Tag: #madeintoronto

Hi Judith!

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This is Judith Noldin:
She is a resident goldsmith here at Jewel Envy, selling her lovely jewellery under her own line, called IN Jewellery. Two of her pieces are featured in this week’s Save vs Splurge, and here they are:
 This is the adorable Acorn pendant. Fabricated in sterling silver, this sweet thing hangs on an extra-long sterling chain. It’s a save at $160.

 This is the Bell pendant, with an 18KT yellow chain for a beautiful two-tone effect. It is an actual bell, which chimes softly as you move. This one is a bit of a splurge at $550.
Have a great long weekend!
 

Tammy McClennan Designs

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Welcome back Tammy!
After a few months in Switzerland – working on a set for a play, no less! – Tammy is back with us at the bench, working on new pieces.
She works mainly with brass, silver, and wood, fabricating these amazing hollow forms that are heavy on style but light as a feather around your neck.
After fabricating the forms, she adds silver tubing through the centre for the chains to slide through. She then powder coats each shape in varying colours, which also adds texture and depth.
Her work is the subject of today’s save vs. splurge, and here are the pieces we are featuring:
This small pendant looks like an adorable hat box. It is a hollow form constructed in brass, and powder-coated in Tiffany blue. You can see the brass peeking through around the edges. There is silver tubing soldered through the centre for the chain. This beauty is a steal at $95.
 This statement necklace is a very worthwhile splurge at $425. There are three separate pieces here – the centre form is brass, while the two on the end are wood. The chain has a mechanical closure, and is made of sterling. I kind of think that this bold necklace is also a steal:)

These photos definitely do not do her pieces justice – I highly recommend stopping by the studio to take a look at these in person.
 
Happy shopping!

Save vs Splurge – Easter Edition:)

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Happy Easter errybody! For today’s edition of Save vs Splurge, I decided to look at two necklaces by Gillian Batcher of Pash Jewellery Design.
Both of these beauties were made using the Mokume Gane method. If this is your first time hearing that term, here is a quick rundown: It is a Japanese metal-working technique, that involves the layering of different coloured metals, in order to achieve a laminate that resembles the grain of wood.
It is a time-consuming process, but the results are well worth the effort. See for yourself:
At first glance, the pendant is simple and classic. Yet upon closer inspection, you can see the complex and organic pattern that is a result of the Mokume Gane technique. This pendant is made from sterling silver and copper, and it retails in our studio at $195.
And look at this masterpiece! At first glance,what catches my eye is the graceful way this necklace cascades down the neck and collar. As I lean in more closely, I can see the texture and detail in each individual piece; the mix of the crochet and the mokume is very striking. This beauty retails at $4,600, and we’re open all day until 7pm so come in and try them both on!

Oh heeeey Alexis!

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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!!!

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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!!!

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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!

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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

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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!

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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

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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!
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