Focus on Stem Cells - Collaboration piece

Stem cells. What do you know about them? With the rise of the concept of stem cells, you’ve probably heard them both exalted and vilified in the media. There’s a lot of hype. What you may not know is that the original identified stem cell was actually the blood cell stem cell or hematopoietic stem cell (see what I did there? It all comes back to immunology!). In fact, HSCs have been in use for therapy for a long time, particularly for cancer treatment. You can read in more detail about this on the Canadian Cancer Society website, which has a nice, accessible description about it.

While most stem cell therapies remain more science fiction than science fact, there is a lot of research happening around stem cells, and understanding their development, as well as how they can be used to intervene in health and other areas of biology. One researcher focusing on this area is my colleague and friend, Prof. Jennifer Mitchell, based at the Cell and Systems Design Department of University of Toronto. So, when she approached me about designing some special pieces for her, I was excited about the opportunity to work with her again. I had made a one-off piece for her previously: a representational ball of stem cells, in my early days of designing. This time, the brief was to revisit that piece, evoking her focus of using embryonic stem cells models to understand how the develop into other cell types.

A hint of the first piece I made in 2019, alongside the microscopic image of a stained ball of ES cells. The blue staining is a nuclear (DNA) stain that fluoresces blue under the right wavelength of light!

I fabricated this one, and it had alot of features that I liked, but it had some aspects that I wanted to fine tune more, so it was great to have a chance to reconsider this design for something that I could produce again in the future. This time, I went the casting route, and carved something in wax.

Wax model of stem cell ball

This allowed me to make something flatter, but still with a lot of dimension. I then added a back plate to close it, a simple, hidden bail, and added the felt, and voila! A new sophisticated cousin was born.

Finished pendant, sterling silver with needled blue felt

I’m loving the way it turned out (and Jen was pretty pleased too!). You can see one of these on display in Cell Systems and Biology, if you’re passing that way, along with more explanation about Prof. Mitchell’s research. Want one of your very own, or know someone who would? You can visit my Shop Page to get one!

Visit Dundas, see one of my pieces in person!

I’m so excited to share with you that one of my pieces will be on view at the Carnegie Gallery in Dundas in October!

You might remember my “Spillage” ring that I shared a while ago. I like to apply for juried exhibitions, especially other places. I’m always eager to share my work, and it’s always an honour to me to be accepted. The Carnegie Gallery only does an open juried exhibition once every two years, and this year, I put forward two pieces, and they accepted my “Spillage” ring for this year’s exhibition. Yay!

The exhibition runs from October 6th - November 5th 2023. The opening reception is October 6th, hope to see you there, and keep your fingers crossed that I win an award !

New Retail Outlet!!

I’m very pleased to announce that you can see my work (in person!) at the Craft Ontario Shop on Queen Street West.

If you don’t know about Craft Ontario, they’re a not-for-profit organisation that supports craft across Ontario. Part of this is through the Craft Ontario Shop. They are fantastic promoter of professional craft, and it’s a bit of a milestone for me, as an artist, to have them take my work for sale. If you haven’t been there before, they have a fantastic selection of quality craft work that is definitely worth seeing (if not buying :). They also always have an exhibition in the back half of the shop space, which is also always worth seeing (and free!).

This is just one of the pieces by me that you’ll find in the Craft Ontario shop! I call them my Misfits of Science pearl ring. With its classic pearl, and whimsical cup, it’s a great stacking ring that will stand out.

Have you ever wanted to learn to make a kilt?

You may know this about me (or not!), part of my work life has always included an aspect of education. As a researcher, I supervised students, gave lectures, and did small group tutorials. Even now, I teach jewellery workshops, and when I do shows, I think they’re an opportunity for dialogue about science.

I’ve enjoyed taking part in public events doing demonstrations and activities with all ages, all in the name of science. I enjoy teaching. Sharing knowledge, helping someone else accomplish something, seeing their creativity come alive. These all bring me joy.

Which is a bit of a long way of saying that I’m quite excited to be launching my first kiltmaking worshop.

Whether you’re Scottish or not, you too, can learn how to make an heirloom, stitched by hand, traditional Scottish kilt. The instruction spans four days, with time in between to continue stitching, I teach you how to do the many different steps to construct a completely made-to-measure garment that, with care, will last a lifetime and beyond!

If you have any questions, you’re welcome to ask me. Registration is open until October 19th, although the course doesn’t start until November 19th.

I hope you’ll come on this exciting adventure with me!

Art, Science and a day out this Saturday at Science Rendezvous

The weather seems to be perking up, and so is the exhibition/event season. I’m excited to be able to participatein the SciArt Gallery as part of Science Rendezvous this coming Saturday, May 13th, 2023, 11am - 5pm . Come out to see my jewellery in person, hear more about why and how I do my art, and see some new work that I will be unveiling in person.

Science Rendezvous:

·        Is FREE

·        Is an annual, all-day festival

·        Brings science out of the lab, onto the street

·        Encourages public involvement in STEAM (science, technology, engineering art and mathematics)

·        Involves U of T departments, local organisations and community

·        Engages interest, and encourages hands-on experiments

Hope you make it out on Saturday! Stop by to see me, in the Sydney Smith building at the University of Toronto St. George campus, and say hello!

Treat yourself with this special opportunity

I’d like to tell you a short-ish story about a colleague and his family, as well as the opportunity to buy jewellery and help a family in need at the same time!

My colleague at Jewel Envy, Shafiq Sarwari, is a talented, kind, and hardworking goldsmith and lapidarist (he cuts and polishes stones) who came to Canada in 2016, escaping the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.

Now Shafiq’s family is in peril. After their actions as collaborators with the US armed forces during their residence in Afghanistan, they had to flee to Pakistan, leaving everything behind in order to survive. Currently, they are refugees in Pakistan, but can’t stay there indefinitely.

Including parents, siblings and nieces/nephews, there are seven adults and five children who are being sponsored to come to Canada.  The adults are all highly educated, and eager to contribute to life in Canada, but the financial requirements for them to come through the government refugee sponsorship program are pretty hefty.  There is a Group of Five who have committed to sponsoring this special family group, with a goal of raising $120 000 to support them through their first year in Canada.

As a group, I and my colleagues (past and present) at Jewel Envy are doing a fundraising event to support our valued colleague.  This is an online auction for jewellery that is open now, until early June.

Although the goldsmiths have been given the opportunity to receive part of the payment for any of their individual pieces sold, I have elected to donate my pieces in their entirety. The great thing about the auction is that there is such a range of prices and styles, you’re sure to find something to suit you!

Amethyst and sterling silver necklace

Please help me support my amazing colleague, Shafiq, in making it possible for his family to start a new life free of fear and persecution by (either, or both!):

• Bidding generously on the auction items (it is also possible to donate through this platform. To save the processing fees charged by the platform, feel free to contact Jewel Envy- info@jewelevny.ca - to find out how to contribute directly to the sponsorship fund.)

• Please share the auction with your friends, family, and network. If everyone contributes just a fraction of what they can, we’ll reach our goal.

Citrine and sterling silver pendant on a snake chain

If you are interested in other events that are going to occur to support this special initiative, I’d love to hear from you!  Email, and let me know!

New Profile on The Node.

New Profile
If you don't know about my background in science yet, you will by the time you read this profile on me! The Node is the community site for and by developmental and stem cell biologists.  One of the regular features of the website is a SciArt pofile, and I'm so pleased they agreed to have me on in March.  You'll find out a bit more about me, and the impetus behind my work, as well as a special science custom design that I did.  

Breaking News.....

It’s almost the end of the week (although not so much for me!), and I thought I’d share a bit of news with you. If you were wondering more about me, and some of my jewellery processes, you can head over to a website called The Node. They have a regular feature on a SciArtist, and this month, they’re featuring me!

You can see the feature here. Happy reading!

Have a great weekend!

Sketchbook challenge!

It’s a new year, and I feel like I should be motivated to get things done. It’s a new start, but somehow things haven’t quite worked out that way. I used to use sewing as my go-to happy place (I’m sure you know what I mean!), but since it now really is part of my “job”, while I still enjoy it and love to do it, it doesn’t “recharge” me the way it used to. Which has left me feeling a bit…..lost, I guess.

Random assortment of stuff!

So, I decided to try something a bit different. A local artstore (Articulations Art Supply) runs a Fill’er up Sketchbook content in March. Now, I’m not really a sketcher, and I’m not a painter, or any of that kind of thing. I’ve dabbled in various things occasionally, but I’m definitely not good. But…..I do find it fun, and the idea of accomplishing something definitely appealed to me, so I decided to take the plunge.

I like rules, so I set myself a couple. I decided I’d have no limits on what I did in my sketchbook, but I am only giving myself 15 minutes/day (‘cause, frankly, that’s probably my practical limit to devote to a specific activity that isn’t “work”).

So, I’ve collected a sketchbook, and some (slightly) random materials, and I’ve made a start!

This is what I did the first day—just trying out some fun with different tools

Today’s attempt with some watercolours. I’ve been enamored of the effects of watercolours for years, but I definitely have a ways to go before I really understand how to work them. Kind of like the sky, but we just won’t talk about the rest.

The important thing for me is to stick with it! So, check back with me in April, to find out if I did, and what I managed to produce!

How about you? What’s your go-to happy/fun activity that you like to do when life is getting you down? I’d love to hear about it!

Estate ring re-made as stacking rings

I thought I’d written about the genesis of this one, but I see I didn’t! As you know, I have a habit of taking on “remodeling” projects. I thought I’d share another one I finished recently with you.

It started with this ring—my client acquired it from an estate sale (and believe me, they got a deal on it, compared to if they’d bought the diamonds and gold new).

It started with a concept, a “bamboo” band, and use all the diamonds. What resulted, as you’ll see, what something a bit different. First, it was two rings using all the diamonds.

See! Suddenly it’s two rings :)

Now it’s 3 rings! And different colour metals! (all 14kt gold)

And…here’s the 3 finished rings, in one of any number of combinations!

I removed the stones, and swapped the gold ring, plus a bunch of other old/broken gold that my client had, for new gold that I added to and re-alloyed to make the rose and yellow alloys for casting. The white gold ring is palladium white gold, so I ordered that grain pre-made. One of the diamonds was damaged, so we decided to replace it with this very attractive orange sapphire for an extra pop of colour. The small diamonds were also reclaimed from another ring. So, it was almost entirely a reclamation and re-use project. And my client LOVED the final products.

If you have something languishing in your jewellery box that you’d love to have re-done in something more contemporary that you can love, it would be great to talk to you! Reach out to me on the contact page and let’s talk!