Last minute gifts.

Dear Sunday Readers,

The most incredible holiday of the year is only one week away, Christmas!

Time to extend Peace, Love, Joy, Happiness and much more to all.  A time to share with family and friends. One of the many things we do at Christmas is to show our love and appreciation to the most important people in our lives.  This is where Jewel Envy comes in handy.  We have many lovely pieces made from the talented goldsmiths on site.

It’s very difficult to choose, but I will give you three options as last minute gifts.

Beautiful rings in white and yellow gold with sapphires or plain for an incredible and fancy

Christmas present! pash.ca

 

Colorful and gorgeous earrings in Sterling Silver with pearls. They are so extraordinary, that you will be

tempted to get one for yourself! atelier J  

Unique, bold bracelets or necklaces in Sterling Silver , 14 K gold plated, to surprise your best friend!  glacialegoldsmith.com
  

As a bonus may I suggest something for YOU, a tiny little necklace in Sterling Silver, 16” long, timeless, inexpensive, to wear all year around; a plum, just for YOU! hplafaurie.ca

 

From all of us at JEWEL ENVY, we wish you Wonderful Holidays, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Have a happy Sunday.

Helena

Holiday Gift Guide

Butterfly Brooch by Helena Perez Lafaurie/HPL Jewellery Design: $380, Sticksss Earrings & Druzy Dream pendant by Sasha Oda/Archerade: $95/$305, Branch pendant by Micheline Roi/Atelier J: $200, Leaf and Flower Ring by Ivane Thiebaut/IT Jewellery Design: $250.

Earrings by Zef Radi/Radi Brothers: $1400, Double Rose Pendant by Amanda Henderson/Jewelust: $99, Petal Cluster Necklace by Gillian Batcher/Pash Jewellery Design: $600.

Big Amethyst Ring by Gillian Batcher/Pash Jewellery Design: $600, Lapis Lazuli Drop Earring by Alexis Kostuk /Glaciale Goldsmith: $185, Large Rorschach Earrings by Micheline Roi/Atelier J: $95, Box Clasp with Blue Topaz Pearl Necklace by Judith Noldin/IN: $520 

Radi Brothers by Zef Radi

Happy Sunday everyone!

I woke up this morning thinking it would be grey and overcast all day, but this beautiful sunshine has proven me wrong. And I have something else to brighten your day - introducing the gorgeous and detailed work of the Radi Brothers, by Zef Radi.

Zef has brought his family-born love of jewellery to Jewel Envy, and I strongly encourage you to come by and take a look at what he makes - the craftmanship is beautiful and refined, and lets the design work really shine through. The shapes are quite simple, but the filigree, contrasting metals, and gemstones add so many layers of colour and depth. Your ears are begging to try these on!

 Teardrop earrings - $1,175

Sterling silver with 24k gold, 18k gold accents, and moonstones

 Petal earrings - $1,400

Sterling silver with 24k details and 18k gold earwires

Round earrings - $1,130

Sterling silver with 18k gold details and amethysts

 Square earrings - $335

Sterling silver with 14k gold and rubies

Burst earrings - $1,575

24k gold, sterling silver filigree, amethysts and moonstones

 

I didn't put these earrings in order of preference, because I'm having a hard time choosing a favourite pair. But if I HAD to choose... actually the first pair would be my favourites after all. I really like the shape of the Petal earrings, but I really love the colour of the gemstones so I'm going with the Teardrop earrings as my personal faves.What about you???

Drop by the studio to drool over these beauties in person, and maybe you'll be lucky enough to meet the goldsmith himself:)

Shop Saturday—Art Jewelry!

We at Jewel Envy are always looking for new and interesting ways to present jewellery.  In 2016 we launched the Jewel Envy Vitrines—a street-side, window-based gallery space used for presenting our resident goldsmiths' work.

Everyone is LOVING the space: customers, the neighbourhood, and people walking and driving on Roncesvalles. The three-window space is representative of the inner creative workings of the BIG BLUE HOUSE. This year the gallery has presented a group exhibition for Toronto Offsite Design,  one-of-a-kind jewellery by Helena Pérez-LaFaurie, and production and custom work by Alexis Kostuk and Ivane Thiebaut.

We close out the exhibition year with Micheline Roi's solo exhibition "Wayfinding." Relatively new to goldsmithing—she is two years into her new profession, Micheline presents a selection of her work from 2015 to the present. Coming from her first career of classical music composing—a mostly intellectual process—Micheline has spent the last two years finding her way within the physical discipline of  goldsmithing.

"Ancestry I" 2016 by Micheline Roi, brooch mixed media

Ancestry I is a momento mori in the form of a brooch.  Constructed around a tintype discovered in a family archive, the piece explores mortality through the use of Christian iconography: the halo, the cross and the symbol of trinity in juxtaposition with the image of a defiant young man seated beside a table bearing a bottle of whisky.

Rorschach I, 2016 by Micheline Roi, w
all mirror with removable brooch, mixed media

Rorschach I was made for The Contemporary Jewellery Exchange, an international exhibition in which jewellers are paired and make a piece of jewellery for the other to wear. This is what Micheline says about Rorschach I in her artist statement:  The making and sharing of a piece of jewelry is a communicative act. As artists we impose our ideas on our materials and in turn the wearer—our work is a reflection of ourselves. But the wearer of our jewelry isn’t a static plinth in service of our idea(s). In the act of wearing our piece, they become the curator of our idea(s) actively recontextualizing and interpreting our work ex situ.

As artists can we better understand our work through relinquishing control to the wearer?

To explore this dynamic, I started first with form—specifically a Rorschach inkblot—an historical allusion to the act of interpretation. I then chose to use reflective material—mirror acrylic—in reference to the pretence of self reflection in creation. The reflective inkblot brooch is mounted in its own negative space contained within a framed wall mirror. When the brooch is removed from the mirror to be worn, (or recontextualized), the wearer is confronted with the absence of reflection in the shape of the brooch they are now wearing, creating a communicative loop between maker and wearer.

The last Vitrine in the "Wayfinding" Exhibition is a winter scene featuring pendants from Micheline's (Atelier J) production line. The powder-coated, gold-leaf pendants hang from gold-filled chain and their shape is reminiscent of holiday tree ornaments.

Remember it is shop Saturday and all these pieces in the vitrines are for sale!  The exhibition is open 24/7 and can be viewed from the sidewalk on the Southeast corner of Roncesvalles and Marion in Toronto until December 23, 2017. Come for a visit  to peer in the windows and pop into Jewel Envy to inquire further!

sunday in the studio

Here's a little something for your weekend visual enjoyment. Earrings by Caroline Deacon that make me really happy, and that will make you really happy too. That's just the amazing effect that beautiful things have on people like us:)

textured studs, save at $65 a pair

 attention to detail: handmade backs!!!!

drops with opal cabochons. a bit of a splurge at $275 for the pair, 

but come one! these are just the best

Sunday Funday in the studio

It's Amnesty Day today! The studio hosts this day a couple times a year, for students to get some extra (and free!) benchtime outside of regular class hours.

Lots of fun and creative projects are taking form before my eyes. Here are some images of our amazing students hard at work:

  Using the flexshaft and a ring clamp like a pro

Soldering an earring with a bit of third-arm help

 Forming some very special bezels for some very gorgeous stones

We teach a variety of one-day and 8-week workshops here at Jewel Envy. Whether you are looking to build a foundation of goldsmithing skills, or walk away with a handmade piece of jewellery (or both!), we can help you out. Take a look at our calendar of upcoming classes and get in touch!

SHINING FALL COLLECTION

SHINING FALL COLLECTION

Hello Sunday Readers,

Like many of us I am often thinking of the warmth and sun of Springtime and this can be seen in my new work called, Shining Fall Collection, at h.p.lafaurie Jewellery Design.

For a close up look at the magic Shining Fall collection, shop online or at our studio

This series was inspired by the transition to fall. The nights get cooler but summers embrace has not been forgotten. These pieces will help you twinkle into the next season and keep the days of Fall shining along with you!

                                               

I LOVE little things that shine and make noises.  My silver necklace, pendent and earrings are in constant motion and make sounds when you wear them.

On a wet and dreary day, like today which is the perfect day to stay inside, reading a good book and sharing time with friends and family, I invite you to take the time to enjoy my collection online. Feel the reassurance that the sun and good times are always in our hearts.

I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoyed making it.

Custom variations are available.

Have a nice Sunday

Helena

Special Event Sunday!

We at the Big Blue House on Roncy in Toronto are always up to special things!

Earlier this year we started to curate our Roncesvalles Avenue windows and the results have been VERY SPECIAL. We feature a new goldsmiths' work every six weeks and they have a chance to design the windows of their dreams featuring their very own spectacular jewellery.

This month we unveiled Ivane Thiebault's work in our three street-side windows—and they are deliciously eye-catching!

Ivane Thiebault's Monstera Leaf drop earrings in sterling silver

A native of Paris and truly a citizen of the world (she came to Toronto via Australia AND Chicago!), Ivane brings her unique worldview to her jewellery line.

Having travelled the world, Ivane identifies with the idea of home which is reflected in her Canadian line.

Ivane's Antler pendant in solid sterling silver

Ivane is in Paris right now for a little business, research and r and r before the holiday rush.  We miss her and wish her a safe journey back to studio.  Maybe we should send her one of her very own Love Letter from Toronto bracelets to speed her journey back!

Love Letter from Toronto bracelet

If you would like to see the windows in person come on by the big blue house on Roncesvalles—you have until November 16 to see these eye-catching displays!

Even better, pop into the store to pick up your very own IT Designs piece.

--Micheline

Competition is a celebration of everyone’s accomplishments.

Dear Sunday Readers,

For me, competition is not about winning or gauging my skill level compared to that of others. For me, competition is principally about participating in an event with people I respect and admire, where everyone gets to share with one another how much progress they have made through their hard work and diligence. Competition, when viewed like this, is a celebration of everyone’s accomplishments.

At Jewel Envy we have competitions once a year. The goldsmith at Jewel Envy are all so incredibly talented, I look forward each year to seeing what my peers can do and rejoicing in their and my own advancements and creativity.

This year, the competition required making pieces with blue topaz.

You can enjoy the exhibition online or in our studio for a close up look at the magic!

The pieces exhibited this year are all very different and unique and you can see each goldsmith’s personality shine through.

Vote for your favorite piece online or at our studio and let us know what you think!

Voting is open from September 15 to October 31, 2017. Don’t miss the opportunity to participate!

We hope you enjoy admiring the work as much as we all enjoyed making it.

Have a nice Sunday


Helena

WHAT DO YOU SEE??!

Happy Shop Saturday all!

It's kind of a dreary wet day out there, which is kind of too bad, but also kind of perfect for staying inside, reading blogs, and thinking about future jewellery purchases😉

Today I would like to introduce you to the Rorschach line of jewellery, designed and handcrafted by Micheline Roi of Atelier J. Inspired by - surprise! - the famous Rorschach inkblot tests, this line includes brooches and earrings at a variety of pricepoints.

The lasercut brooches are $30 apiece, in either mirrored acrylic or baltic birch.

 These earrings are copper, and then plated with a black nano-ceramic coating. Save on the small pair at $65, or splurge just a bit more on the large pair at $95.

 The small sterling pair are $75, and the large pair are $125.

 These are gold-plated sterling silver. The small pair are $80, and the large pair are $150.

A Rorschach collage.

Personally, I would be interested in seeing these earrings in 14k yellow gold because, well, gold. If that is also your choice, good for you and your great taste, get in touch for pricing!

Queen West Art Crawl

Dear Sunday Readers,

Trinity Bellwoods Park host  The Queen West Art Crawl this weekend, to celebrate and promote creativity, art and culture. More than 200 artists and artisans will be at the park with the best of their work for you to enjoy. Join them and show your support! Help out your communities! by shopping  local.

Our goldsmiths, Ivane Thiebaut and Micheline Roi from Jewel Envy will be attending the Queen West Art Crawl.

Ivane Thiebaut originally of Paris, is also a world traveler, she incorporate her unique skills and her travel inspiration into her jewellery line.

Visit Queen West Art today or come meet Ivane in the studio and experience her incredible Parisian accent firsthand as she gives you an around the world tour of her incredible jewellery.

Check out  her Web site www.ivanethiebaut.com, “color, and materials are joined together in a beautiful adornment for you to wear everywhere, everyday...”

Micheline Roi, she is a talented and true Canadian artist!

She started her career as a classical music composer over 25 years and later channeled her passion toward jewellery design. She is a dedicated jeweler with passion for details and beauty to adorn women with unique and magnificent objects of beauty.

Her new line "Pop"  will be highlight this weekend at the park. As she says "wear your sunglasses it's going to be bright!

You can follow her on her Etsy shop AtelierJcontemporary and if located in Toronto, you can admire and try her jewellery in the shop here at Jewel Envy on Marion Street in the artistic area on Roncesvalles ('Roncy" for the locals).

Mother Nature gifted us with an extended summer by 2 more weeks and Queen West Art Crawl is the best way to put an end to our summer days!

The goldsmith here at Jewel Envy are currently working on new ideas for this Christmas season!

I love the holidays! I love shopping for gifts for others, I love spending time with my grandson only seven months old, I hope this year has been an incredible year for all of you!

Have a nice Sunday!

Helena

SHOP SATURDAY - IN THE BOX

Hello friends!

It's shop saturday again, so it's time for another edition of save or splurge. This one is one features work by Judith Noldin, a resident goldsmith here at Jewel Envy.

 

The box is a pretty fabulous splurge - the top and bottom are domed, textured copper, and the rims and hinge are a perfectly contrasting sterling. This is a $420 splurge.

Inside, for your saving pleasure, is a sterling silver lapel pin. It's a bumblebee, because save the bees, literally! This baby will set you back $80.

Judith has more pieces in her bee collection, and she also has another box (this one is completely sterling silver) on display. I highly recommend you come in to take a look yourself:)

Enjoy your weekend everybody!

Spotlight on Jerell Reichert

Dear Readers,

Happy Shop Saturday!

Today I want to introduce you to the original and incredible work of Jerell Reichert.

Bangles in every shape and irregular forms, with or without texture, wide or narrow, open at the back or closed, just to enjoy!

Jerell has hand-forged each of these bracelets by hand, working the metal bit by bit, using fold-forming and anti-classic techniques.

                                                                    Sterling Silver
                                             Close Wire Bangle. High Dome Cuff. Cable 1/2

                                                     Chased Wide Cuff, Sterling Silver

Each piece is unique and there are much more to see and appreciate at the store -  like this lovely brooch in Sterling Silver.

                                                            Leaf Pin, Sterling Silver

Have a nice Saturday!

Helena

Wear food (yes, food!)

I ran across the work of self described "kitchensmith" Rachel Shimpock on Instagram. She uses a technique called electroforming which deposits layers of metal (copper) onto objects. She prepares selected pieces of food through electroforming then enamels or uses powdercoating to add colour on the metal surface. Check out some of her work below (and click on links to her website/Insta above as well!)

I saw in her recent Instagram feed that she is making some bagels... I can't wait to see how they turn out! Especially as someone who consumes a LOT of Seventh Sister Bakery bagels ;o) - Alexis

Toast Bracelet by Rachel Shimpock

Chip Earrings by Rachel Shimpock

Celery Brooch by Rachel Shimpock

Wing Brooch by Rachel Simpock

Veggie Dip Brooch by Rachel Shimpock