Cloisonne

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This week I finish up the first 8 week session of Intro Enameling. The last two weeks the students learned how to do cloisonne, the technique of inlaying and packing enamel around thin silver or copper wires. Most people would be most familiar with this technique on vases and beads, the result is beautiful and intricate, resembling stained glass.
As usual, great results!  This raindrop pendant (above) was made by Sonia Ho. Below is a reed pendant by Amanda DelaCruz. It is worth checking out Amanda’s blog as well, she has great photos of the cloisonne process.
Upcoming classes are scheduled for the following dates:
8 Week Intro/Intermediate Enameling, starts Thursday, March 25 6:30pm to 9:30pm
1 Day Enamel Workshop (Pendant and Earrings) Sunday March 21, 10am to 6pm
Send the studio an email if you are interested! info@jewelenvy.ca or call 647.436.6709
This is a brief blog entry in comparison, but I must get back to work! 
Remember you may become a fan of Emily Gill Jewellery Design on Facebook, or join the group.
Hopefully it stops raining soon……………….
– Emily

Tuscon Gem Show and the most AMAZING thing I saw

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I would have to say it was the Morganite and the White Gold Alchemy Singing bowls.


The Morganite bowl emitted such a high frequency that interwove itself so well I could barely hear it. The lady who showed them to me started laughing when I choose to play bowls with such high frequencies. She said “Not just anyone can work with frequencies that high but I always find it’s the leaders on this earth who are drawn to these bowls”

I have been familiar with Tibetan Singing bowls for years but to see them mixed in with gemstones and precious metals was a dream come true.

What’s a gemstone singing bowl? Let’s go back further, what’s a frequency?

Everything on Earth has its own frequency. Science has already proven this. A frequency is simply the speed at which something vibrates. Everything vibrates! The measurement for frequency is called “hertz” which is simply the number of cycles per second. 


The bowls emit a powerful, pure resonance. The larger bowls reverberate more, with the tone lingering longer. This happens because of the size and amount of crystal. The size of the bowl does not necessarily determine its note, although the larger bowls have lower octaves and notes. Each bowl is tested with digital technology to identify its sound. One will have a sense of which tone “feels” most right with individual needs or desires.

One of the bowls primary uses are for sound healing. When an organ or body part is healthy, it creates a natural resonant frequency in harmony with the rest of the body. When the vibration of a part of the body is out of harmony, we have dis-ease. With dis-ease, a different sound pattern is established in the affected part of the body. Car manufacturers also use this technology to locate and then figure out how to correct internal problems. It is also used in music more than you realize.

You can check it out for yourself https://www.crystalsingingbowls.com/

or listen to it  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLVJgMa3xtk 

One day I would love to play around with metal alloys and create a new one that would be made to create custom cymbals for drummers besides the usual brass alloys. We all love the sound of steel drums so I want to take it a step further..with GOLD and other metals. 

Enjoy the beautiful Day I’m heading out on my bike to the studio!

Quincy Rae

Quincy Jewels and; Design

Flocked! with turquoise interlude

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Ciao!
 I promised to post pictures with flocking and now I am here to deliver.  I have to be honest – right now my brain is full of mush since I have spent a lot of my time worrying about my application to the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition.  Now to wait for a reply… and back to why I originally was here to post (geez, I’m so easily distracted).  Story time.  I bought three pieces of turquoise back in 2004 on a trip to New Mexico with my dad.  On the plane ride there I found $40 next to the buckle of my seat belt on the airplane and I used that money in a casino that night and won all my spending money for the trip (woohoo!)  My dad and I ended up going to every Museum and Gallery that exists is Albuquerque and Sante Fe (I was obsessed with Georgia O’Keefe in high school, so I was basically in hog heaven).  While at the Turquoise Museum  I spent a half hour choosing from a collection and ended up with three pieces.  The others I used fairly quickly.  

The first I used to create a wave necklace.

Then I decided since it was such a memorable trip for me that I should keep a piece of turquoise for myself and I created this ring. 

Then the last piece of turquoise sat in a cupboard for a long time. Until a few weeks ago when the idea for this piece popped into my brain and I was so excited to finish making it.

It is interesting to note that the first and last pieces of turquoise pictured are both from the same mine (now exhausted called “Number 8” in Nevada).  

My work is continually influenced by how people attach memories to objects and trying to objectify memories.  I am so happy with how this brooch came out.  Lastly, since this post was originally supposed to be about flocking (holy turquoise tangent batman) I should point out that the bright blue and cream area of the piece is flocked!   

Enamel Class Photos

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Hi everyone! Today I brought my camera in to the studio to snap a few shot of my talented students in action. Only two more classes in this session after tonight, 6 weeks have gone by so fast! I have listed upcoming class dates at the bottom of this post!

So far we have learned so many techniques, and completed a stenciling project, some students used lace to make a really cool pattern, others hand-cut stencils. In our most recent project, Sonia completed a miniature watercolour painting in a little brass frame which hangs askew around the neck. It is so adorable. Zeine made a really intricate origami-like shape from flat copper sheet enamelled with my favorite lime green, Amanda has been working on these great organic pod shapes which she made in the hydraulic press, and Padrin’s teeth inspired pendant is so mesmerizing. Really cool work. I love the dimension and volume they have gotten through this exploration of copper with enamel.



I showed the students how to do cloisonne enamel tonight for the next and final project. This process involved packing wet enamel powder in between thin copper, gold or fine silver wires and firing. I made this cute little guy as a demonstration, only to realize he looks like Alexis’ funny bug eyed toy who lives on her jewellery bench. They could be brothers! (See below)



Right: Sonia working on her miniature painting








Amanda sifting enamel onto one of many pods







Padrin removing his pendant from the kiln after firing!



Me firing a sample. 
Soon to become:


Cloisonne guy! aka, Popeye or Bugsy, on the right.

Next week we are in the home stretch with 2 classes to go, everyone will be working on cloisonne designs. I will be sad when class is over, we’ve had a really good time and I have really loved teaching this first enamel class here.

Next class will be a combination Intro/Intermediate Enamelling course, beginning on Thursday March 25th for 8 weeks. 

Introductory Enameling: Learn the basics of firing glass powder onto copper, metal preparation, various firing stages/textures, using opaque and transparent enamels, stenciling, drawing and painting on enamel, building hollow copper objects to enamel, enameling 3 dimensional objects, wet inlay and cloisonne. No jewellery/enamel experience necessary, the basics of piercing and drilling will be taught so everyone has a chance to design their own unique shapes to enamel!

Intermediate Enamelling for Jewellery: will explore the possibilities of enamel in finished pieces of sterling silver jewellery. We will learn and elaborate on enamel techniques, with a focus on multiples, bezel setting, prongs or tabs and rivetting enamelled components to fabricated jewellery designs. Prerequisites for Intermediate are: Intro to enamelling and Intro to Fabrication or other fabrication experience. Visit our website to see all courses and for registration information. www.jewelenvy.ca

One day enamel workshops for March 2010 (make a pendant with stenciled design and matching earrings, or two pendants)
Saturday, March 13 from 10:00am to 6:00pm 
Sunday, March 21 from 10:00am to 6:00pm

Hope you can join us for a colourful one day or 8 week class!

Bye for now!

Emily





Hello

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After finishing a new collection the fun part is having the work professionally photographed! Soon I will have pictures at our web site.
I’m going to have couple of busy months. My work has been accepted to be shown in a gallery.
Hope the shipping will go smoothly! 
Here is a picture of my work in process…

Flocking the day away

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Ciao!
So as my title suggests I have been flocking away like crazy these past few weeks, so much so that I have forgotten to blog about it until now.  What is flocking you may ask? It is like adding a velvet like surface to my resin jewellery pieces.  The best part about flocking is that I get to paint a bit first then using a sliding tube with holes on the end I spray little rayon fibers onto the paint.  They stick in the paint and when it dries it is like a fuzzy sticker I have attached to my creations.  I am so excited about it because first and foremost it adds a textural element to my jewellery.  Anyone who knows me knows I love getting my hands on anything and everything.  I hardly ever resist the urge to touch things even when I shouldn’t.  And second, it comes in so many fun colours.  I will soon post pictures of some of my flocked jewellery since just reading about it is not nearly as fun as getting to look at it (which in turn is almost as fun as getting to touch them) 😛
This afternoon I am gearing up for a photo shoot with my friend Kevin Charlie – it should be a great time and I am sure that he will take some interesting photos of the studio, me at work and some of my jewellery.  You better believe I will be posting those up for you all to see as well!

Alrighty, that’s enough from me, back to flocking!

Busy Month

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Hi,
It’s Gillian here:o) It is Sunday evening and I am trying to finish up some paperwork and organize myself for a mini vacation next weekend! I am in serious need of some relaxation since this year has started off busier than expected.

Last month I started teaching a class at OCAD. I am really enjoying the course as it deals with patterning metal using techniques such as lamination and mokume gane. I am relearning some processes I have not used in a while and expanding on the ones I use frequently. As usual I am teaching at the studio and my GBC courses will start in March. Lucky for me I like to multitask and have still been able to do custom work and design new pieces for my collections

Below is an image of a new design. I finally found the seed pearls to make this and am really excited about using them for edging in my pieces.

The Body and Object show from the OCC has just finished and now I have to figure out what to do with this dress…suggestions are welcome!

I have also been planning my work for the Jewel Envy Group Exhibition. I have so many ideas right now and am trying to narrow it down to one cohesive thought!

I think I am going to try to update images here as well as on www.pash.ca as I have been inspired by Emily’s ability to keep everyone up to date on what she is doing. That is one of the great things about www.jewelenvy.ca we push each other forward by seeing what everyone does and how to make it all work.

Have a great week!
 
Gillian

Some new work I am very excited about

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New enamelled flowers with cell centres
Thank you to everyone who has helped me get through the last few weeks! What a long few weeks it has been. Here is a sneak peak at some of the finished pieces! Most of these (I counted a total of 17 pieces, including flower brooches, lariat necklaces and “flower cells” to Lafreniere and Pai Gallery in Ottawa 
 
New goldenrod yellow Lariat with handpainted enamel centre
Love love love this colour combination, purple and yellow, droooool
I will be updating my facebook group page continuously (Emily Gill Jewellery Design) as well as my Metal Arts Guild page and website. Stay tuned! Its going to be a great year
Bye for now!
EMILY

Some people sing in the shower, I sing disco while working alone at the studio

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First of all, happy new year to all our blog followers from me, Emily.

This year brings a few new changes, and a busy schedule for me. I have recently made the switch to full time member and changed benches. As some of you know, I work part time as a florist (yes, I love flowers…..!) and come here to Jewel Envy everyday after my morning shift whipping up floral deliveries to brighten people’s days. Although I have lived in Toronto for about 9 months now, I feel more settled than ever, really enjoying my studio work, friendships with all the girls (yes, we are all girls at the moment) here and networking with other crafts people and jewellers. My eventual goal is to work full time and survive from my jewellery, but I am finding a happy balance with my part time job, which is important. I won’t be leaving Toronto any time soon 🙂
I have been working what feels like non-stop since returning from Montreal after the holidays. I started teaching my Introductory Enamelling class two weeks ago, and love my students! Laura, our co-op student, although new to enamelling, is a HUGE help as my assistant. Thanks Laura!
Just when I thought I could have a little break a slew of shows I want to apply for or participate popped up!
In Halifax, my friend and jeweller Vanessa Neily is curating Adornable, an exhibition of work by selected NSCAD jewellery and metalsmithing alumni. Its going to be so cute and whimsical, I am totally into it! The show will run in the summer (you should also check out her website, her stuff is incredible https://www.vanessaneily.com)
I am particularily tickled by the invitation by Lafreniere & Pai Gallery to participate in their tenth year anniversary show entitled “Eros from Chaos” an exhibition of erotic jewellery and sculpture running in May in Ottawa. Ooh la la. I have a plethora of ideas 😉
The icing on the cake will be the Jewel Envy group show, which we have just started planning. No set dates yet, but we will keep you informed!
Now I must get back to work. I’ve been here almost every night until at least 9pm with Young, who is attempting to make her first Mokume ring. Last night, however, was a record late night, leaving here at 12:35am exhausted, but very content with the amount of work I completed. Sometimes it is great to work until you can’t anymore. I prefer having a working buddy those late nights; too bad no one else gets to see how my late night enamel-dance moves improved and I now can do a rendition of Thelma Houston’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way” disco tune pretty much accapella. Yikes!
Disco is cheerful, and so are my happy little brooches. Take a peek at how they transformed.
I sift enamel powder (a form of powdered glass) onto the hand formed copper flowers. 
And from my powdery bench, I put the little guy on a steel trivet. He is ready to bake!
Into the kiln at about 1500 degrees fahrenheit for about 2-3 minutes…..until they get nice and glossy.
Et voila! So many happy brooches!
I am also making more necklaces with this form. My bench is a garden of colour when I have them all out.
I love enamelling. I couldn’t live (or make jewellery) without it!
– Emily

Me again!

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Hello!

     It’s Laura the co-op student again. Since the last time I have blogged I have been learning many new techniques and am now assisting Emily with her 8 week enameling classes. Every Tuesday I spend the day at the studio either working on my own pieces or helping the others out, than at night I am doing the enameling class. Last week was the first class and everything went great! The class made samples of enamel to show them the different types of textures and colours you can get with different firing times. This week things will be getting a little more complicated and exciting as we are doing stenciling in different colours. I have never done enamel before so this class is a great opportunity for me to learn something new while helping out. Only one more hour until the class starts.. it is going to be fun!



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