The Results Are in for the In Studio Wedding Band Competition

Thank you to everyone that participated in voting on our competition!

Have a look at the Online Exhibition to see who made each pair of earrings.

First Place goes to Gillian E. Batcher/PASH Jewellery Design for entry #3
Second Place goes to Alexis Kostuk/Glaciale Jewellery for entry #6
Third Place goes to Young Kyoung Ko/Koko Bijoux for entry #5

Congratulations to all of the winners! Stay tuned for information about our next in house competition.

Show Success!!!

Hi guys! You may have known (and you may have visited - thank you!) that Amanda Henderson (of Jewelust) and Sasha Oda (of Archerade) took part in the inaugural Etsy Made in Canada: Toronto edition. The show was last Saturday, and there is no doubt that it was a phenomenal success.

There was a lineup well before the doors opened at 10am, and there are rumours that people were waiting since 6am. Holy moly! The first 50 shoppers received free swag bags filled with amazing handmade goodness, so that was definitely not time wasted.

From the moment that the clock turned 10, it was complete pandemonium. Rushed bathroom breaks, no time for lunch, running out of business cards... just a testament to the incredible crowd of shoppers that kept us on our toes until the very end.

It was so much fun, and a great introduction into the somewhat daunting world of selling jewellery at shows and events. I can't wait until the next show, and I hope to see you there!

Here are some images from the sale:

 Soooo many people! It was consistently PACKED throughout the day. Great for the vendors (amazing visibility and exposure), though I think some shoppers felt a bit overwhelmed by the crowds.

 

 This was my table. There are many things I would change about my display and setup, but this was a great way to try it out!

 Amanda doesn't have an image of her table (that's how busy she was!) so here is a nostalgic image of her and her sister, at an outdoor show quite a few summers ago.

If you stopped by last Saturday to say hello, thank you so much for your support! If you missed out on this one, you can catch Gillian Batcher (of Pash Jewellery) at the Craft Ontario show at Wychwood Barns, October 10th to the 14th.

Have a great Sunday!

~sash

What does jewellery mean to you?

The idea of jewellery means different things to different people. Sometimes it is cultural or religious, other times a status symbol, a fashion accessory, or a piece of art. I've had the opportunity to work in different segments of the jewellery industry and to come to understand a little bit about how different people perceive jewellery. I worked for a large U.S. manufacturer/wholesaler, I've worked in a metal art studio as an artist in residence at the Harbourfront Centre, I used to manage a mass-produced silver jewellery store, I am currently a goldsmith that focuses on custom work and creating my own jewellery lines, and I was, originally, a consumer with no experience with jewellery. In each of these roles I had to think of jewellery very differently.

To some people, jewellery is an afterthought, a bit of sparkle to match their dress. To others, it is an important decision, something that they will wear everyday, and that needs to describe their personality. No detail is too small or unimportant. Some artists like to push boundaries by making sculptural pieces that can barely be worn on the body. It is interesting to me to make jewellery that is functional but does not look conventional. I like when something looks like it is precariously perched on the finger knowing that is it secure. I also like to see how people react. Sometimes it makes complete sense to a person that they are looking at a ring and how it should be worn. Other times people are confused and ask me what they are looking at and how it should be worn.

Anticlastic ring with hidden stone. By Amanda Henderson

Lately I have been having fun with the notion of (un)conventional jewellery, by making pieces that look like rings that you might find in a big box jewellery store, but... well, they aren't. They are inspired by common diamond ring styles, but without the diamonds. Take a look.

Left to right: Three rose ring, Rose halo ring, Rose cluster ring

What does jewellery mean to you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Amanda
Jewelust

Earthy Sparkle

Hello All!


Here is a new ring made by Darija Radic. Start your fall off right with this elegant yet earthy style with some bling of course!!

Polish Festival and Contemporary Polish Jewellery

It is that time of year again... the Roncesvalles Polish Festival! I thought it would be fitting to take a look the jewellery that is coming out of Poland. Now I know what you are thinking... amber jewellery, right? Well, I am here to report that there is more to Polish jewellery than amber!

Dorota Kos | gold plated silver, cubic zirconia | www.dorotakos.blogspot.ca

 

Jan Suchodolski | silver rings with synthetic stones | www.suchodolski.pl

I feel I shouldn't completely leave out the great Polish amber jewellery. Here are a couple great examples where the goldsmiths have used amber in a very non-traditional way.

Amberwood | amber, drift wood, hazel, silver, magnetic clasp | www.amberwood.pl

Art7 | sterling silver, amber | www.art7.com.pl

 If you've enjoyed this, you should come out and enjoy some perogies in one of the vodka gardens after some free wax carving lessons here at Jewel Envy!

Kicking off the Bridal Earring Competition!

It is once again time for some friendly in house competition between the jewellers here. This year we decided to focus on earrings. You can view the online exhibition by clicking on the page to your right called In Studio Bridal Competition. Once you have viewed the exhibition be sure to click on the link to place your vote for your favourite design. The exhibition is also on display in the studio so we encourage you to come in to see these fabulous pieces in person! You can also vote in person at the studio but we will only count one vote per person. The winner will be announced after the exhibition closes in mid October.

Enjoy!

Come celebrate Polish Festival with Jewel Envy. On this coming Saturday, everyone will have a chance to try your hand at wax carving for Free! Then you can take a special 1/2 day casting class on Sept. 20th to cast and finish your work. It's a dream come true to make your own piece of jewellery!