and if you win the raffle package with the gift certificate from the store, they can be there for you as well!

The Roncy local businesses have been so generous and we are blessed to be part of this wonderful community.

Stay tuned for more notes on our sponsors!

Gillian

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Hello Sunday readers,



I would like to
highlight today the amazing work of Sasha Oda of ARCHERADE one of the
goldsmiths in the studio. Her work  is bold and fearless and her designs are fresh
and young. Sasha works with Sterlium, Bronze and Gold.

One of her pieces that speak volumes of her design sense are
these three rings.

Each ring has a strong shape that
really accentuates the attention to detail. They are heavy, but very comfortable
on the hand.  Sasha does custom work, so
she can make one just for you, too!




Sasha tremendous
talent and dedication can be appreciated in this lovely necklace in Sterlium
with a drop a lapis lazuli in an intense blue.

Be sure to come and
check out these and other fabulous pieces by Sasha this Christmas season.

Have a great day!


Helena


Strange November

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It’s a strange November this year. I can’t recall a year where by this point it hasn’t snowed even once. Yet here we are mid way through the month and not a flake has stuck to the ground. I hear people starting to talk about the holidays and feel like they can’t be around the corner yet the calendar tells me they are!

What’s bringing the time of year into focus is that our customers have started to ask about holiday orders and our timeline to make custom work. Our usual timing is 4-6 weeks but we’ll rush orders at this time of year as we approach gift giving deadlines.The earlier you come, the happier we will be…hint hint ;o)

In past years I have worked Christmas Eve to have something special ready for a last minute shopper. But alas those crazy work nights are over for me as it will be the first Christmas/Hanukkah with my little one this year and I plan to spend it with my family.

Maybe next week we’ll have a blanket of snow but for now I’m still enjoying the last hint of fall before the craziness of the holidays can’t be pushed out of mind. I’m still enjoying the distraction of leaves falling and seeing the wonder in my babies eyes as we watch them come down around us.

Gillian

SPOTLIGHT ON…. ALEXIS KOSTUK!!!!!

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Happy weekend everybody!
It’s a beautiful day – the sun is shining and there is still some warmth in the air. Basically, a perfect day to come inside and try on some jewellery, haha! But actually it is…
You all know Alexis, studio manager extraordinaire, and I’m sure you’ve seen her work before. I just thought I would gather some of my favourite pieces that she has here on display. There is quite a wide range of techniques that she uses to create her collections – she really is an artiste:)

 
The ‘Whoops’ pendant is enamel, set in a sterling heart. 
The gemstone stud earrings, and the oval floral pin, are also enamel.
The shark pendant is carved and cast in sterling, with green tourmaline eyes.
The two wedding bands are sterling silver, with nickel silver polka dot inlay for contrast.
The three bands in front are also part of the polka dot collection, also with nickel silver polka dots but with gemstones for added colour. Choose between blue tourmalines, black spinel, or green tsavorites.
The beaded tassel pendant has a periwinkle blue enamel centre, with a small oval onyx set above it.
The initial pendant (which can be customized in a variety of styles, for every letter of the alphabet) is carved by hand and cast in sterling silver.
Stop by today and try something on! We’re open until 6pm this evening, see you soon!
 
 
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 Dear Readers,

In 2008, David Segal and his cousin Herschel Segal founded DavidsTea
in Montreal, and opened its first store on Queen Street in Toronto the
same year,[1] followed by its first Montreal store in 2009.[2] In 2010
it had stores located across Canada, opening its 50th store in Waterloo,
Ontario in 2011. In November that same year it opened its first store
outside of Canada in New York. Fed by a growing tea boutique
industry,[3] by 2012 it had expanded to more than 75 stores across
Canada and the United States. Since its inception, DavidsTea offers over
150 varieties of teas, numerous tea accessories, and seasonal offerings

We are very honored and grateful with David’s Tea on Roncesvalles
for their support in our ten anniversary party this December. We will
all be enjoying their variety of flavors and the opportunity to share
our party time with one true Canadian company.

Have a nice day.

Helena



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