Here at Jewel Envy we are very excited about Halloween and fall! Today we are looking at a bunch of pieces that remind us of this spooky season!
Copper and orange cz earrings by Anna Bell Woodbury
Palladium white gold and purple sapphire Allium ring by Alexis Kostuk.
Fused sterling bands by Jamie Rosario
Gold wire and smoky quartz earrings by Pash Jewellery Design
It is always exciting to convert heirlooms into pieces that can be worn and shared with different generations of family members and I recently got the chance to turn these cufflinks into earrings. It was an exciting exchange talking over the details and going over whether each shape should be dangling earrings or studs and what metal to use for the findings. I was especially excited to a fourth pair using the fabulous backing from the square shape that the customer had not considered – turning the pointed rectangular shapes into studs (these are my favourite!) –Alexis
Check out the transformation:
Mokume Gane is a Japanese metal crafting technique where there is a layering of different-colored metals and in the end, you get beautiful wood grain patterns.
This technique was developed approximately 400 years ago in the Japanese Edo period.
The name Mokume Gane resembles rosewood grain.
Some of our goldsmiths here make Mokume Gane jewellery.
“Sapphire, then opal” is something many jewellers say halfway through September. In four weeks, we will say “Opal, then topaz”. It is the cycle of birthstones, and right now, we are in sapphire, aka September.
Centuries ago, gemstones were mostly identified by colour. Blue was sapphire, Red was ruby, Green was emerald, etc. Sapphires came in a variety of blue hues, and still do. Mined sapphires may exhibit telltale characteristics of their country of origin. Lab grown sapphire colours will reflect the hues most in demand.
One of North America’s claim to fame are Montana sapphires, which are unique upon first glance.
As technology became more sophisticated, we learned that all blue stones are not sapphires, and that sapphires come in many, many different colours.
Sapphire is always a favourite. If you’ve been by the studio, you have probably met our greeter pup, named Sapphire. We have many sapphires in stock, but none are more precious than her.
Drop by for a visit soon!
Now that the weather is getting cooler are you thinking of taking a fall class? We have a few 1 day workshops coming up in September and October.
If you’d like to take a more in depth class, take a look at our Introductory Fabrication 8 week course. Starting on October 20.
Visit the Take a Class menu on our Jewel Envy website to see what we are offering between now and the end of the year.
This September on Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st our goldsmiths Jamie and Eunice will be selling jewellery in Trinity Bellwoods Park for the annual Queen West Art Crawl. Come on by and have a look at their booths: 327 and 330. Markets such as these are a great way to connect with artists and learn more about their practice, their inspiration, and how their jewellery is made.
Sterling silver, garnet.
Jewellery by Jamie Rosario.
Sterling silver, opal.
Jewellery by Eunice L. Designs.
Is it worth it to make chain by hand? Depends on the design! Sometimes goldsmiths make chain to specific measurements and shapes to suit their design, and sometimes pre-made chain is bought to complete a necklace. Chain is not only limited to circular links; it can be made of a combination of long and circular links, it can be made from lengths of wire, or it can be made of modular units of the same design repeated over and over and linked together. Our goldsmiths here at Jewel Envy make all sorts of chains! See pictures below of our wide variety of handmade chain.
Mixed link and Byzantine chains by Winfield Design.
Square chain necklace by Pash Jewellery Design.
Chain bracelets and earrings by Jamie Rosario.
Gold and silver chain bracelet and necklace by Eunice Lin.
Mixed link chain necklace featuring felted details by House of Cassady.
MinSeo is an emerging artist who believes jewellery can be more than decoration- it can carry stories. Her practice transforms cherished memories into wearable art, blending colour, texture, and collected objects into pieces that feel both personal and universal. Rooted in Material Art and Design at OCAD University, she combines centuries-old Korean inlay techniques with modern tools like 3D scanning and digital modeling. Her jewellery arts earned a recognition by receiving Metal Award at OCAD University, one of the finalist of L.A. Pai Gallery Jewellery Competition, and Craft Ontario Award.
One of her recent collection Collecting Times reflects on the human habit of gathering keepsakes- shells, letter, and small treasures that become memory capsules. Through intricate rotating-lock clasps, these pieces symbolize reunion, separation, and the ties that hold our lives together. With each work, MinSeo invites us to see jewellery not only as adornment, but as a vessel for memory and identity.
Collecting Times Booklet created by MinSeo Whee
To explore more about Collecting Times, please visit the link above!
Ontario is known for its many craft shows all over, featuring many talented artists.
Starting off with the end of August from the 30th to 31st of August there is the Kawartha Arts Festival in Fenelon Falls. Their tagline reads: Art in the country. It was first held in 1989 with a small group of artists. It is located in the Fenelon Falls fairground.
Next up in September there is the Cabbage Town Arts and Craft show happening after Labour Day weekend. It will be located in Riverdale Park West. It was founded in 1988.
Then on September 20th and 21st, there are two shows happening simultaneously in different parts of the city. Queen West Art Crawl at Trinity Bellwoods then DECA (Danforth East Arts Fair) happening in East Lynn Park.
October 4th and 5th in Meaford by the Blue Mountains is the Apple Harvest Craft Show.
October 23rd to 26th is the Signatures Art and Craft Show in Ottawa and Hand of Man in Peterborough in the Morrow building.
Thanks for reading!
EL
As classes start all over the country in September, we here at Jewel Envy are also preparing to welcome sparkly new students into our Fabrication classes for September and October.
Whether you are curious, committed, or looking to keep busy in a creative way, we have the class for you.
Fabrication is the method of making jewellery by putting together parts, in this case, by hand. Our fabrication classes are designed to teach you the skills to not only make an assigned project, but make something from your own imagination. They are the skills of goldsmiths, and you can take them as far as you are willing to go.
In our Introductory Fabrication class, starting Sept 17th and going every Wednesday for 8 weeks, we teach sawing, piercing, filing, soldering, riveting, texturing techniques, and how to make simple findings.
Take a look at what some of our Intro students do with those skills in class with a bit of Stirling silver, copper, and brass:
For students who have already finished our Intro course, Intermediate Fabrication class starting in October to build on those skills, while exploring new skills like setting. We also introduce forming techniques using dapping blocks and the hydraulic press.
Make sure you are on our newsletter list to receive news about upcoming classes, and check our website for class schedules and registration.
