If you are interested in podcasts and haven’t given S-Town a chance, please do – I don’t think you will regret it.
I have been searching for images of things John B. McLemore created since listening to S-Town and especially wanted to come across the handmade astrolabe that John created for a friend; I just came across these yesterday:
– Alexis
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| Carefully removing the astrolabe from it’s handmade containment. |
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| Tom Moore posing with the astrolabe – a handmade piece created by John B. McLemore. |
There is still space to sign up for our next upcoming 8 week Casting Class. CLICK HERE to register.
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| Samples of rings carved out of jeweller’s wax. |
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| Samples of metal rings cast in sterling silver and bronze using the lost wax process and centrifugal casting. |
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| Samples of cuttlefish castings (sterling silver/bronze). |
We always LOVE seeing our customers’ happy faces in person here at the Big Blue House but we know you can’t always make it in person to shop at Jewel Envy.
Luckily for you we at Jewel Envy have solved that problem for you: now you can shop specific pieces from our resident goldsmiths online! Every month we will feature a jewellery line from one of talented resident goldsmiths. All you need to do is point your browser to www.jewelenvy.ca and click on the SHOP tab to see what incredible pieces we have on offer!
This month we are featuring Amanda Henderson of Jewelust’s “A Crack In Space and Time” rings.
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| Plain sterling silver $225 plus HST
Sterling silver with oxidized crack $225 plus HST Sterling silver with 14K yellow gold plated crack $250 plus HST |
Inspired by Dr. Who and
loved by Whovian’s everywhere, now is your chance to shop the collection from
home.
Each ring is made from a special blend of sterling silver that is
recycled and tarnish resistant. There are three versions available:
plain sterling silver, sterling silver with the “crack” oxidized, and
sterling silver with the “crack” 14K yellow-gold plated. All styles are
available in mirror polish or matte silver. Each ring is 6.5mm wide. The
rings are available in sizes 6 -11 (full and half sizes).
These will only be available online through Jewel Envy for a limited time so
place your order today!
To make sure not to miss out on our time-limited monthly shop feature make sure visit our online shop regularly or better yet, sign up for our monthly e-newsletter!
Happy Shopping!
-Micheline
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| Cullinan I |
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| Cullian II |
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| Cullinan III and IV |
LOVE IN LAPLAND ICELAND
I am Jerell, I have been fascinated with jewellery from a young age, 4 or 5.
Looking through my Mom’s jewellery box I would find her good jewellery and a pile of broken and discarded items.
I was amazed that items made of gold would be discarded. It was usually chains that were tangled or were missing parts.
Even though I was a lively, energetic child, I still had the patience and the eyes for being able to detangle the chains.
Family have so many traditions and memories around jewellery.
For me jewellery was a right of passage. Getting my first little gold ring with a turquoise at 7, a watch at 8, charm bracelet at 10. And then, charms through out my life ( when charm bracelets are in style I would add charms).
Growing up I watched my Mom get jewellery for special occasions, and sometimes just because. The gift and occasions become memories for the entire family.
My sisters and I remember my Mom getting a new ring from the jewellery store in the Banff Springs Hotel. We were out skating and when we came in we saw this beautiful Lapponia ring that my father got my Mom. Just because..
As the years progressed, my father added to her collection of Lapponia. Birks carried the line for many years.
Fast forward 30 years. I was in Jewellery School and joined the Metal Arts Guild of Canada, I saw an exhibition that the group was putting on.
It was an exhibition of works that were inspired by the sculpture Björn Weckström’s. from Iceland – Lapland. Bjorn Weckstrom was Lapponia principle designer.
His gold work represented the rough gold nuggets found in Iceland. These look pretty similar to gold nuggets found in Northern Alberta during the goldrush.
The silver work is inspired by the vast winter landscape and the snow drifts. It has a frosting achieved through depletion building. Removing the copper content from Sterling silver, gives the metal a very white, frosted coating.
Photo from Fire and Ice Helicopter Tours of Iceland.
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| You might be familiar with engraving from custom initial rings or pendants you have been given as a gift. |
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| Well! Engraving done by hand uses tools like these called gravers that scrape into the surface as you draw across a piece of metal. |
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| Here is a sample piece that really shows each step it takes to add the detail you see in engraved designs. |
Imagine the skill it would take to draw INTO metal. Most work is done on flat surfaces (like the initial on the ring and sample above). Building up skill over time engravers take on custom creations especially on one of a kind rings, check these out:
Engravers can work on older pieces bringing them new life or even on the work of one of our goldsmiths here at Jewel Envy. We can custom create a ring and work with an engraver to create a beautiful and one of a kind ring. Check out more rings below! – Alexis
The world is your oyster
This is a really strong statement. Almost the cry of a great warrior. Yet the pearl inside the oyster is so fresh, delicate and an absolute mesmerizing beauty to behold. The formation of a pearl is really a wondrous thing
I also think that Pearls have been used to represent women coming of age. They are symbols and demarcations of their stages in life. In some society and cultural circles, young girls received small pearls for their first pair earrings, followed by gifts marking sweet 16, 21, and marriage. Later gifts are used to demonstrate the power and wealth of the woman’s husband and position, or place in society.
To understand the basics of pearls, how they occur, and are formed, provides a basis for the classification and valuation of these gems.
There is even an old law that states “you must not charge a premium when you sell two items that match instead of one by itself”. Unless the matched pair is so rare, and hard to find and that it might take a long period of time and incur a great expense to match the pair. You can see how this directly relates to pearl earrings! The bible talks about pearls being that rare items that is it so very difficult to find a naturally occurring matched pair.
-Jerell
Love in Lapland – Iceland
I am Jerell, I have been fascinated with jewellery from a young age, 4 or 5.
Looking through my Mom’s jewellery box I would find her good jewellery and a pile of broken and discarded items.
I was amazed that items made of gold would be discarded. It was usually chains that were tangled or were missing parts.
Even though I was a lively, energetic child, I still had the patience and the eyes for being able to detangle the chains.
Family have so many traditions and memories around jewellery.
For me jewellery was a right of passage. Getting my first little gold ring with a turquoise at 7, a watch at 8, charm bracelet at 10. And then, charms through out my life ( when charm bracelets are in style I would add charms).
Growing up I watched my Mom get jewellery for special occasions, and sometimes just because. The gift and occasions become memories for the entire family.
My sisters and I remember my Mom getting a new ring from the jewellery store in the Banff Springs Hotel. We were out skating and when we came in we saw this beautiful Lapponia ring that my father got my Mom. Just because..
As the years progressed, my father added to her collection of Lapponia. Birks carried the line for many years.
Fast forward 30 years. I was in Jewellery School and joined the Metal Arts Guild of Canada, I saw an exhibition that the group was putting on.
It was an exhibition of works that were inspired by the sculpture Björn Weckström’s. from Iceland – Lapland. Bjorn Weckstrom was Lapponia principle designer.
His gold work represented the rough gold nuggets found in Iceland. These look pretty similar to gold nuggets found in Northern Alberta during the goldrush.
The silver work is inspired by the vast winter landscape and the snow drifts. It has a frosting achieved through depletion building. Removing the copper content from Sterling silver, gives the metal a very white, frosted coating.
The last few episodes of Nick’s Season of the Bachelor, was filmed in Iceland.
It is too bad that that he was not able to pick a ring from Lapponia as an engagement ring for Venessa.
Photo from Fire and Ice Helicopter Tours of Iceland.
