Spring is Here!

Yes, I know, it's still freezing outside but technically it will be spring on Wednesday. On top of the weather warming up, flowers blooming and choices in fashion expanding away from a parka and boots, it's the One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale!
Two of our Jewel Envy artists and friends will be participating this year. Theresa Duong of Theresa Duong Arts, and Kathryn Rebecca Pitt of Kathryn Rebecca. Click on their names to read their OOAK profiles.
Theresa will be in booth K-35
Kathryn will be in booth G-47.
The shows runs from March 27th to 31st at Toronto's Direct Energy Centre. Check out their site here.
-L

Kathryn Rebecca's "Wildflower: Daisies" Earrings

Theresa Duong's "Wearable Book Rings and Bangles"

A Little Pop Culture, A Little Old Tradition

There's certain pieces of jewellery that are quite definitive in pop culture. Like the "Heart of the Ocean" necklace in Titanic, or that gigantic diamond collar Nicole Kidman's character Satine wears in Moulin Rouge. Today I was thinking about a more subtle piece of jewellery in pop culture and, being a traditional Irish symbol of love, kind of goes with the month of March and St. Patrick's day coming up next week.
Anyone who knows me knows I am a diehard Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan. Any chance I get to talk about Buffy I welcome with great excitement. I grew up with the show, premiering in 1996 when I was just 11 years old and probably had no business watching such a scarey program. But something in the dark comedic stylings of Joss Whedon grabbed hold of me and never let go.
Another one of Joss's writing talents is a tragic romance of epic proportions. A slayer and a vampire in love? Oh yes, and that vampire was the most ruthless vicious vampire of all time and some gypsies cursed him with a soul so he would suffer for all of eternity! There were tears, there action packed fights, there were moments where our hearts skipped a beat, and there was the time Angel gave Buffy this:

And then this happened...

 

 And then we all died when this happened...

 

Then some other PG13 stuff happened that I won't post here but back to the ring!

Angel, or Liam as was his human name, was from Ireland originally. I don't know what happened to his accent but he did keep one Irish tradition going when he gave Buff that Claddagh ring. A heart representing love, hands representing friendship, and a crown representing loyalty. The way you wear it is determined by your martial status. It's worn on the right hand with the point of the heart toward the fingertips if the wearer is single, on the right hand with the point of the heart toward the wrist if the wearer is in a relationship, on the left hand with the point of the heart toward the fingertips if the wearer is engaged, and on the left hand with the point of the heart toward the wrist if the wearer is married.

Hopefully if someone gives you a Claddagh ring you get to wear it longer than Buff Buff did :s

-Lauren

This is a pair of Victorian style inspired custom earring. Mr. Chang was a romantic man whom had this picture in his mind that what jewellery would look lovely on his girlfriend. We had couple rounds of exchange in ideas and this is what we finalized with.
There involved many steps of fabrication and planning, since they had lots of elements to go on one piece. It has two layers of petals with a pearl in the center. There are wires hanging down freely with yellow sapphires set at the end. Also,  they were 24k yellow gold plated partially on sterling silver to give it an antique look.



ChiaChien