Month: September 2021

Work In Progress – Diese Ist (Mein) Opa

September 25, 2021September 25, 2021Jewel EnvyGeneral

By Alex Kinsley Vey

Recently I’ve been invited to participate in an exhibition with the theme and title Memento Mori. The usual tropes are skulls, hair, references to time, but I decided to respond to this theme in a less direct way.

My Opa (Grandpa in German) was unfortunately a man I never got to know well while he was alive. He passed away in 2012, and suffered a stroke shortly after I was born which made it incredibly difficult for us to communicate. As I’ve gotten older I’ve regretted that we were never able to talk much.

Well after his passing I began to learn more and more about the man he was, the things he liked and disliked, and trials and tribulations both during and after the Second World War.

Memento Mori made me think of my Opa, all the black and white pictures of him in his youth, frozen in time, and how eventually that will be me, only surviving through memory and photography.

Oscar Vey, early 1990’s
*And yours truly rocking the bowl-cut*

I decided to memorialize him and create work that acts as a reminder that when we pass all that is left are pictures and memories. By taking these images of him, translating them into a solid wearable form, I hope to remember his life, and process my own eventual death.

I’ve begun by creating paper mockups glued to left over steel sheet. This allows me to play with size, see how they interact with the body when worn, and play around in Photoshop with different colours or oxides.

This series of work is still very much in progress, but I thought it would be fun to share! The next step will be to create the final etchings on steel. Decide on a framing system for the brooch findings. And to finalize how I will treat the steel once it’s been etched.

Hoard Jewels, Lucifleurr and Tess – One and the same!

September 24, 2021September 24, 2021Jewel EnvyGeneral

Hello! I am Tess, and I can’t wait to make your acquaintance!

I am the creator of Hoard Jewels, a jewellery line that focuses on the macabre beauty of myths and legends, with an emphasis on balancing the light with the dark.
Check out the instagram for some sneak peeks on the new line!

On top of that, three days I week I log into Twitch.tv and livestream my goldsmithing experience. What happens on these streams? Viewers have the chance to experience the entire jewellery making process from the design stage, through wax carving, casting and ending with a finished product. Viewers have the opportunity to ask questions about the process, and learn about the different materials used. Viewers range from at-home goldsmiths to crafting moms with a hint of curiosity about the wonderful world of goldsmithing.
Check out the page for more information!

I’m Aurora, it’s nice to meet you…

September 21, 2021September 21, 2021Jewel EnvyGeneral

I am really excited to have started out at Jewel Envy this September. I’ve been working as a goldsmith since 2008 and it feels like a wonderful progression in my career to be working around so many vibrant and talented goldsmiths. I am nothing if not eclectic, working with metal of course, but also in leather and fabric to create jewellery, belts and costumes for historical reenactors.

I also love working with clients to make their dreams a reality. If you have an old piece of jewellery sitting around that needs a revamp, or some gems that you haven’t quite figured out a plan for, I am your gal.

A custom project made with a smoky quartz provided by the client.

I am looking forward to see what the future brings and getting to know the Jewel Envy client community better. I will be here most Tuesdays and Wednesdays if you ever want to swing by and say hello!

You can follow me on Instagram and Facebook @handmaderevolution_TO and to see my historical antics you can check out my tiktok @captainswordface

Custom rings are fun!

September 19, 2021September 19, 2021GillianGeneral

Check out this super special commission recently completed by House of Cassady!

14 kt palladium white gold, with a 14 kt yellow gold inlay, and a round, bezel-set deep green tourmaline.

We love commissions, if you’re looking for a genuinely unique ring for that special occasion, we’re the place for you! We can design for just about any budget, and we love being part of that special event in your life. Quotations are free.

Come in and try on!

September 18, 2021September 18, 2021Jewel EnvyGeneral

Have it your way…

September 12, 2021September 18, 2021Jewel EnvyGeneral

I love watching custom design reality shows. I like watching the team pull various talents together, the resourcefulness, and I like to watch an idea become reality. But, I really, really, like the look into what it’s like to pull thoughts from a client’s mind, to shape those thoughts with hints of what they enjoy, to fuse everything with what will actually work, and, hopefully, create something fantastic. This is really what custom is supposed to be about – adventure. Like most adventures you embark on with a stranger, the first custom project with a new client or artist is exciting, full of possibilities and hidden expectations.

Once we are in general agreement about a concept, and I have an idea of the preferred budget, it’s time to lay out some sketches for approval. These are like mapped out suggestions for where we should go, and what we should do. The thing to remember here, is that the budget and preferred timeline are like mileage. You can go clear across Canada with enough time and money, but if it needs to be done quickly and you only have so much gas, you may have to adjust your plans to a really fun day trip.

When the design is set and the deposit has been paid, it’s time to relax. I mean it, relax! Especially if you are the client. Designers/Makers may check in if an issue pops up, or an opportunity to improve the piece, but generally, this is a waiting game until the piece get its finishing touches.

Eventually, we get to the big reveal – the breathtaking view. It is my aim for you to be blown away, where you cannot wait to tell the story of your wonderful journey to your beautiful piece. That is the goal of any custom goldsmith anywhere.

What would you like to have made?