Juicy Gemstones

Oh hey, hai you guys!  

I just wanted to share a bit of a sneak peek.  I have decided to add a lot more colour to my jewellery, 

so I picked up a few pieces of rough gemstone this week.

Getting stones custom-cut isn't necessarily cheap, but it adds so much to the design and value of the piece.  Plus, I love getting EXACTLY what I want.  You know?

Take a look at these beauties:

Rainbow obsidian, rhodochrosite, amazonite, chrysoprase, ruby, larimar, lapis, and orange calcite.

Can you tell which is which?!

Stay tuned, I will definitely update with the finished products within the next few weeks.  Yay!

xx sash.

PS - I want a million dollars to spend on more gemstones!

DECEMBER!!!!!!

Is it just me, or did we just time warp through an entire year?!  It was summer like, yesterday!  If you're like me, and you're entering this holiday season in a fog of cold denial, then you might need some help in the gift department.  Never fear, we are here to help you with some nifty gifty solutions.

Come in and say hello, and choose something special for someone special!

Have a fantastic week, and happy shopping!

STACKED

The more the merrier!  

Power in numbers!  

Three's a crowd but more is a party!

etc!

What I'm getting at here, is that sometimes one just isn't enough.  It is, after all, the loneliest number.  So unless you are a hobbit (hehe), perhaps your one ring could use some company.  To prove that point, we had another stacking ring workshop in the studio yesterday.  The ladies, Kristina and Kim, were very worthy goldsmiths-in-training.

Here they are hard at work:

Here is amazing result of all their benchwork:

If you can't make it in for a workshop, never fear!  We have a great selection of stacking rings, already made just for you.  Take a look:

 

Rings by Carolyn Cathcart of Cathcart Designs

 Rings by Gillian Batcher of PASH Jewellery Design

Rings by Lauren Hanham of Lauren Hanham Jewellery Designs

 Rings by Sasha Oda of Archerade

*Please excuse my manicure - the nails of goldsmiths never last that long!

Have a great week!

The Circle of Life

I think we can all agree that Mufasa pretty much covered the circle of life, for lions and hyenas everywhere.  If you happen to be a goldsmith, the circle of life is a little different.  Luckily, I am here to impart some wisdom.

Here is me imparting wisdom:

The circle of life, for the sterling silver in my toolbox, begins as trial and error in wax carving.  Here are some early attempts at carving balls:  

Once I have a satisfactory wax carving, I use sterling silver casting grain to cast the ball into metal.

Surprisingly enough, I am not perfect, and when trying something completely new it can take a few attempts before I am happy with the results.  Here is my ball graveyard, where bad balls go to die:

Thankfully, the trial and error period does not last forever.  Below, success!

All the old sterling silver gets recycled, because recycling is part of the process.  In this case, I raided the ol' ball graveyard.   The bad balls visited the chop shop (er, metal shears), and now have a brand new purpose in life as casting grain.

In fact I am casting tonight, and this casting grain will actually become two sets of weddings bands and a pair of earrings.  

And that, my friends, is the sterling silver circle of life, goldsmith edition.  Hakuna Matata!

As you know, we had a fashion photoshoot here at the studio earlier this week. It inspired us to have our own fun photoshoot! Since Gillian had her hair and makeup professionally done for the magazine photos, she posed as our model for many pictures. Here she is wearing studded jewellery by Amanda Henderson.

New show Reign. New jewels.

Here at Jewel Envy, we are currently making jewellery for a t.v. show that is about to begin filming, Reign. We aren't allowed to show any pictures until the show premieres this fall, but we can tell you about it. The story follows Mary, Queen of Scots' rise to power- sounds interesting, doesn't it?!  We are making all kinds of jewellery, from necklaces to rosaries to rings, and even wax seal stamps. Needless to say, it has inspired new jewellery ideas! Stayed tuned for updates!

Read about the show and watch a trailer here.

Amanda

Toronto International Jewellery Festival

What do you know about the Toronto International Jewellery Festival (TIJF - www.tijf.info)?

It is a month long jewellery festival that will showcase the talent of Canadian goldsmiths through dozens of exhibitions across the city. It is the first ever of its kind in Toronto and here at Jewel Envy, we are involved in a few of the exhibitions, including our own, New Life. (http://tijf.info/jewel-envy)

Jewel Envy invited past and present members of the studio to interpret the theme “New Life” through the creation of art jewellery pieces. Some very interesting pieces have been created (believe me, I've seen a few!) and the show is going to be a great one! The opening is May 3 from 5-10pm, and the work will be on display for the entire month of May.

Another exhibition that will feature the work of JE goldsmiths Amanda Henderson and Fatima Tataragic, is called Emotions: Fury to Joy.  (www.facebook.com/pages/Emotions-Fury-to-Joy/206582876149780) This show asks the participating artists to take an emotional journey from fury to joy with two stops in between. The two middle emotions are up to the artist and will tell an emotional story. The work on display will be each artists interpretation of the emotions into personal adornment.

The final exhibition (that we know about right now, we are awaiting the announcement of judging results for more exhibitions), is called 45 Years in the Making (www.45YearsInTheMaking.com). This exhibition will showcase the talent and skill of George Brown College's jewellery program alumni. We have many GBC grads here that will be featured, including Gillian Batcher, Lauren Hanham, Amber Thomas-Penchoff, and Kathryn Rebecca Pitt, who is sadly no longer with Jewel Envy. It is being organized by me, Amanda Henderson.

These are only three of the 3 dozen TIJF exhibitions that are so far announced. I hope you are all as excited as I am for May!

Amanda

Going Gold!

I've been working on introducing some gold in my work. Here is a necklace and earring set I made using a Japanese braiding technique in 14k gold-filled wire. More of this braiding technique is found in my Okta sterling silver jewellery collection!

Close-up of the earrings

-Theresa

Enamel Class Photos

Hi everyone! Today I brought my camera in to the studio to snap a few shot of my talented students in action. Only two more classes in this session after tonight, 6 weeks have gone by so fast! I have listed upcoming class dates at the bottom of this post!

So far we have learned so many techniques, and completed a stenciling project, some students used lace to make a really cool pattern, others hand-cut stencils. In our most recent project, Sonia completed a miniature watercolour painting in a little brass frame which hangs askew around the neck. It is so adorable. Zeine made a really intricate origami-like shape from flat copper sheet enamelled with my favorite lime green, Amanda has been working on these great organic pod shapes which she made in the hydraulic press, and Padrin's teeth inspired pendant is so mesmerizing. Really cool work. I love the dimension and volume they have gotten through this exploration of copper with enamel.

I showed the students how to do cloisonne enamel tonight for the next and final project. This process involved packing wet enamel powder in between thin copper, gold or fine silver wires and firing. I made this cute little guy as a demonstration, only to realize he looks like Alexis' funny bug eyed toy who lives on her jewellery bench. They could be brothers! (See below)

Right: Sonia working on her miniature painting

Amanda sifting enamel onto one of many pods

Padrin removing his pendant from the kiln after firing!

Me firing a sample. 

Soon to become:

Cloisonne guy! aka, Popeye or Bugsy, on the right.

Next week we are in the home stretch with 2 classes to go, everyone will be working on cloisonne designs. I will be sad when class is over, we've had a really good time and I have really loved teaching this first enamel class here.

Next class will be a combination Intro/Intermediate Enamelling course, beginning on Thursday March 25th for 8 weeks. 

Introductory Enameling: Learn the basics of firing glass powder onto copper, metal preparation, various firing stages/textures, using opaque and transparent enamels, stenciling, drawing and painting on enamel, building hollow copper objects to enamel, enameling 3 dimensional objects, wet inlay and cloisonne. No jewellery/enamel experience necessary, the basics of piercing and drilling will be taught so everyone has a chance to design their own unique shapes to enamel!

Intermediate Enamelling for Jewellery: will explore the possibilities of enamel in finished pieces of sterling silver jewellery. We will learn and elaborate on enamel techniques, with a focus on multiples, bezel setting, prongs or tabs and rivetting enamelled components to fabricated jewellery designs. Prerequisites for Intermediate are: Intro to enamelling and Intro to Fabrication or other fabrication experience. Visit our website to see all courses and for registration information. www.jewelenvy.ca

One day enamel workshops for March 2010 (make a pendant with stenciled design and matching earrings, or two pendants)

Saturday, March 13 from 10:00am to 6:00pm 

Sunday, March 21 from 10:00am to 6:00pm

Hope you can join us for a colourful one day or 8 week class!

Bye for now!

Emily

www.emilygill.ca

Some people sing in the shower, I sing disco while working alone at the studio

First of all, happy new year to all our blog followers from me, Emily.

This year brings a few new changes, and a busy schedule for me. I have recently made the switch to full time member and changed benches. As some of you know, I work part time as a florist (yes, I love flowers.....!) and come here to Jewel Envy everyday after my morning shift whipping up floral deliveries to brighten people's days. Although I have lived in Toronto for about 9 months now, I feel more settled than ever, really enjoying my studio work, friendships with all the girls (yes, we are all girls at the moment) here and networking with other crafts people and jewellers. My eventual goal is to work full time and survive from my jewellery, but I am finding a happy balance with my part time job, which is important. I won't be leaving Toronto any time soon :)

I have been working what feels like non-stop since returning from Montreal after the holidays. I started teaching my Introductory Enamelling class two weeks ago, and love my students! Laura, our co-op student, although new to enamelling, is a HUGE help as my assistant. Thanks Laura!

Just when I thought I could have a little break a slew of shows I want to apply for or participate popped up!

In Halifax, my friend and jeweller Vanessa Neily is curating Adornable, an exhibition of work by selected NSCAD jewellery and metalsmithing alumni. Its going to be so cute and whimsical, I am totally into it! The show will run in the summer (you should also check out her website, her stuff is incredible http://www.vanessaneily.com)

I am particularily tickled by the invitation by Lafreniere & Pai Gallery to participate in their tenth year anniversary show entitled "Eros from Chaos" an exhibition of erotic jewellery and sculpture running in May in Ottawa. Ooh la la. I have a plethora of ideas ;)

The icing on the cake will be the Jewel Envy group show, which we have just started planning. No set dates yet, but we will keep you informed!

Now I must get back to work. I've been here almost every night until at least 9pm with Young, who is attempting to make her first Mokume ring. Last night, however, was a record late night, leaving here at 12:35am exhausted, but very content with the amount of work I completed. Sometimes it is great to work until you can't anymore. I prefer having a working buddy those late nights; too bad no one else gets to see how my late night enamel-dance moves improved and I now can do a rendition of Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way" disco tune pretty much accapella. Yikes!

Disco is cheerful, and so are my happy little brooches. Take a peek at how they transformed.

I sift enamel powder (a form of powdered glass) onto the hand formed copper flowers. 

And from my powdery bench, I put the little guy on a steel trivet. He is ready to bake!

Into the kiln at about 1500 degrees fahrenheit for about 2-3 minutes.....until they get nice and glossy.

Et voila! So many happy brooches!

I am also making more necklaces with this form. My bench is a garden of colour when I have them all out.

I love enamelling. I couldn't live (or make jewellery) without it!

- Emily