Making band ring requires a lot of skill and creativity. I am looking forward to see my students finishing them up tonight. They used what they learned in first class, which is saw and piercing and applied on their first project. It is going to be busy busy for us in the evening.
Ellen Tsai
What do you want to be when you grow up? Such a common question asked when growing up. Some people just know what they want to be, but for others it can take years. It took me 27 years to figure it out, however once I did, I have not looked back.
Today I am just like every other struggling student in Canada, trying to “make it” in the world. I am a student at Vancouver Community Collage taking the two year Jewellery Art and Design program. It has been a life changing experience so far. My first year has been completed, what to do, what to do. One of my wonderful teachers Karin Jones sent out an email that Jewel Envy based in Toronto, was looking for a summer intern. After a lot of thought I decided I have nothing to loose, yet so much to gain. this would be a great way to keep learning over the summer, and to work with other more experienced jewellers.
I sent in my application and hoped for the best. After playing the waiting game and having a wonderful phone interview with Gillian Batcher I finally got the internship. I was so happy when I read the email of acceptance I literally jumped across the classroom yelling I got the internship.
Jewel Envy has some amazing designers, friendly atmosphere and great teachers. Every day I am learning something new. They understand how to work with beginners like myself. I have till the end of August with them. I am very excited for my second year at VCC, however I know I will miss the Jewel Envy family.
If you are in Toronto and would like to explore the art of making jewellery then I recommend taking a look at Jewel Envy’s classes.
Sheetal K. Naicker
Last week I went up to our family cottage with my Mom in Deanlea Beach. I love cottages, they have the best memories and the best stories. My Grandfather built this cottage in 1959 so it’s acquired quite a few over the years. Cottages are also the best places to find treasures. I love going through drawers and boxes but usually I stay out of the shed and just stick to the cottage itself. Last week my Mom was painting the shed (I helped, I swear!) so there was a bit of extra focus in that particular area. I can’t help myself, my Mom and I started nosing around and I ended up emptying a drawer labeled “Grandpa’s Tools”. I don’t know if you know this but jewellers LOVE tools. Well, I’m a jeweller (obviously) and I love tools and I love anything antique or vintage. Put those together and I’m in heaven! So I thought I would share with you all the cool looking things we found in that drawer. Enjoy!
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| Vice grips, wooden level, sharpening stone, lock |
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| Various wrenches |
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| More wrenches and a piece of a monkey wrench |
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| Never seen wrenches like this before but they are super cool looking |
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| Chisels and screwdrivers |
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| Hammers! So many awesome rusty hammers. |
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| Shears, tire iron and steel brush |
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| Antique blowtorch! |
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| Made in Canada? That’s how you know it’s super old. |
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Look what we are work on …
Young is setting a pink tourmaline
Amanda is emerying on a cross pendant
Hyewon is creating a new piece
Helena is brain storming
Alexis is adding more and more beautiful jewellery to jewel envy
And I am making rings with eggshell acrylic
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| Twist wire, pierce shapes, add hammer texture… so many options it will be hard to decide. Sign up for the July 19th or August 24th class. |
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| Make a pair of earrings of your own design. You’ll create your own ear hook, pierce shapes and leave looking fab with your creation! Sign up for the fast approaching class Sunday July 20th. |
Welcome to part 2 of the jewellery at Gillian’s wedding, where we’ll take a closer look at what different Jewel Envy goldsmiths and guests wore to Gillian and Matthew’s wedding!
To get us started today, here are three of Gillian’s lovely bride’s maids, who were thoughtfully adorned by Gillian of Pash Jewellery. They are wearing adjustable freshwater pearl bolo necklaces.The slider pieces are made of stainless steel and woven together with gemstones. They also have earrings to match, each pair a little different but equally pretty.
Here’s a close up shot of Alexis’s handmade sterling silver and turquoise ring. She bought this beautiful turquoise in New Mexico on a trip with her dad.
(P.S. Cool nails, Alexis!)
This fantastic ring was also made by Alexis of Glaciale. It is sterling silver and set with hand painted enamel “gemstones”.
Pretty in peach, Helena of Helena Perez Lafaurie chose to add some punch with amethyst jewellery.
She bought the bracelet years ago and decided to make earrings, a ring,
and a pendant to match. For a little more sparkle, she wore a large
diamond ring that had been given to her as a gift.
Here is Sasha Oda of Archerade (or at least her hands). Sasha went for simple and sophisticated with two pinky rings.
Left: Sterling silver textured pinky ring with 14K gold plating for contrast
Right: 14K yellow and diamond huggy ring.
Darija of Darija Radic Designs chose a vintage filigree ring that was gifted to her. A great choice!
Thanks for tuning in for this part! Check back for the last installment soon!
I bet everyone has seen those silly commercials for buying your used jewellery and thought to themselves I wonder if I have anything in my jewellery box worth selling? If you have thought that the next question should be what would make it worth selling? Are you looking for cash back like the commercials say they offer? Or is selling your gold jewellery just a means to end for buying new jewellery?
Have you been holding off because the jewellery has sentimental value, despite the limited wear it receives. Or do you just worry the rate you get back wouldn’t be worth selling it for? Both valid thoughts but I would like to add a new idea into the mix to consider.
Why not reuse your gold in a new design you choose? Here are Jewel Envy we have all of the equipment needed to melt down your old gold and reuse it in new pieces. We can cut out stones from settings, change the alloy of your gold by adding in other metals, and we do not charge extra to do this. If you have extra gold we can not use we can sell it for you and you get exactly what the refinery pays us. Now we are not in the business of buying your gold, and we won’t sell your gold for you if you are not ordering something from us, but if you are placing an order we are happy to offer this service.
It seems the bulk of my orders are for work like this lately. I have melted down grandparents wedding bands to make new wedding bands for the grandchildren about to be wed, melted a mishmash of jewellery not being worn anymore, and even some family heirloom pieces that weigh so much they will probably pay for multiple orders! Reusing things you already have means nothing goes to waste and you can enjoy something new…until the next time you want a jewellery make over :o)
