Tag: #jewelenvy

SPOTLIGHT ON JUDITH NOLDIN!!!

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As I write this, the weekend is sadly coming to an end. Luckily, I have some beautiful pieces by Judith Noldin to turn your sad frown upside down, and brighten your dark winter night.
I actually thought these were bookmarks – very glad I asked Judith because they are little forks! Beautiful and special forks, when you want to impress your guests as they dine on your delicious appetizers. Also a wonderful gift for someone who loves entertaining, don’t you think?! 
Solid sterling silver $180

I love these rings. The colours and shapes are very unique, though they work perfectly together as a collection. The ring on the left is sterling silver with an 18KY bezel and the stone is black flint for $410. The centre ring is also sterling silver with an 18KY bezel, and the stone is a green and red lakeshore gem for $410. The ring on the right is my favourite (because I love the pink, salmony colour the most), and it is sterling silver with 14KR little accent balls on the either side of the pink lakeshore gem for $380. *full disclosure I don’t know what a lakeshore gem is, but I will ask Judith the next time I see her! **UPDATE!!! A lakeshore gem is a stone that Judith finds while walking along the Lakeshore!! Amazing**
Judith makes very unique pieces that have the most interesting shapes, colours, and textures. I am always surprised (in a very good way!) by all the different elements she brings to her craft. She is also a whiz at doing repairs and redesigns and of course custom work, so if you’re looking for a real conversation-starter of a piece, ask for Judith!
Stay warm out there lovelies! xx

Happy Movember!

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It’s that time of year again – Movember! To be more specific, we’re about two-thirds of the way through that time of year. I’m sure you’ve noticed the normally-clean-shaven-but-currently-mustachioed men, sporting the extra facial hair in support of prostate cancer research, but perhaps you haven’t seen too many ladies with staches.

Well this is Amanda Henderson. She has an Etsy shop called Sassy Septum Rings, which specializes in mustachioed septum rings for those who are follically challenged, but still want to show their support. She donates a percentage of every purchase, so go ahead and support a fantastic cause!
Here is the link:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/SassySeptumRings

  Amanda also does custom work through the studio, so if you have a specific mustache in mind, get in touch with us and we can help make it happen!

Go for the ‘mo!

SPOTLIGHT ON…. ALEXIS KOSTUK!!!!!

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Happy weekend everybody!
It’s a beautiful day – the sun is shining and there is still some warmth in the air. Basically, a perfect day to come inside and try on some jewellery, haha! But actually it is…
You all know Alexis, studio manager extraordinaire, and I’m sure you’ve seen her work before. I just thought I would gather some of my favourite pieces that she has here on display. There is quite a wide range of techniques that she uses to create her collections – she really is an artiste:)

 
The ‘Whoops’ pendant is enamel, set in a sterling heart. 
The gemstone stud earrings, and the oval floral pin, are also enamel.
The shark pendant is carved and cast in sterling, with green tourmaline eyes.
The two wedding bands are sterling silver, with nickel silver polka dot inlay for contrast.
The three bands in front are also part of the polka dot collection, also with nickel silver polka dots but with gemstones for added colour. Choose between blue tourmalines, black spinel, or green tsavorites.
The beaded tassel pendant has a periwinkle blue enamel centre, with a small oval onyx set above it.
The initial pendant (which can be customized in a variety of styles, for every letter of the alphabet) is carved by hand and cast in sterling silver.
Stop by today and try something on! We’re open until 6pm this evening, see you soon!
 
 

Artist Spotlight on Gillian!

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Happy
Sunday readers!
We are
celebrating our tenth anniversary this year—a milestone for Gillian E. Batcher,
who is not only the owner operator of Jewel Envy but also, a woman, a daughter,
a friend, a goldsmith a wife, and a mother.
She opened
her first jewellery studio ten years ago in
downtown Toronto.

She has a
degree in Psychology, and graduated with distinction, from The University of
Western Ontario. After completing her degree, she went to George Brown College
and completed the three-year Jewellery Arts program, graduating with
distinction.
Next she went
to Florence, Italy to study an intensive jewellery course, focusing on textile
techniques in precious metals, and she participated in a three-year residency in
the metal studio crafts studio at Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.
Gillian
has been running with great success her business, congratulations to her, to
her husband Matthew, and her gorgeous baby Everly, for these ten years of
growth in this incredible, competitive and difficult career.
We, the
resident goldsmiths at Jewel Envy are very proud of being part of this achievement.
Helena (resident
goldsmiths)
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Artist Spotlight on Micheline Roi

As luck would have it, today’s jewel envy artist spotlight will be written by the artist herself, moi Micheline Roi!

It’s a great opportunity to let you know what extra curricular jewellery activity I’ve been up to.  Aside from my custom jewellery work and my production line, one of my loves is art jewellery.

What is art jewellery you ask?  Well, in short, it is jewellery that focuses on creative expression over all else. Using traditional and experimental metalsmithing techniques–and often borrowing heavily from the visual arts’ grab bag of material and methods–the artist sets out to make a work of art that communicates a thought or idea. In other words, art jewellery is an opportunity for the goldsmith to explore big ideas.

Looking to exercise this particular muscle, I was encouraged by my fellow goldsmith’s at Jewel Envy (we’re good at that!) to apply to an international competition called The Contemporary Jewelry Exchange which is “an art project where jewellery artists from all over
the world, are paired and asked to create a unique contemporary piece
of jewelry for each other.”


And guess what…I got accepted to participate!  Even better, I got matched with an incredible artist Rachel Suzanne Smith.

Rachel Suzanne Smith’s wearable sculpture-winner of he 2016 Niche awards





Rachel and I met by Skype to talk about our exchange and brainstorm ideas to explore. It was a meeting of like minds, we dove into a long discussion of possible directions for our project. Both Rachel and I are interested in the idea of communication through art and soon we landed on the question: Can we understand our work better via the lack of control given when the wearer of our work is the curator rather than ourselves?  In other words: when an artist creates something, s/he is making it with an idea/message in mind but what happens when the wearer of the jewellery interprets the piece differently–does this add or subtract from the work?

Rachel’s idea map following our brainstorming session.

Once Rachel and I settled on this idea, we set about our design/making separately without communication with each other (my idea because I wanted to surprise Rachel and be surprised by Rachel work when it arrives for me).

This summer I have been busy thinking/sketching/designing/testing ideas. I have settled on working with  Rorschach ink blot shapes–for their historical use in psychological diagnosis/interpretation, and working with mirrored acrylic–for the mirror’s ability to reflect oneself and one’s surroundings.

Beginning prototype designs for  Micheline’s Contemporary Jewelry Exchange

The deadline is coming up in a couple of weeks and I am busy finalizing the design and working out kinks at the laser cutters. Until then, I continue to dream up more designs and wonder what Rachel will have in store for me with her design!

To see more of The Contemporary Jewelry Exchange you can visit their Facebook page or view the 2014 Exchanges online.

–Micheline

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Summer Seaside Blues

With the summer in full swing, my thoughts turn to my favorite summer place–Georgian Bay and the multiplicity of blues that can be seen in the water. I am not alone in these thoughts–many customers this time of year come into the store in search of the perfect blue jewellery to wear by the water.

My perfect summer look? An oversized white shirt with layers of blue! Like this lovely look (from Chicos).

Breeze the summer away with whites and blues!

Looking around Jewel Envy I realize that I (and you!) don’t have to have to go far to achieve this look.  All the resident goldsmiths here in the blue house have caught the blue summer wave.

From bottom to top: atelier J’s Sterling branch with turquoise, Glaciale’s Sterling and enamel pendant, Ivane Thiebault’s Sterling shell and blue beads, Pash’s Sterling and chalcedony hummingbirds, and finally, Tammy McClennan’s Sterling, brass, and seafoam-coloured, powder-coated pendant.

Jewel Envy has your summer blues covered!  Come on in and get your layer on! But don’t forget your white shirt!

-Micheline

Save vs Splurge – battle of the hummingbirds

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Happy weekend everybody! If you are on the hunt for some hummingbird jewellery, are you ever in luck. This edition of save vs splurge features nothing but, with a few flowers and gemstones for good measure. All pieces by Gillian Batcher, of Pash Jewellery.

On the left is a sterling silver pendant, with a floral accent and a chalcedony drop. This is a cool $150. On the right is a solid 14 karat yellow gold pendant, with two kissing birds and blue diamond eyes. This beauty will set you back $975. 

Studs! The hummingbird studs in sterling are $150, with garnet eyes on the left, and blue sapphire eyes on the right. The studs in the centre are 14 yellow gold with blue diamond eyes.
The flowers on the left have a centre stone of tsavorite garnets for $135, and the ones on the right have garnets and citrines for $225.
So many choices! There are actually more pieces here in the store than what is pictured above, so I highly recommend coming in to try them on. And as always, custom requests are welcome and encouraged:)
Have a great day!

SPLURGE VS STEAL!!

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June 18. 2016
Hello happy readers,

Here you see two wonderful pieces created by Tammy McClennan,

$425 for the necklace and $85 for the earrings. The materials she used are brass, wood, sterling silver, stainless steel and powder coating. Come in and check them out!

Jade Dumrath

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Every once in awhile, we like to shine spotlight on an artist in particular. This week’s edition features 
**JADE DUMRATH**
Jade is a resident goldsmith here at Jewel Envy, who comes to us by way of the jewellery program at NSCAD. A stint as an Umbra product designer has resulted in the merging of these two different design worlds in her metalsmithing work. She manages to create objects and wearable jewellery that are both functional, and easy on the discerning eye.
Take a look at some of her pieces:
A trivet that becomes a bowl. A lovely geometric piece that combines workworking and metalsmithing and fruit. A winning combination!

 Another awesome trivet. I like the way the angular metal contrasts with the lighter, softer colour of the natural wood.

Vases! The linework is just great, I really like the depth and texture that it creates.
 Really interesting bracelet! I tend to gravitate towards pieces with texture and pattern. I like how the detail here is also functional.

 Heart ring, with gems for valves. I heart this!



I want to be in the jewellery business but am not a maker. Can I?!

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Have you every thought you might want to make your own jewellery or  design and build your own line of jewellery?

You have a million ideas but you have never taken a jewellery class.

But really how hard can it be?  Right?

Jewel Envy has a few different solutions.
1. Learn to fabricate your own jewellery line.
2. Design a line and have another goldsmith or trade shop make it for you.
3. Have another designer both design and make it for you under your own label.

At Jewel Envy we are excited when we meet people that want to learn we what do. We teach  introductory up to advanced classes in fabrication for one of a kind pieces and lost wax casting to make production or multiples of the same item.

Students gain an appreciation for the skills and time required to design, fabricate, and  finish  even the simplest band ring and get a beautiful mirror finish.  While some students become passionate for the process, and continue to manufacture the brand themselves, others decide to have someone else make it for them. 

Mia Chen, one of our resident goldsmith works on such projects.  She currently collaborates with one company but other goldsmiths work with a variety of small businesses. Mia has a keen eye for good design, and is fabulous at interpreting others ideas which has made the process of bringing someone else’s vision to life both possible and profitable.

Mia takes direction from the company she works with but adds much to this process as a skilled goldsmith who can discuss the design and then make a prototype. Sometimes Mia will show how the design can be slightly altered saving time and materials, and a new prototype evolves.

Once the prototype is approved it is ready to be manufactured either by Mia in our studio, or the company she works with has it sent overseas for production.  Other clients work a little differently by starting with an item they want to have made and a target wholesale price.

We can’t release the name of our clients, due to confidentiality, but we are happy to report that our clients who manufacture abroad look for ethical partners on the manufacturing end.

If this has peaked your interest and ends up being in line with what you have been thinking send us an email with the details or drop in to the store in person to discuss your exciting foray into the world of jewellery!

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