Tag: #madeintoronto

Oh heeeey Alexis!

Posted on Categories General
In case you don’t know Alexis Kostuk (of Glaciale jewellery design), I want to spend a moment giving you a glimpse into her goldsmithing goodness.
She is an all-around amazing artist, and her talent is more than visible in her carved pieces. Below are some of her statement rings that catch the eye in the best way possible.
 
The centre stone is a blue onyx, and it’s surrounded by white sapphires. This appeals to my art nouveau/deco-architecture-appreciating self in so many great ways.
This ring has a slightly different design than the one above, with a lapis centre (and don’t you just love lapis?!) and blue sapphires.
 Look at that turquoise! It sits atop a bed of sterling silver coral reef, with a peekaboo texture that perfectly complements the matrix of the stone.
Aren’t they lovely! Get your butts down here and just try to decide which one you like best. I dare you:)
ps – hi Rhonda!

Hey-hey-Hyewon!!!

Posted on Categories General
Hyewon Jang
This is Hyewon, a wonderful goldsmith who works out of Jewel Envy. 
The following are all pieces from her Africa collection:
I love the contrast between the bold asymmetrical shapes, and the delicate colour of the stones. Plus, these stud earrings look like exclamation points don’t they!!!!!!!
 
The bright pop of colour at the bottom of these stepping stone earrings is just perfect. They’d look great with a black turtleneck in the winter, or a white t-shirt in the summer, amirite?!
Yet another great pair of earrings, with bold, asymmetrical detail and pretty pearls at the bottom. These tie in very nicely with a lot of other pieces that Hyewon makes, as she is very fond of pearls:)

Bet you thought it would be another pair of earrings! Nope, just the cutest lil’ pendant ever.
All Hyewon’s work is just as beautiful. Her pieces are delicate and strong at the same time, and she likes to play with shape and form in surprising ways. Gemstones and pearls add just the right amount of colour, and her work is always the perfect way to add ooh-la-la to any outfit. Come in and take a look!

Hello Judith!!!

Posted on Categories General
Judith Noldin is a resident goldsmith here at Jewel Envy. She makes incredibly unique and beautiful pieces, and is also a whiz at doing repairs! I highly recommend stopping by to take a look at what she has going on, you will not be disappointed.

Here she is, hard at work on another repair:
 Here are some of my favourite pieces. The far left is part of the Turrets Collection. I love the cutout detailing, and of course, the 18K yellow gold accent isn’t too bad either! She has other similar pieces as well, with coloured glass instead of gold. The shape of the turrets is inspired by church steeples, and they definitely make me think of medieval architecture. The middle pendant is a lovely and serene mother-of-pearl face, with a pretty moony surprise on the back for you, as well. The brooch on the right is made of coloured, textured glass, and sterling silver. 
 

Come in and say hi to Judith!

Come cast with Jewel Envy!

Posted on Categories General
Hello friends! I am going to be teaching our next casting class, starting Wednesday August 12th. I thought I would go over the process with you, and show you what you can learn.
 Our first project is a ring. I will show you how to size, shape, and add
texture, pattern, and detail to a slice of wax. Once the wax has been
carved, I will walk you through the lost wax casting process. This
involves: investment, a hot kiln, a big torch, molten metal, and
centrifugal force. Voila! Your ring, in all its sterling silver beauty.
The next project is a cuttlefish casting.
A cuttlefish is a squid-like fish, that has a bone with very unique
properties. Birds like to peck at these bones, and goldsmiths like to
cast with them. (We will be casting, not pecking.) The inside of the
bone is very soft and has a great texture. I will show you how to use
tools to carve into the bone, to create a mold (essentially negative
space), for your piece. Once complete, we will pour molten metal into
this mold using gravitational force. Very fun!
The last project is one of your choosing, so it is a great time to stretch your creative muscles and use your imagination. Casting is a very sculptural process, and lends itself well to three-dimensional designs. Join me for this next class, and show me what you’ve got!
See you soon!
~sash

ROCK SOME CUSTOM ROCKS

Posted on Categories General
So you guys know we LOVE doing custom work here at Jewel Envy, right? If you have ever thought of getting something made for you or a loved one, but didn’t know where to start, let me help point you in an interesting direction:)
Here at the studio, we have a selection of beautiful and unusual gemstones, that are just begging to be put to good use.
Here are a few of them:
This is amolite. What a beautiful shimmery colour! Absolutely perfect for spring. This would be amazing as the focal point of a necklace, but it would also make your friends green with envy (sorry, had to do it!) as a large and in-charge cocktail ring.

 Smithsonite. It reminds me of sea glass, though this is actually zinc. It makes me think of the beach, and it would look perfect against a backdrop of a sunkissed tan!:)
Watermelon Tourmaline. So so so juicy and the perfect embodiment of summer picnics and fireworks in the park. These two beauties would be absolutely stunning as a matched pair of earrings, don’t you think?!
These beautiful gemstones really give life and personality to your design – their not-so-standard shapes and spectacular colours are a great starting point for an entirely original and one-of-a-kind piece.
Have a great and sunny day!
xx sash

Burn baby burn!

Posted on Categories General
So I dropped some very very hot wax on my arm the other day. It is not a big deal in the grand scheme of potential-goldsmith-injuries, but it is a bit of an eyesore:
 ouch!
So what is a goldsmith to do? Cover it up with jewellery of course! Big and bold bracelets are the perfect disguise, and here is the proof:
(L-R) Arrowhead bracelet in sterling, Archerade by Sasha Oda
Open studded cuff in sterling, Jewelust by Amanda Henderson
Twig cuff in sterling and gold plate, Pash by Gillian Batcher
Wrap bracelet in sterling, Tete Designs by Fatima Tataragic
If delicate is more your thing, we also have a great selection of dainty bracelets that are beautiful and intricate distractions from any offensive scar tissue:)
(T-B) Plain and hammered bangles in sterling, HP Lafaurie Jewelry Design by Helena Lafaurie
Paisley links and cherry blossom bracelets in sterling, Koko Bijoux by Young Kyoung Ko
Lotus charm bracelet with sapphires in sterling, Ellolite by Chia-Chien Tsai
Open shapes bracelet with moonstone beads in sterling, Glaciale by Alexis Kostuk
 
 
Obviously you can arm yourself even if uninjured, so come on by today and try on some bracelets!
We are open until 6pm tonight, you can help me put some aloe on my burn.
~sash

Wedding band class

Posted on Categories General
Hello everybody!
Are wedding bells in your future? If so, then perhaps you are in the market for a wedding band. In that case, look no further because we offer ring-making classes. Yay!
 These rings are fabricated from metal sheet. We have a 1-day band ring class where we teach you the skills and techniques to make one of these beauties yourself. Wowza!

These rings have been carved in wax, and are ready to be cast in the metal of your choice. We will teach you how to carve a ring, and once it’s cast we will show you how to make it shine:) This is a 2-day casting workshop. How coooooool??!
If you are loving the ‘custom’ aspect, but not interested in getting your hands dirty, never fear, because we love doing custom work for you:)
Come by and say hello, and sign up for a class or a consultation!

Up close and personal

Posted on Categories General
Jewellery photography is a tricky and time-consuming endeavour that makes me curse and grit my teeth and shake my fist at the heavens. Despite all my best efforts, every image seems to be slightly off, be it the focus, or the colour, or the weirdo reflections.
 Recently I decided to cut my losses and purchase a macro lens. I haven’t
had a chance to really test it out, but today I took some practice
shots. I didn’t use a lightbox or proper lights, just a white piece of
paper, a tripod, and an ordinary desk lamp.
What do you think?
 

Rose stud earrings by Amanda Henderson (Jewelust)
 Textured earrings with sapphires and aquamarines by Ellen Tsai (Ellolite)
 Africa pendant with emerald by Hyewon Jang (H Jewelry)
Art deco pendant with marcasites by Lauren Hanham (Lauren Hanham Jewellery Designs)
Five-band ring by Sasha Oda (Archerade)
So far so amazing, right!? The detail in the close-ups is great, and getting the pieces in focus was a breeze. This might not be as exciting for you, but if you knew the hours I have spent trying to get just half-way decent images… well you’d probably feel sorry for me, but then you’d start feeling the excitement too. Excitement for the future of my jewellery photography yay!
~sash

Holiday Countdown!

Posted on Categories General
It’s that time of year again –  holiday wish list time!
I have put together a list of things that you may gift to me – or more appropriately, your own someone special:) – at a range of different prices.
So if you’re still scratching your head, wondering what to do, we can help you out no matter your budget. Stop by the studio and say hello, and take a look at some of our shiny, lovely jewellery for yourself!
From left to right (ish):
Sterling silver drop earrings with granulated texture, sapphires and aquarmarines, Ellen Tsai / Ellolite, $603 a pair
10K rose, yellow, and white gold stacking bands with hammered texture, Zsolt Szekely, $495 each
Sterling silver drop stem earrings with texture, Young Ko / Koko Bijoux, $125 a pair
Sterling silver oxidized, art deco pendant with marcasites, Lauren Hanham Jewellery Designs, $125 (incl. chain)
Sterling silver initial pendant (other letters upon request:), Alexis Kostuk / Glaciale, $195 (incl. chain)
10K rose gold rose studs, Amanda Henderson / Jewelust, $225 a pair (incl. backs)
Sterling silver oxidized cufflinks, Hyewon Jang / H Jewelry, $170 a pair
Sterling silver keychain, Helena Lafaurie / HP Lafaurie Jewelry Design, $148
Sterling silver twig rings, 3 rings shown here, some have gold plating detail, Gillian Batcher / Pash, $75 – $125 each
Sterling silver skull pinky ring with andalusites, Sasha Oda / Archerade, $180 each
Sterling silver ring with texture, Darija Radic Designs, $80 each
Sterling silver and leather cord safety pin bracelet, Fatima Tataragic / Tete Designs, $80

Happy shopping, friends!
xx sash

Custom work

Posted on Categories General
Hello friends!
I know that the temperature has only begun its descent down the thermometer, but just a reminder that the holiday season is not that far off. Yikes!
If you’ve ever considered having jewellery custom-made for you, or for a loved one, now is a great time to get started. No time like the present, for getting presents haha! We love working one-on-one with you to create something special and unique; whatever your vision, we can help you make it a reality.
 
Made by Sasha Oda of Archerade, these gold stacking rings were designed for a very special friend. They were made using the gold and diamonds from sentimental jewellery, accumulated over a lifetime of birthdays and graduations. It was a wonderful way to incorporate special treasures into new pieces, instead of keeping them locked away in a jewellery box somewhere.
Of course, you don’t need to use old pieces to make something new. All you need is an idea, and we can take care of the rest!
Stop by the studio, or call to make an appointment. 
See you soon!
~sash



×
Product added to cart

No products in the cart.