From  Jewel Envy Jewellers!!!

Shop local and everyone will have a happy holidays!

Are you still looking for last minutes gifts? I'm not judging, I still have shopping to do!

This year I have made an effort to buy from small and local businesses. I have shopped at the shows that I have participated in, with pretty good success too. I feel good knowing that I'm not just buying a cool, handmade gift, I'm also helping someone in my community to have a better holiday too. "Advocates say that locally owned stores spend proportionately more on payroll than chains and that buying local will save jobs. Plus, for every $100 spent at a locally owned store, $45 remains in the local economy, compared with about $13 per $100 spent at a big box." (Read more here.) Plus, "Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses." (Read more here.) Small business owners are rooted in our communities, they live and love here. The money that they earn stays here, and they are more likely to support charities that are close to their hearts.

If you still have some last minute gifts to buy, why not stop into that local artisan store? Roncesvalles has tons of independent shops, everything from kitchen goods, handmade cards and gifts, to clothing, and of course jewellery. If you're one of those people that waits until Dec 22 to do all of your shopping, Roncesvalles is one-stop shopping. That beats a mall any day!

Here is Roncesvalles business directory: www.roncesvallesvillage.ca/business-directory/

Happy holidays!
Amanda
Jewelust

P.S. If you are one of those people that already have your shopping finished, please tell me how you do it!

Holiday Countdown!

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

'tis the season

     So it's that's season again of long hours and busy schedules!

Make things easier for yourself and pop into Jewel Envy which has a huge selection of wonderful and unique gift ideas! Did I mention its all local artists and all handmade?!

Don't miss out!

Over and out!

Pop Up Market With Jewelust and Archerade!

Two of our lovely goldsmiths, Sasha Oda of Acherade and Amanda Henderson of Jewelust, are down at #LocalTOMRKT today. It's a changing marketplace that opened on Nov 29th and is going all the way to Dec 24th. If you want to snag some great gifts from our girls, today is their last day. They're there until 10pm. 335 Yonge St, Toronto! Get yer buns down there! Info here.

CO - Opertive Student

In the last month while working at Jewel Envy a gemologist came by to sell some gems at the shop. It was something different and it was a good learning experience about the wholesale business between the gem dealer and the shop. I was able to see the different kinds of gems they sell and how the cooperation between the two businesses work together.


For example, the gems that most people buy from he store are real but sometimes a customer wants to order a synthetic or manufactured gem because of the piece and the variety of the designs. While most of the real gems have interesting designs and vibrant colours just as the synthetics do, it really depends on what the customer wants. Synthetic gems are sometimes in demand because of the unique cuts and designs offered not available in natural gemstones. The shop usual buys real gems because they are preferred but now and then the shop will buy synthetic gems for orders for their customers or because there is a specific shape they need for a design. That was something I didn't really know about the synthetic gems. How some people would sometimes order the synthetic because of the cut and design. This experience has been memorable one and one of my favourite so far in my co-op placement. I was even able to buy a small gem to keep. For any co-op students looking for a placement I recommend you take your co-op placement at Jewel Envy has it has been good experience for me here!
                                                                                              
                                                                                                                           - Rebecca G.

Do you like the month of December? It's actually my second favorite month of the year. It's festive and happy that there are many events and parties for us to celebrate our holiday season. I woke up this morning and thinking to myself what's the birthstone in December? The answer is Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise. Tanzanite is unique in it's trichroism of blue, violet and burgundy when looking under alternate lighting conditions and different angles in crystal . Its blue can be resemble to sapphire.

Now I will show you a bit of process in my lotus design.

by Ellolite