I recently finished teaching intro-casting class. Here are some images of Joey’s work. She has such amazing craftsmanship!
Author: Jewel Envy
How To: Stone Setting Using Protoplast
To those of you wandering onto this site wondering, “What does cellular biology have to do with jewellery making and stone setting, what the heck?” I apologize. For the rest of you, I will now get down to business. Protoplast has made its way into my regular useful tool rotation along with chopsticks. All of this will soon make sense in the pictures below, I promise. – Alexis *if you go to my blog you can check out the finished rings used for the how to pics!*
 |
| This is protoplast! When it’s brand spanking new it comes in little pellets. To use them simply heat some water, pour it into a container and immerse them. Usually a small handful suffices. |
 |
| When placed in hot water the protoplast “melts” together into a blob. As you can see, the one on the left is completely clear, it is ready for use. The one on the right is still opaque in the center, so it needs a bit more time in the water. To remove the protoplast remember to use tongs – the water will still be hot! |
 |
| As you can see, the protoplast becomes very soft and malleable. You can use it to encompass and anchor your piece in place to start setting. |
 |
| I quickly molded the protoplast around the shank of a ring. This is going to help protect the polished surface and serve as my anchor to hold the ring in place. |
 |
| I placed the ring into a clamp & squeezed it a bit so that the protoplast conforms to the shape. I waited a minute for the protoplast to cool completely. When this happens it becomes a hard plastic. If you try to push into the surface it holds it shape. At this point it’s time to get ‘er done! |
 |
| For setting I have become accustomed to using a chasing hammer along with a bezel pusher made from a chopstick (for more on that see below). |
 |
| Here I am doing my thang! tappa tappa… |
 |
| After you have completed setting to remove the protoplast you simply place the piece into hot water. Once it has become clear you can remove it from the piece – remember to be careful, it gets hot! |
 |
| When I remove the protoplast I make sure to form the blob into a pancake shape. This way the next time I want to use it, it will become malleable really quickly. |
 |
| To create my bezel pusher I used a section of a plastic chopstick and sanded the tip into the shape that is shown in my drawing. It is similar to the toothbrush bezel pusher that Tim McCreight suggests in The Complete Metalsmith. I find it very useful as a setting tool because it reduces the risk of chipping or scratching a soft stone and is especially great when I am setting enamel components. |
 |
||||
| For flat pieces – pendants, earrings, brooches, etc. I use the protoplast along with a used up wooden block. I place the soft protoplast on top of the block squishing it into the drilled holes and then placing whatever piece I am working on top squishing the protoplast around it to anchor it into place. The block can than be held in a vise to keep everything stationary After you have finished setting you can remove the protoplast by sliding a screwdriver underneath it to pop it off the wood block so that you can once again place it into hot water to remove your piece. As you can see in this photo, after a little while your protoplast will start to look dirty. |
To all my friends dreaming about a ring…
There is this pressure today to have everything. The perfect job, the perfect mate, the perfect lifestyle.
Well nothing really works the way we plan so instead of waiting for the
stars to align just so, we should really be making choices that make us
happy in the life we have now.
I know many women waiting for the right man to come along and for some
it’s all about getting that fabulous ring and flaunting it. But really
why wait? If you work, and are not deeply in debt why not buy yourself
fabulous jewellery?! Why would you need someone else to say “by the way
you’re awesome here’s a ring…” when you can tell yourself that every
day!
Below are some rings designed with just this thought in mind.
Image description: Sterling silver and lemon citrine, size 6 1/2; 14K
yellow gold, smokey quartz, blue sapphires, and orange citrines, size 4
1/2; the unset yellow citrine is still waiting for a design.
By the way, the gold ring, is what I made for myself and yes I intend to flaunt it!
Contact me if you want something special all for you!
Gillian
Bloom at Centre Shop, Harbourfront Centre
The George Brown College Jewellery Arts Graduate show, Bloom, will take place tomorrow at The Centre Shop, Harbourfront Centre. I am looking forward to viewing the jewellery, and to seeing a few faces that I haven’t seen in a while. How time flies! It was one year ago that I presented my work along with the 2011 grads at our show Flourish. All the best to the new group of graduates!
Superstition: Super Sucess!
Last Thursday was the opening of Zilberschmuck’s eighth annual national juried exhibition, and the work was fantastic! I always enjoy seeing how many different interpretations there can be on a single theme. That’s the best part about art, in my opinion. Besides making it of course.
There were 33 entries including Jewel Envy’s own: Gillian Batcher, Alexis Kostuk, Lianne Friesen, and Fatima Tataragic. The exhibition runs until May 26th. Open Tues – Sat, 11:00am – 6:00pm. 910 Kingston Rd, Toronto Ontario.
Read more about all the entries on Zilberschmuck’s blog.
-L
 |
|
| “Armoured Heart” by Gillian Batcher |
 |
| “Mutant Eye” & “Evil Eye” by Alexis Kostuk |
 |
|
| “Worry Stone” by Lianne Friesen |
 |
|
| “Homage to a Childhood Superstition” by Fatima Tataragic |
Today is the opening of the “Superstition” exhibition at the Zilberschmuck gallery.
Jewel Envy studio will be represented by designers/goldsmiths: Lianne Friesen, Gillian E. Batcher, Alexis Kostuk and Fatima Tataragic.
If you are jewels/art lovers make sure to check out this show.
Stay tuned for photos.
Until April 1 (really!) you can catch Katie Pitt of Kathryn Rebecca at the Spring One of a Kind show. She is being featured as one of the show’s ‘Rising Stars’, which of course wouldn’t surprise anyone who knows her beautiful jewellery. Come and peer into her showcases–it’s like gazing into a springtime meadow alight with delicate flowers and colour.
2012 Student Exhibition
|
Voting is now closed for the Student Exhibition. I would like to thank everyone for participating by submitting work as well as voting. First Place goes to Alexis Smith for her Industrial Gear Pendant. Second Place goes to Kate Psaltis for her Bangle with Fossil. Congratulations everyone and we look forward to seeing what everyone makes next!
2012 Student Exhibition Take a browse through our 2nd Annual Student Exhibition
here at Jewel Envy. The exhibition will be running from Friday February 10th, to Monday March 5th and now immortalized here on our blog! The opening reception is this Friday February the 10th from 5-9pm and is being generously supported by Magnotta Winery. We’re excited to display our hard working students creations and are once again asking the public to vote on their favorite piece. The winner will receive free bench work time here at the studio to further develop their skills. Please join us at the opening or drop in to check out the show while it is on display. You can vote in person or through email by sending us an email with your name, phone number and number of the piece you think should win.
|
| #1 “Hello my name is…” by Jay Joo |
 |
| #2 Ring by Jay Joo |
 |
| #3 “Nothing lasts forever” by Jay Joo |
 |
| #4 Heaven’s Tree by Chakman Chow |
 |
| #5 Rose bud by Chakman Chow |
 |
| #6 Two finger ring by Padrin Kwok |
 |
| #7 Ring by Padrin Kwok |
 |
| #8 Rogue wave – two finger ring by Padrin Kwok |
 |
| #9 Gasing Earrings by Joe Han Lee |
 |
| #10 Malaysian Living in Canada by Joe Han Lee |
 |
| #11 Kinetic Ring by Joe Han Lee |
 |
| #12 Origami Pendant by Monika Weber |
 |
| #13 Black Night by Chris Le Page |
 |
| #14 Saturn by Chris Le Page |
 |
| #15 Bangle by Kate Psaltis |
 |
| #16 Bracelet by Kate Psaltis |
 |
| #17 Pendant by Kate Psaltis |
 |
| #18 Fallen Leaf by Candice Fraser |
 |
| #19 Cameo Pendant by Alexis Smith |
 |
| #20 Gears in Motion by Alexis Smith |
 |
||
| #21 Industrial Gear Pendant by Alexis Smith |
2011 Student Exhibition
Voting is now Closed for the Student Exhibition. Thank you to everyone who participated!
-March 1/11
The Jewel Envy Student Exhibition is on display from Friday February 4th, 2011- Monday February 28th, 2011. To vote on your favorite piece in the show view the images below and send us an email to info@jewelenvy.ca with your name, contact info (email and phone number) and the number of the piece you think should win! The artist whose piece receives the most votes will be awarded with free bench time to further develop their skills!
Padrin Kwok
 |
| #1 |
 |
||
| #2 |
 |
| #3 |
Alexis Smith
 |
| #31 |
 |
| #30 |
Amanda Delacruz
 |
| #15 |
 |
| #14 |
 |
| #16 |
Chakman Chow
 |
| #27 |
 |
| #26 |
 |
| #25 |
E. B. Clutter
 |
| #9 |
Emma Delgado Perrier
 |
| #10 |
Gabriela Wilson
 |
| #6 |
 |
| #7 |
 |
| #5 |
Jay Joo
 |
| #24 |
 |
| #23 |
Kate Psaltis
 |
| #20 |
 |
| #21 |
 |
| #22 |
Marjaneh Yassini Amin
 |
| #19 |
 |
| #18 |
 |
| #17 |
Monika Weber
 |
| #12 |
 |
| #11 |
 |
| #13 |
Orest Dtwidiuk
 |
| #8 |
Penny Cook
 |
| #28 |
 |
| #29 |
Savita Patkar
 |
| #4 |
A beautiful Bride!
Not long ago a friend of mine, the talented artist Rachael Speirs, got married! I was very privileged to have Rachael wear my poppy studs with a drop for the special occasion. All the photo’s, by Laura Jane Photography are SO stunning I had trouble deciding which ones to share but I’ve narrowed it down to these lovely few! Congratulations Rachael and Scott. *Kathryn Rebecca
