Category: General

Introducing: Carolyn Cathcart of Cathcart Designs

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Surrounded by my peers, I’m in the one in the middle.

            Well hello there. I am Carolyn Cathcart, newest goldsmith/designer/maker at Jewel Envy and I thought it was high time I introduce myself. I am a fresh graduate from the wonderfully challenging Jewellery Arts program at George Brown College, which was a life changing 3 years to say the least.

             While I was a student I really enjoyed working with alternative materials and it is a passion that has carried well into my shiny new career. The earrings below were the pieces I submitted to and subsequently won the Pat Cooney – Ontario Crafts Council Award for Production Manufacture.

                       Only in my third month at 151 Marion St and I already feel at home. Whether it is all the friendly faces or the bright blue hues of the workspace, Jewel Envy is a great place to be. Alot of owrk is on the way, including getting my nearly completed logo up on the website. Stay tuned!

-Carolyn
Cathcart Designs

Official Launch to the Wedding Band Competition

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Voting is now open for our first in house design competition. Go to the page on the right side of this blog and click on “In Studio Wedding Band Competition” to view the entries. You can then vote online or send us an email with your vote. If you are in the neighborhood stop in to vote in person. Only one vote per person please!

Enjoy the online exhibition and we welcome your comments.

Gillian

The Circle of Life

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I think we can all agree that Mufasa pretty much covered the circle of life, for lions and hyenas everywhere.  If you happen to be a goldsmith, the circle of life is a little different.  Luckily, I am here to impart some wisdom.
Here is me imparting wisdom:
The circle of life, for the sterling silver in my toolbox, begins as trial and error in wax carving.  Here are some early attempts at carving balls:  
Once I have a satisfactory wax carving, I use sterling silver casting grain to cast the ball into metal.
Surprisingly enough, I am not perfect, and when trying something completely new it can take a few attempts before I am happy with the results.  Here is my ball graveyard, where bad balls go to die:
Thankfully, the trial and error period does not last forever.  Below, success!
All the old sterling silver gets recycled, because recycling is part of the process.  In this case, I raided the ol’ ball graveyard.   The bad balls visited the chop shop (er, metal shears), and now have a brand new purpose in life as casting grain.
In fact I am casting tonight, and this casting grain will actually become two sets of weddings bands and a pair of earrings.  
And that, my friends, is the sterling silver circle of life, goldsmith edition.  Hakuna Matata!

Back in the Saddle

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Holy tripoli, it’s been a long time!
After almost 8 weeks recovering from a fractured arm bone I am back in the studio working. Just in time too! Not only is fall my favourite fashion season, there’s a wedding ring competition happening in the studio to help whip me back into shape.
Even though I couldn’t work this summer, I still had my fair share of adventure between cottages, weddings, family reunions, Niagara Falls, and a camping trip in Long Point Provincial Park for the last week of August. Jewellery, however, was always still in the back of my mind. While in Port Colborne I collected some fish bones that I thought might be a great jumping off point for a fall collection. Don’t worry, I don’t intend to use the actual bones…they’re kind of smelly.

Today is not so nice outside but I still feel like there’s a couple nice days left before it starts to get cold. I went for a walk through High Park and then down to the beach on Tuesday and there were people still sun bathing!
The city has drained the pools, but I’m not packing away my sandals just yet.
-Lauren

It’s Sunday. You’re a man. Look at some cufflinks why dont’cha?!

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Ok, so maybe you’re not a man.  But I’m willing to bet that you know a man… possibly a man who wears cufflinks.  So here are some cufflinks for you to look at and admire.  They are wonderful aren’t they!  Luckily for you they are all available here at Jewel Envy.  Come down for a closer look if you like, we’re open today until 6pm and then again on Tuesday 10 am to 6pm.
 
Top: Only for the studs!  (Jewelust by Amanda Henderson)
Middle: Did you think it was a ring?  Fooled you!  It is actually a pair of very manly cufflinks.  
(Ellolite by Ellen Tsai)
Bottom: Lovely windmill symmetry  (Hyewon Jang/H Jewellery)

 
 All four of these lovely cufflinks are PASH Jewellery Design by Gillian Batcher.  Which are your favourite?  I love the horses – the eyes are jewels of course.
 
And finally these four are Archerade by Sasha Oda.  The ones on the bottom right are my favourite.  They are called The Stephen, named after a great friend’s husband.
Quite a variety of Very Manly Cufflinks to choose from.  And if you don’t see exactly what you like, we offer custom design services as well.  Something for every-manly-one!
Enjoy your Manly Sunday!!!  xx
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As you know, we had a fashion photoshoot here at the studio earlier this week. It inspired us to have our own fun photoshoot! Since Gillian had her hair and makeup professionally done for the magazine photos, she posed as our model for many pictures. Here she is wearing studded jewellery by Amanda Henderson.

Class it up!

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 Happy Saturday errbody!!
It is a beautiful day… to shop for jewellery!  Jeez what a great idea.  But here’s another thought for the adventurous: what if you could make an amazing piece of jewellery yourself??  We here at Jewel Envy love to make things for you with our creativity and our skilled/scarred hands, but we also love to show you how to do it yourselves.

I have taught a variety of classes recently, and each and every one was so rewarding.  You don’t need to have any experience, just enthusiasm and a love for beautiful, shiny things.
Kate and Emily after a one-day earring workshop
Micheline showing off her statement ring
 
Mina wearing her evil eye necklace

Check out our website for more detailed class information, and join us for some good ol’ fashioned fun in the studio!

New Class!

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Upcoming Saturday August 10th, 2013 we will be offering for the first time our Name Plate One Day Class.
Sign up today to design and learn how to hand pierce with a jeweller’s saw a name plate which you can wear on a necklace or bracelet.  Make one with your own or a special someone’s name or initials or maybe even just a random word!

The class sample made by onsite goldsmith Alexis using brass.

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