Thank you to everyone who wrote in with such warm words of kindness and encouragement after listening to our short feature on the CBC. Feeling like celebrities for a day was a new feeling for us here at 18Karat.

But the good news doesn't end there as the designers working with us in our Uniti campaign continue to send in their sketches and discuss their projects with us.

You might remember Therese Cruz, one of the young artists we are currently featuring in our shop. Therese met with Paula Brancati of Degrassi and Dark Oracle fame, and is now creating a piece of jewellery that symbolizes what family and community mean to them both.

Therese liked the idea of creating a bangle because of how closely it sits on the body, entwining and encircling the wrist.

The inspiration for this cuff comes from the different threads that create a piece a fabric; many pieces coming together to create a whole. For both Therese and Paula, this action of coming together was key to both a successful community and a happy family.

Using copper, silver, and gold, this piece is sure to be a stunner.

Look Who's Talking Now............

We are!!
This morning the CBC aired a truly wonderful piece on our little shop.
Who would have thought they could pack so much punch into a 7 minute segment, but boy are we overjoyed.

Thanks to Mary Wiens and the CBC!

Uniti - A spotlight on local artists.

Canadian artists are amazing!
If you didn't already know this, you soon will.

Meghan Lynn Schnarr only recently graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design, specializing in Jewellery Design and Metalsmithing, but already her work has been featured in galleries all over Ontario.




"As I studied and learned more about design and fabrication, I became interested in the intimacy of creating something to be worn on the body and its connection to the wearer.

When people see my work, I would like them to be curious about the stories that inspire it and the people and places it celebrates."

Meghan's keen sense on the personal connection we attach the jewellery, and its ability to preserve memory, made her the best candidate to meet with Gordon and Leah Pinsent to create a piece for Uniti.

Gordon and Leah saw Uniti as a way to pay tribute to their wife and mother Charmion King, and Meghan was the perfect designer to make this desire a reality.

Can't wait to see this piece!

Going Places....

Although months in the making, it seems about time for me to mention our upcoming event - one like no other. Currently we are organizing Uniti - Uniting Toronto for Families, a charity auction to benefit the Red Door Family Shelter.
Silent auction? Oh so - 'been there done that'.

Well.... not this one.

Unlike other auctions where the hold overs from last seasons/years/decades collection are auctioned off. For Uniti, each piece is being made especially.

It doesn't stop there however, each piece is a collaboration between a local designer and a local celebrity. Together they use their ideas of family and community to form the basis of a jewellery piece that will be donated, and then sold during our silent auction.
Who are these designers, and who are these celebs?

Our first match up was with Meghan Schnarr, an excellent young designer, and Gordon Pinsent and his daughter Leah, who are using this as an opportunity to pay tribute to their wife and mother, Charmion King.

Our second, was with the very talented Amy Kovach, and singer Justin Hines.

Our third, was with Therese Cruz, a recent graduate from George Brown's Jewellery Arts program and a featured artist in our shop, with Paula Brancati from Degrassi Next Generation and Dark Oracle.

Our fourth, with Samantha Hawkes, also a recent graduate and featured artist, with Raymond Ablack, also from Degrassi.

But that's not all. Just a little tease.
Let's see where it goes!