Last But Certainly Not Least...

As the first half of our Emerge exhibit comes to a close, we would like to introduce you to the fifth and final designer we have been featuring at 18Karat.

So please welcome... Samantha Hawkes.

Born into an artistic family, Samantha inherited a deep appreciation for creativity and a true respect for artists. Samantha drove into the creative world at a young age, exploring various forms of art and media.

She has left little in the artistic world unexplored, having ventured into fashion design, music and countless forms of visual art. With a keen eye and a strong aesthetic, she first explored jewellery design through the beading world. Having developed her skill in jewellery design, Samantha finds great satisfaction in the creative process and artistic liberty which the field provides.

Earrings
14k yellow gold, fine silver

Necklace and Earring Set
14k yellow gold, fine silver,
cubic zirconia


"The endless possibilities and the infinite potential of exploration and inspiration are what fuel my passion for jewellery and creativity.

I draw inspiration from the balance of nature and movement, in combination with contemporary forms and objects which surround me in my daily environment."

Thanks to everyone who came out to support these young artists during the reception. It was especially memorable for the music stylings of the Jessica Stuart Few, who impressed us all with their amazing sound.

Emerge runs until the end of September, so come on down and take a look at these exquisite pieces.

And A Warm Hello To....

The reception we hosted for our young designers was certainly a success, thanks in no small part to the musical stylings of the Jessica Stuart Few, and the team of supporters from George Brown College.

But more of that later. Let me introduce our fourth designers... Ji-Sung Han.



Born in Busan, South Korea, Ji-Sung found her first love of crafting in origami - folding coloured paper into flowers, animals, and decorative pieces.


After moving to Canada in 1998, her artistic impulses re-emerged, and she entered George Brown's Jewellery Arts Program after graduating High School.

Rose Rings
18k yellow gold, sterling silver,
pearl

Rose Necklace
18k yellow gold, 14k yellow gold
sterling silver, pearls

Ji-Sung's work reflects and explores the relationship between flowing lines and evocative curves.

"My favourite piece in this collection, is the Rose Ring. This was the final piece that I constructed, I wanted to create my collection as a set, so naturally the Rose Ring complimented the other pieces beautifully. It is the ideal piece because all the knowledge I gained about gold, silver, and anticlastic forming."

And I think we would have to agree with her, these rings are stunning. And lucky for us, they are on display and for sale at our shop.

Thanks to everyone who came out to support these designers, and to everyone who has stopped by to take a look. These pieces will be on display until the end of September.

Don't forget to leave us a comment, and tell us what you think!

Please Welcome...

Our Emerge exhibit has entered it's second week and I am pleased to introduce you to our third young designer – Margo Glenn.

Margo is from a small farming community in South-western Ontario. She globe trotted extensively before studying Jewellery Arts at George Brown, and will be starting her Masters Degree in Architecture in September.

Drop Earrings
14k white and yellow gold, diamonds

She is inspired by nature, the innate qualities of the material at hand, and the introspective and expressive journey of creation. She works in gold, silver, copper, and has developed a unique line of jewellery based on an ancient leather hardening technique.

Anwedah Necklace
14k white and yellow gold,
diamonds


Perhaps her most ambitious piece, titled Anwedah, is a celebration of her Aunt's journey with Bariatric Surgery. Created in 14 karat yellow and white gold and diamonds, it contains a mechanical clasp, hand-made chain, and computer modeled components.

The wings of the butterfly move individually, and glitter with eight diamonds.

"Not only was this piece emotionally challenging to design, but it was by far the most complex and difficult piece I have created."

Margo's work will be on display as part of our Emerge exhibit which runs from August 1- September 30.

18Karat will be hosting a reception for this event on August 13th from 5pm-8pm. Not only will the designers be in-store, we are also happy to announce that the Jessica Stuart Few will be providing the live soundtrack to the event.
Drop by for an evening of local art, music, and unbridled creativity!