This year’s colour of the year is “cloud dancer”, but with as much of the white stuff as we’ve been getting, today calls for a little more “mocha mousse” warmth from 2025.
If you are lucky enough to get to stay inside today, we hope that you are cuddled up with a cup of comfort.
Or if you are lucky enough to enjoy playing in frosty fluff outside, we hope that your joy burns bright and your toes thaw quickly when you come home.
Warm thoughts, all around.
In fact, why not throw on your personal regalia, your most cherished parure, and host an indoor dance party?
And if you have been inspired to adorn yourself in toasty tones, but find that you lack such noble finery, drop by Jewel Envy and get comfy with our handmade jewellery!
Charles Lewton-Brain invented Fold Forming. Fold Forming is a way of forming sheet metal quickly into 3D organic shapes as well as textures. This method uses sheets of metal without the need for soldering. Basically, you use sheet metal, fold it, work it and then unfold it.
It was developed in the 1980s. It emphasizes forming using the metals characteristics. It is about following what the metal likes to do as opposed to forcing form upon the metal, keeping in mind the plasticity ductility and elasticity of the metal.
You can fold form with most metals like aluminum, niobium, titanium, gold, silver, platinum and steel.
Silver prices have gone up mainly because more people want silver than there is available. It’s no longer used just for jewellery — it’s a key material in solar panels, electric vehicles, computer chips, and modern electronics, all of which are growing fast. Mining silver takes time, and new supply can’t ramp up quickly, so demand is outpacing production. On top of that, when the world feels uncertain due to wars, economic slowdowns, or debt worries, people often turn to precious metals like silver as a safer place to put their money, which pushes prices higher.
Another reason prices are climbing is financial investing. Large investors are buying silver through funds that physically store the metal, which means less silver is available on the open market. When supply is tied up in vaults and exchange inventories are low, prices rise. At the same time, things like a weaker U.S. dollar, expectations of lower interest rates, and fears about inflation make silver more attractive as a way to protect money’s value — adding even more pressure for prices to keep going up.
What this means for handmade jewellery?
Material Costs for Jewelry Makers Go Up
When silver spot prices rise sharply, the raw material cost for your pieces goes up too — whether you’re using sterling grain, sheet, wire, or casting grain. Jewellers don’t usually buy metal at old prices indefinitely: suppliers tend to base casting grain & wholesale metal costs on recent spot price averages, so costs rise with the market.
Result:
Your cost per ounce of silver increases — which directly raises the cost of production.
Profit margins shrink if you don’t raise prices.
Many makers raise retail prices of silver jewelry accordingly.
Retail Prices Likely Rise (Consumers Pay More)
Because silver is now more expensive, most brands and artisans will either:
Increase retail prices, or
Reduce the amount of silver in designs to keep prices accessible.
That means:
Simple earrings that once sold for, say, C$50–90 may edge upward.
Larger, heavier pieces (e.g., chunky bracelets, large pendants) become proportionally more expensive.
In Canada, this is amplified because the silver price saw record levels in Canadian dollars as well as USD.
December birthdays can be tricky when it comes to gift giving. With all of the special events going on, how does a December birthday gift stand out? With personalization! Customization! Any gift stands out when it connects directly with the recipient, and what connects more to a December birthday than a unique, handmade December birthstone present?
One December birthstone is Turquoise, which comes in a myriad of tones and can be used in a myriad of ways. Here at Jewel Envy, we have pieces in stock that can be adjusted or sized if needed.
We do require 4-6 weeks for new custom pieces, so check the birthstone of your loved one and drop by to discuss a custom piece soon!
Hallowe’en is done, the world series of baseball is over, and I don’t know where October went! Hard to believe that the holiday season will be upon us before you know it! From the whimsical, to the dainty, to the colourful and statement pieces, you’re sure to find something perfect for that jewellery-wearing person in your life at the Big Blue House! Come visit us and see what inspires you…
Just a very tiny selection of what awaits in the studio!
It my still be warm outside, but fall is definitely here. The leaves have started turning lovely orange and red colours, and it’s (sort of!) getting cooler out. Come explore your fall vibe at the studio!
Here are some things to get you started! (From centre top) Earrings by Jamie Rosario (garnet dangling earrings and garnet studs), ring by Glaciale Goldsmith, earrings by Eunice Lin, bracelet by Frekkel Designs and brooch by Yuna Zhang.
Come see us, and explore the options in studio! Enjoy the fall colours.
Mokume Gane is a Japanese metal crafting technique where there is a layering of different-colored metals and in the end, you get beautiful wood grain patterns.
This technique was developed approximately 400 years ago in the Japanese Edo period.
The name Mokume Gane resembles rosewood grain.
Some of our goldsmiths here make Mokume Gane jewellery.
