Tag: #jewelenvy
Brooches are cool!

I know it doesn’t seem like it today with this amazing post (or almost post!) summer weather we’re having, but autumn is approaching, and with autumn, my mind starts to remember all my……brooches! I think they’re often an overlooked adornment, and they can be sooooo useful too, and not just in a “dress up your outfit” kind of way!

This is the first brooch I ever purchased for myself, I love the whimsical blend of tech and more conventional jewellery components. Made by hand, I purchased this about 25 years ago at the Cabbagetown Fall Fair, made by a duo of women who called themselves JADS.
You can use them to jazz up a plain-ish shirt, or to pin a scarf in place as the weather gets a bit cooler, but my favourite, it to wear them on one of my many jackets (I do have alot of them!).
They can be fun and whimsical (like the ones below), or more substantial. Also, you know, once you have one, people start giving them to you!

A friend of mine gave me this one-it’s enamel on brass, I think it probably came from Fair November in Guelph.

the two on the bottom (the cat and origami) were stocking stuffers, and the tweedy one was a leaving present when I left Scotland last year (very appropos!)

This one is pretty cool, it’s silver wire and beads, with twirled paper, and I think it’s made from Architectural Digest pages–It’s a lot of fun! And orange, which I don’t wear much of, but I love!
There are lots of cool forms you can get, especially in metal. And I like them because although I don’t necessarily want huge jewellery, I do like a nice substantial metal brooch.

This is a multi-layer enamel panel that I made some years ago, it’s about 2 inches by 1.5 inches, and it’s fairly heavy, so I sent it in a sterling frame, making it very wearable as a decorative brooch.

This is a copper brooch made with the Repousse and chasing technique.

A couple of examples of whimsical animals. the one on the bottom left is a little wren (although I like to think it’s a robin :), made for me by my good friend Morag Hickman, in the UK.
Although I have to admit, my all time favourite is this one:

I bought this in an auction as part of Ready, Steady Jewel, a number of years ago, which was pretty cool (and not just because I love this brooch!). A UK goldsmith called Deme Wolfe-Power made it, it’s sterling silver , cubic zirconia and leatherette. All told it’s about 3in by 4in, and it really makes a statement!
So, hopefully I’ve encouraged you to think about brooches! Come into the studio and check out our selection from our resident goldsmiths, including Helena, Vera, and Fiona. Can’t see quite what you’re looking for, but like the style of something in the studio in particular–that’s okay, we do that too!
Have a great Saturday, and I hope to see you soon!
-Robin (House of Cassady)
Watermelon Tourmaline
Sneak peek at some design ideas Alexis Kostuk of glaciale goldsmith is brewing up to set these beautiful watermelon tourmaline into some earrings designs.
Spring is almost here and brings gemstones and more with it!
We are more than prepared to say goodbye to the winter and welcome a warmer season full of plants and animals, but that’s not all for us here at the studio; Spring is bringing us new Goldsmiths, new awesome gemstone events (more on that will be addressed on the monthly email) and new classes.
New jewelers will be joining our family soon, and we cant wait to have their work available on the store for you.
There are also plenty of events to come, but those will be unveiled when the time is right, so I will not ruin the surprise.
Last but not least, our gemstone setting course is running and personally has me excited, after months and months of planning, sketching, writing and thinking, the course has a starting date and will be running, if you ever wanted to learn about gem setting, this is your opportunity. The course will require previous experience with jewellery, but good news, you can take fabrication courses here at the studio and be ready to take the course. go to https://jewelenvy.ca or give us a call at the studio to learn more about the courses.
That is it for now,
Mauricio
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair
Hello our lovely readers,
I cannot believe it is already the end of June! Is everyone ready for the long weekend? Well today, I have an exciting event to share with you to prepare you for July!
The annual Toronto Outdoor Art Fair is happening on July 6th – 8th! It is Canadaβs largest and longest-running contemporary outdoor art fair. This free public event showcases works by over 340
contemporary visual artists and makers, ranging in medium from painting,
photography, and mixed media to jewellery and ceramics, and attracts
115,000 visitors each year to Nathan Phillips Square.
I will also be showcasing my jewellery works for the first time at the TOAF. Please come by and check out my works!
@ Nathan Phillips Square
Friday July 6 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday July 7 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday July 8 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
I will be located at Booth A23 in Zone A! Hope to see you all there! Here are some of my works below.
Thank you for reading and I hope everyone will have a fantastic long weekend! Happy Canada Day!
Hoi Yi
Harem Royal
(all images via http://athousandfacets.tumblr.com/ and www.haremroyal.com)