So it’s that’s season again of long hours and busy schedules!
Two of our lovely goldsmiths, Sasha Oda of Acherade and Amanda Henderson of Jewelust, are down at #LocalTOMRKT today. It’s a changing marketplace that opened on Nov 29th and is going all the way to Dec 24th. If you want to snag some great gifts from our girls, today is their last day. They’re there until 10pm. 335 Yonge St, Toronto! Get yer buns down there! Info here.
In the last month while working at Jewel Envy a gemologist came by to sell some gems at the shop. It was something different and it was a good learning experience about the wholesale business between the gem dealer and the shop. I was able to see the different kinds of gems they sell and how the cooperation between the two businesses work together.
For example, the gems that most people buy from he store are real but sometimes a customer wants to order a synthetic or manufactured gem because of the piece and the variety of the designs. While most of the real gems have interesting designs and vibrant colours just as the synthetics do, it really depends on what the customer wants. Synthetic gems are sometimes in demand because of the unique cuts and designs offered not available in natural gemstones. The shop usual buys real gems because they are preferred but now and then the shop will buy synthetic gems for orders for their customers or because there is a specific shape they need for a design. That was something I didn’t really know about the synthetic gems. How some people would sometimes order the synthetic because of the cut and design. This experience has been memorable one and one of my favourite so far in my co-op placement. I was even able to buy a small gem to keep. For any co-op students looking for a placement I recommend you take your co-op placement at Jewel Envy has it has been good experience for me here!
– Rebecca G.
Do you like the month of December? It’s actually my second favorite month of the year. It’s festive and happy that there are many events and parties for us to celebrate our holiday season. I woke up this morning and thinking to myself what’s the birthstone in December? The answer is Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise. Tanzanite is unique in it’s trichroism of blue, violet and burgundy when looking under alternate lighting conditions and different angles in crystal . Its blue can be resemble to sapphire.
Now I will show you a bit of process in my lotus design.
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| Necklace by Jewelust |
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| Earrings by Tete Design |
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| Earrings by Pash |
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| Earrings by Lauren Hanham Designs |
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| Necklace by Acherade |
Here are some projects from an Intro to Fabrication class I recently taught. Such a lovely group!
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| Angela’s Necklace |
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| Grace’s Necklace |
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| Gina’s Necklace |
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| Katie’s Earrings |
This is the time of year when Jewel Envy runs a lot of one-day workshops. They are the perfect early holiday gift! Buy one for the DIY-er in your family, or take a class with your bestie, because what better gift is there than good memories? (Other than jewellery, of course!)
Next up is an ornament making class on November 15th, and a stacking ring class on November 16th.
In the ornament class you can learn to make holiday ornament, or even just a pretty window hanger. You can use it to decorate your own home, or give it as a thoughtful, handmade gift.
In the stacking ring class, you will learn to make thin sterling silver rings that can be stacked together on one finger for visual oomph, or wear them scattered on different fingers. I hear that’s how the cool kids wear them.
Sign up in store, or online at www.jewelenvy.ca
You can see a complete list of classes that are running until the end of December.
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| Stacks are the new black! |
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| Goldsmith and teacher, Lauren Hanham, carefully inspecting a student’s ring. |
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| Learn to make plain polished rings, textured rings, twisted wire rings, and rings with small shapes! |
Lotus design from Ellolite has new progress. It’s 3D rendered and almost ready to be printed.
