Although it is still slightly cold outside we are warming our spirits at the thought of budding leaves, plants, and vibrant colours!
Earrings by Eunice Lin
Ring & bracelet by Jerell Reichart – Urban Metal.
Necklace & Earrings by Jamie Rosario
Looking for a short and fun weekend activity with the chance to craft your own custom made jewellery? Our 1/2 day workshops might be a great match for you!
This Saturday at Jewel Envy we ran our 1/2 day cuff-making class where students learn to texture metal in a variety of techniques and apply them to their own hand-forged cuff. You can make your cuffs using a combination of silver, copper, and brass.
Today both of our students applied a ball pein hammered texture and used stamps for their cuff designs.
Snippets of the process:
Looking at metal selections and sample textures. Students have the chance to test out a few textures before deciding which one(s) to apply to their cuff!
Testing out different stamps.
Using the rolling mill to emboss textures and/or imagery. Textures can be imparted from several different materials such as textiles, metals, sandpaper, and even dried leaves! Your choice of texturing material is layered on top of your metal and are rolled through the mill together. The pressure of the mill imprints the texture from the material.
Touching up the form of the cuff using a soft mallet to prevent damaging the design on the cuff.
It is finally time for one of the most recognizable, admired and swoon-inspiring gemstones.
Aquamarine is that gorgeous light blue sparkler often set with white gold and surrounded by white diamonds. Just stunning, and the bigger the better for this beauty.
March is a perfect match for Aquamarine. It is the stone of mariners and happy marriages. Whether you know someone preparing to brave the waters as a sailor or a betrothed, this gemstone is a wonderful way to carry your wish for their success and happiness.
Reach out to us at info@jewelenvy.ca and let’s get started on a custom gift that means the world.
While taking stock of our class pics I compiled some of the rings students have made in our classes. I included a description of what class(es) were took to create the rings (there’s more then one way to make a ring;o)
Check out our class descriptions
Resident goldsmith and studio Manager Alexis Kostuk has been on a creative kick as of lately! After dipping her toes into some micro mosaic she recently dove back in, using more glass colours and experimenting with different background colours, take a look!
This weekend at Jewel Envy we have started our 2 day gem cutting and setting workshop. On day one of the workshop students map out and cut the shape of their cabochon, and begin polishing. Students will cut 3 to 5 gemstones and choose one to set into a pendant.
Cabochon stones have a flat back and domed face, and they can be made in a variety of shapes and sizes.
https://www.jewelenvy.ca/take-a-class/
First we look at templates and decide on the shape we want our cabochon to be.
The next step is cutting out the basic shape from a slab.
After that we move on to shaping and smoothing the stone through several steps/grits on a lapidary machine.
This workshop is another way of making a completely customized and personal piece of jewellery, from stone to setting.
From brooch to necklace!
From 1955 to current day, the famous Tucson gem and mineral show has been happening. It is currently going on right now. It runs from February 1st to the 16th in Tucson, Arizona USA.
Every year goldsmiths, buyers and vendors flock to this place to display, sell or procure special stones, specimens, gemstones, and even jewellery.
Just last year, 3 goldsmiths from Jewel Envy attended this large show and all came home with many goodies.
Gemstone sellers from Toronto are also there buying special gemstones from around the world as it is attended by people from all over the world.
Just through instagram this year, I see many Australian Opal vendors that are there all the way from Australia. This is to give you some idea about how far people are willing to travel to be at this amazing event.
I also forgot to mention you can find fossils and minerals and also estate/ antique jewellery! The year I went there was a whole booth selling mammoth tusks. There are also many dinosaur displays.
At Jewel Envy, our goldsmiths are independent artists.
They fulfill custom commissions through the studio,
They teach…
And they take turns greeting you in the retail space.
They all have different strengths
Different backgrounds
Different education and training
But all of these differences
Make us better artists
Better colleagues
And one of the best places to support local Toronto work.
We are very proud of who we are and what we do.
We are looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Jewel Envy classes are back! From newbie intro classes to professional enhancement, make sure you get our newsletter to see what is open.
You can register on our website, and you are welcome to call or drop by during business hours to ask your questions and find the best type of class for you.
