As a jewelry designer there is nothing I love more than a cocktail ring. I came up with this sample spontaneously but I think it has potential. The ring shown is fabricated from sterling silver with a synthetic amethyst. I am not usually drawn to synthetic stones, but this one changes colour from deep purple to fuchsia pink – fun and cost effective!
Iona Alexandra Jewellery
A couple weeks ago, I finished up teaching my first 8 week Intro to Fabrication class. I must say, I was terribly nervous but excited at the same time. I had taught people how to do things before, as I’m sure everyone has, but I had never been in an actual teacher-student position. Lucky for me, my class was great. It was a pleasure helping them bring their visions to life.
Here are some pictures of the final projects!
Be sure to check back for Jewel Envy’s latest class posting here, or sign up for our news letter and we’ll notify you of the newest classes (and when we’re set up in our new location!).
-L
This is what I have been working on in studio recently. The pendant is a redesign from a ring. Even though it’s not done yet, I will let you guys have a peek. Hopefully, I will have it done soon by the end of the week!
I am back in the studio after taking part in the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibit. I thought I would jump back into work right away, but today is my day of inaction.
I wanted to thank all the folks that visited me, bought pieces, came to give me treats, or lent a helping hand. I relish the opportunity to step outside of my introspective head-space to interact with people and chat about my work. I feel very fortunate to have been a part of the art show this year.
If you didn’t get the chance to visit, you should head over to my blog to check out some of my newest work and read possibly my strangest post yet. You have been warned!
Alexis
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| My hand making some adjustments in my jewellery case. |
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| Thank you Ellen, Lianne and Manaf for the treats! |
Jewel Envy has been open for almost six years at our Spadina location. This space was perfect when we opened up and allowed us through trial and error to go through some of the natural growing pains of a new business. We have enjoyed the community in our building and the easy access to everything but after all this time we have outgrown the space. This is a wonderful thing for a small business to be able to say!
We have found we need more room for our classes, our jewellers and our work! Although moving may seem out of the blue I have been on the hunt for the perfect location since last fall. There were some close contenders for new spaces but something always came up that made me realize it was just not for us. I am thankful I was able to hold strong and keep looking as I finally found the space that we can take the next step in. Our new location will be a ground floor on the vibrant Roncesvalles strip in the west end of downtown.
The space will need some renovations to customize it to our needs but I am looking forward to the process. Our current location will stay fully operational until we make the move west in the fall. We look forward to this expansion and next step!
Gillian
A couple weeks ago, there was a post about coming up with creative ideas while riding a bike. It’s totally true. I wonder if Korean artist Seo Young Deok was riding a bike when he came up with these awesome bike chain sculptures? Check it out, they are amazing!
The collection is called “Dystopia” and the hollow, unfinished bodies represent the “incomplete nature of modern day humans.”
Who says jewellery and football (soccer) don’t go together.
Here are a few inspirational images I came across on Internet.
Enjoy EURO 2012!
Sound impossible? Well, then, try making jewellery while lying on the couch, drinking a coffee, driving…
Some of the most fruitful creative moments don’t occur at the bench. Why? As Einstein said: ‘Creativity is the residue of time wasted’. When we are relaxed we are focused inward toward unexpected connections. This work takes place in the right hemisphere of our brain. This hemisphere is uniquely able to make unique associations that lead us to those eureka moments. There are problems that our analytical left hemisphere can not solve.
Hello everyone!
My name is Liane Vaz and I am the
new summer intern at Jewel Envy! I just finished my third year at OCAD
University in the Jewellery & Metalsmithing program.
My
passion for jewellery began in high school – where we had a Design
program that included ceramics, glass, fiber, and jewellery. Contrary to
what most people think – we worked with sterling silver and not beads!
At the time I had not realized the value of silver since we didn’t have
to pay for it up front (we paid a $30 studio fee at the beginning of the
year and that was it). Looking back, I wish I saved every off-cut and
every gram of silver!
At OCADU, I had a leg up for a
little while because I already knew basic things like how to use a
jeweller’s saw and how to solder. I believe that this previous knowledge
allowed me to grasp other concepts and techniques as time went by and
as I learned more advanced processes.
After a History
of Jewellery class at OCADU, most of the people in my class (including
myself) realized that we did not know a lot about contemporary
jewellers. One of my goals this summer is to research and learn all I
can about contemporary jewellers – I think I’m doing pretty well so far
since I am now working amidst several contemporary jewellers here at
Jewel Envy!
Another goal for this summer is to refine my
finishing skills. Sadly, jewellery finishing is often thrown under the
bus when we’re trying to meet deadlines at school. Also, learning new
techniques or variations on old ones would be an amazing thing to have
under my belt as I go into my fourth and final year at OCADU. Finally, I
would like to pick Gillian’s brain and learn the
business side of the jewellery trade and how I can own and run my own
studio
sometime in the future!
I’m looking forward to learning and doing and creating this summer!
Liane
