Blog of Jewellery and Goldsmiths at Jewel Envy – Page 54

Earring hooks

February 2, 2019August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

As some one who lives in Canada I love that I get to rotate through my scarves starting in fall and throughout winter. What I don’t love is losing a beloved earring because of these scarves. I just love dangling earrings (I wear them much more often than studs) and I consistently wear and use plastic backings to stop my fave pairs from slipping off accidentally. The only drawback to these things are that you will inevitably drop one on the floor and you are better off to grab another one than to try and search for one of these things. We always have baggies of these guys available for purchase and include them on any jewellery bought at the studio.

These little plastic do-dads have become my saving grace. Plastic earring stoppers start off very snug so I usually twist them on/off earring hooks so I do not bend the hooks out of shape and I keep a small pile in my jewellery box handy for when I am getting ready in the morning.

Do you need to replace earring hooks on some of your jewellery? think about what style you would prefer, we love switching things up for customers so you can get as much wear out of your jewellery as possible. Take a look through a few options and let us know what style you prefer! – Alexis

I don’t know about you, but I just do not like this type of earring hook. These are your everyday run of the mill commercially available earring hooks – The best things about them it that they are very easy to put on because the angle of the wire makes it easy to insert, but they fall out way too easily. At the studio we have often replaced them completely with handmade earring hooks, bend them a bit to alter their shape, as well as softening the tip of the earring to remove blunt edges that are uncomfortable.

Ah, the tried and true. When we make earring hooks they often look like a variation of this. They have a bit of extra length to make them easy to insert and are bent downward so they are less likely to slip off. Wear these accompanied with the plastic earring stoppers and you are good to go.

This style is a great option in which you can forgo the plastic earring stoppers, as you can see the style can be adjusted to suit the rest of the earring.

These commercially available earring hooks are often a go to for customers as well. They have a backing that snaps open so you can slip your earrings on and then snap into place to keep it from falling off.

DesingTO

January 27, 2019August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

Hello Sunday Readers,

DesingTO
is where art and design meet across the city, January 18-27, 2019. Over
100+ events and exhibitions are free, and the rest are ticketed or by
RSVP.

One of these events is Pattern Recognition from December 18, 2018 to February 18, 2019.

Jewel Envy joins DesingTO with the Asymmetric exhibition display in our three windows on Roncesville extending outside of the exhibition dates.

The Goldsmiths at Jewel Envy made free design jewel pieces for this event, with only one premise, the pieces must be Asymmetric.

Among the Goldsmiths than participated in this exhibition I want to show you three of them.

Mauricio Franco, Colombia

Catalyst, earrings, 2018

Sterling silver, purple cubic zirconia, 75mm X 26.3mm X 4.7mm

In his own words, “Catalyst consists
of two triangles with similar details and construction, but the
configuration of the parts and the placement of a few finishes make the
pieces stand apart from each other”. Mauricio Franco

Alexis Kostuk, Canada

Coral Growth II, earrings, 2018

Sterling silver, turquoise, carnelian, 50mm X 28mm X 11mm

The
earrings
have “asymmetrical turquoise stones as the substrate for “Coral
Growths;” shaping how each is attached and creating similar patterns
with noticeable likeness but ultimately forming asymmetrical pairs”
Alexis Kostuk

Shafiq Sawari, Afghanistan

Untitled, earrings, 2018

Sterling silver, 56.5mm X 15.6mm X 1.5mm

The
word filigree
comes from the Latin word for thread or seed. This delicate and
intricate technique involves twisting extremely fine strands of a
metal—usually gold or silver—to form a pattern. One of the most
important characteristics of filigree is the use of sweeping,
spiraling designs. Filigree can be use across the whole piece or just
to emphasize key features. The reason I chose to make a filigree piece
is that it reminds one of my famous collections after graduating from
school. Shafiq
Sawari.

You can enjoy
the rest of our pieces in our three windows on Roncesvilles.

Have a nice Sunday

Helena

Lunar eclipse

January 26, 2019August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

While snapping pics for our Instagram featuring Kelly Jale of Teonella‘s Moon and Star designs I scrolled through Instagram to find a couple of my favourite pics of the Lunar eclipse/blood moon on January 20/21. I tried to wander out in the cold to catch a peak of the moon, but gave up easily because of the cold. Did you catch a glimpse of the moon last Sunday night? – Alexis

Photo by Kai Yhun

Teonella pieces made by Kelly Jale available at Jewel Envy

Photo by Mehrdad Loghmani

Jewellery for our furry friends

January 20, 2019August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

Today, in this very cold and snowy day, I want to share a story.

As a jewellery designer, goldsmith and general creative, I like to experiment and take up projects that are not exactly normal, one of those projects was a collar for my cat, Antonia, made completely in 950 silver and fit to size.

Well, you can see she is not wearing it on the picture, she did not like it and I was not going to force her to wear it, so now, the collar makes an excellent bracelet for me.

I will be up to make projects like this again, they are fun and demonstrate the appreciation we have for our furry friends, they might not like it, but the intention counts.

Mauricio.

January 19, 2019August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

Goldsmiths – A journey through time!

Hey everyone, Jessica here! I figured a snowy Saturday seems like a good time to take you on a journey through time in the art and history of the Goldsmith.

Goldsmithing is the practice of working with gold and other precious metals to create objects of adornment, especially jewellery. Goldsmiths have existed ever since gold itself was determined to be of value. We have seen the products of goldsmiths all throughout history in utensils, ceremonial and religious items, talismans, jewelry and art.

A Goldsmith possesses the knowledge and ability to forge, solder, cut, cast, file, and polish metal – just to name a few skills of a potentially much longer list! Historically, these skills were typically passed down within family and under apprenticeship. Although apprenticeship is still a common practice today, there are now many jewelry arts programs available throughout various schools around the world.

According to Bulgarian archeologists, the oldest known gold artifact is a gold bead discovered under a small house of a prehistoric settlement outside of Pazardzhik – the bead is said to date back 6500 years!

Check out these images below of goldsmiths through different eras – and be sure to visit us at 151 Marion Street, Toronto to see what the goldsmiths of today are creating at Jewel Envy!

BULGARIA ~ Gold bead found in prehistoric settlement

EGYPTIAN ~ Gold from King Tutankhamun’s Tomb

GREEK ~ A Gold Earring From the Etruscan Period

ROMAN ~ An Early Roman Christian Reliquary

CANADIAN (@JEWEL ENVY) ~ The work of Helena Perez Lafaurie

Sincerely, a Happy Goldsmith,

Jess!

Velentine’s Day

January 13, 2019August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

Valentine’s day.

After celebrating Christmas, one of the best
times of the year with family and friends, Valentine’s day
is again an opportunity to show love and admiration for the people that
is cherished to us.

Valentine’s Day, is celebrated annually on
February 14. It’s recognized as a significant cultural,
religious, and commercial celebration of romance and romantic love in
many regions around the world.

Jewel Envy has this year
incredible pieces from incredible goldsmiths from all over the glove, we
have pieces for all budgets and all of them have been done having you ,
our costumers in mind.

In this first photo a galore of
earrings, every one of them make for a different goldsmith, but all
are great pieces to show your love and let them know how much they mean to you.

From left to right and from top to bottom, Amethyst and Enamel earrings from Glacial Goldsmith, Alexis Kostuk. Sterling Silver earrings from Vera Wei. Sterling Silver and Gold plated earrings from Pash, Gillian Batcher. Yellow Gold and Amethyst from Radi Brothers Jewelry, Zaf Radi. Sterling Silver earrings from Urban Matel, Jerell Reichert. Sterling Silver, gold plated earrings from hplafaurie Jewellery Design, Helena Perez-LaFaurie.

The second group has rings to celebrate anniversaries , engagement , even the blessing of a new baby. Each one will be custom made to fit you and your love one!
Valentine’s Day can be a memorable day to get engaged with your other half!

Necklaces
are one of the pieces women love the most, Jewel Envy has a great variety at incredible
prices, a good example is this necklace with coins in sterling silver from hplafaurie, Helena Perez-LaFaurie.

Jewel Envy always works and designs new pieces thinking on you and the people you love!

Happy Valentine’s day from all of us at Jewel Envy

Have a nice Sunday!

Helena

Forgotten History of Female Scribes

January 12, 2019August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

I
will forever be obsessed with lapis lazuli. No matter what gemstones I
come across I am always drawn the most to anything blue. A while back I
posted interesting facts about gemstones
including that lapis lazuli was ground into powder to create
ultramarine blue paint pigment… the colour was so beautiful and
coveted that lapis lazuli was worth it’s weight in gold.

YOU HAVE TO CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE about a recent study analyzing the plaque on the teeth of remains found at a women’s monastery in Dalheim, Germany. Check out the article about the implications of this study and an exciting avenue for sociology and archealogy, what a ride!

-Alexis

Tumbled lapis lazuli.

Ground lapis lazuli.

Jewelry for the Holiday Hangover!

January 6, 2019August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

New year, new everything,

We sincerely hope your
holidays were full of love and care from family, friends and all those
around you. May 2019 bring even more peace, love, happiness and fulfillment to your
life, and of course, more jewelry!

But now, holidays are over, and most of us are going back to our daily routines; school, work, both or neither! but one thing is sure, 2019 brings new opportunities for all of us, and what a better way to start the new year than getting a new piece of jewelry.

going back to work and show your coworkers you’re brilliant new pair of earrings, or showing your classmates that special necklace that was made just for you, or share pictures of that new engagement ring; those are little pleasures that will definitely make your day and make you a bit happier at the beginning of the year!

All the best for you on this new year,

Mauricio.

Last Minute Shopping!

December 23, 2018August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

Christmas is almost here and I bet there are some that are still looking for a gift, well fear not! we are working to make this season special.

Today from 12 to 6pm and tomorrow, yeah we are not usually open on Mondays but we will be at the shop expecting you to send you home with amazing gifts from 10am to 3pm.

None will be left without a gift!

Mauricio.

December 21, 2018August 7, 2019Jewel EnvyGeneral

Did someone say FREE GIFT with purchase?! Yup! ‘Tis the season of giving at Jewel Envy!

Tonight is the night, we are open until 10 PM just for you, AND we are giving away an amazing Mini Jewellery Care Kit with a purchase of $75 or more!

Don’t miss out on this sweet give away – there are some amazing goodies inside (see below) to keep your jewels as SHINY as YOU!

#jewelenvy #bigbluehouse #openlate #tistheseason #freegiftwithpurchase #openlate

See you tonight!

Sincerely,

Jess