OUR VERSION OF THE 4 C'S : CHILL, CHAT, CHEW AND CHAINS

Wednesday, July 8, 2015 6:30 – 9:30

Metalwerx : 50 Guinan St, Waltham, MA 02451

Have you always wanted to learn a new skill or make yourself something new, while having fun? 

Join WJA Boston for our newest social event and make your own chainmail earrings. This exclusive mini class is instructed by WJA Boston member and jewelry designer Elizabeth Arnold. You will also enjoy an informative Metalwerx tour led by the lovely Lindsay Minihan. Aluminum supplies and stainless steel ear wires for the class are generously donated by Metalwerx; silver links will be available for purchase. 

$5.00 door fee 

Light refreshments provided - Members Only

Limited Space Available

Pliers are on a first come basis; please bring your pliers with you, if you have them!

Can't make it in time for the event? Join in afterwards for the chew, chat and chill at a local restaurant of group choice. 

All who RSVP will be given a list of who is expected to be in attendance.

Please RSVP 

bostonchapter@womensjewelryassocation.com 

FGI BOSTON : SKINNER FINE JEWELRY PREVIEW

Buy your tickets here

WJA BOSTON PRESENTS : A TOP NOTCH EVENT

Image Credit : The Stone Set

WJA Boston is thrilled to have Jean-Noel Soni of Top Notch Faceting arriving in Boston on June 4th to meet with our members (and not-yet members) for a thrilling discussion on his mining adventures and passion for our industry while he shares his award winning gemstones with us.

In this exclusive event, Jean-Noel will not only educate and inspire you through his stories, you may explore the opportunity to commission one of his "wizardry" creations in the future.  

An event not to be missed         Graciously hosted by...       Members $25   Not-Yet Members $30     Light refreshments       Please RSVP by May 21st bostonchapter@womensjewelryassocation.com

WJA BOSTON MEMBER SPOTLIGHT : SOPHIE HUGHES

In our newest member feature spotlight, The Women's Jewelry Association Boston Chapter got the chance to talk shop with Sophie Hughes on her inspirations, philosophies and how she balances being a designer and owner of the exquisitly decorated jewelry boutique : Ore. Read below what the designer had to say.

Tell us about yourself.

I'm a jewelry designer/maker and store owner.

What inspires you on a daily basis?

I'm inspired by the challenge of making jewelry that's totally wearable, day in and day out, both physically and aesthetically. It has to be simple but interesting, comfortable, flattering, and durable. My hammer and anvil, my other timeworn tools, and the process of making propel me. When I'm seeking new aesthetic inspiration, I look to ancient jewelry and ancient tools - I love the simplicity of the forms, the textures, and the crudeness/directness of construction techniques. 

Describe your shop aesthetic.

I'm inspired to continuously create a relaxed, beautiful, eclectic environment that's intriguing and comfortable for my staff and my clients alike. Ore is unfussy, in an "I woke up like this" kind of way. The decor of the shop, and of course the jewelry designs, are extensions of my personal aesthetic, and both the jewelry and the shop have a distinct unpretentious-yet-special feel to them. I find that clients drawn to my work are sophisticated, grounded women: my jewelry and shop are 
no-nonsense, and authentic, and so is my clientele. 

Take us through your "typical" day at Ore.
I come in and hit the ground running, spending the first couple hours with Mechelle (our store manager and custom specialist) discussing developments on client projects. I try to get a coffee and oatmeal in there, and then check in with our production manager Bess to see how things are going in the studio. Then it's emails: corresponding with stylists, press, wholesale accounts, retail clients, designers at Ore, etc. After a working lunch, I probably spend an hour arranging displays in the shop, swapping out props and moving the jewelry to different cases to keep it all fresh. Being a retailer, the whole day is peppered with meeting clients as they stop in. Later in the afternoon, I get to hit the studio and either work on sketching designs or making jewelry! The shop closes, and I stick around the studio for a bit, wrapping up the evening having dinner/drinks with jewelry colleagues (aka best friends) and "talking shop".

Tell us about your three core philosophies as a jewelry artist and why they are important to you.

I believe in using sustainable materials and practices: I use completely recycled metals, and reclaimed stones whenever possible -- my favorite are the old mine cuts! It's little known that 20 tons of earth have to be moved to mine enough metal for one ring band, and I'd rather not contribute to that. I believe in being authentic - honesty in your designs, motivations, and brand (don't try to be anything other than yourself, and be straight about it). And having grown a truly incredible little team at SHJ in the past year, I feel so strongly that my staff should be happy, healthy, comfortable, and challenged at work - which I facilitate with flexibility and open communication. 

What are the challenges you face in the profession of being a jewelry designer?

For me in particular, being in my first year with a retail store and an established wholesale line, it's challenging balancing the two, and dividing my time accordingly. It's all part of this "leap-frog" between my designer brain and my business brain. Both are creative for me and I enjoy both, but they're never equally attended to - they seem to take turns hogging attention, while the other gets a bit neglected.

In terms of jewelry style, what are you best known for?

Simplicity, and the balance between rough and refined. Right now I'm getting a huge response to my black and gold jewelry (oxidized silver with fused 18k gold), and developing that direction. 

Do you have one jewelry staple that you wear every day?
I never take off my late grandma's petite diamond Belcher ring - it lives on my right hand middle finger. It reminds me of her every day, and it's how I continue to carry her with me. I am also hooked on my 18k coil hoops right now! I'll tend to wear a pair of earrings daily for months, and then rotate to a new design when I need a change.

Do you have a favorite quote?

At the moment it's: "Do epic shit." Yep, really. Simple and crass, but it keeps me motivated.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Take risks. (Thank you for this gem, Melle Finelli!)  The bigger and cheaper the risks, the better. And subsequently, if you're going to fail, fail fast. Learn, move forward and grow. Don't let yourself get caught up in something that isn't working.

Let's turn the tables, if you could offer one piece of advice to women jewelry professionals, what would it be?

Think big and act small. Move just a step at a time towards lofty goals. It doesn't have to all happen at once, and conversely growth is completely necessary to avoid feeling stagnant.

What do you hope to gain/have gained from your membership with The Women’s Jewelry Association?

My best girlfriends are jewelers. I love talking shop. I want to hear everyone else's jewelry stories - their successes and their challenges - and compare notes. I feel inspired talking to industry comrades about their experiences, thoughts, and goals, and love learning from these interactions. 

Ore Jewelry by Sophie Hughes 

80 Dartmouth Street

Boston, MA 02116

www.sophiehughes.com

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Boston Magazine

Best Of Boston 2014

Ore : Everyday Jewelry

Improper Bostonian Magazine 

Best Jewelry Designer 2014

UPCOMING EVENT : GEMS & JEWELRY

WJA Boston is pleased to announce an evening of Gems & Jewelry for a wonderful evening of education and networking in Boston's historic North End.  Gather and drop your name in a jar for a special $50 HSN gift certificate giveaway at 6pm and then prepare for a tour of the North Bennett Street School's state-of-the-art jewelry department led by Rosemary Trainor.

Upon tour completion, we are in for a very special and unique opportunity to meet Barbara Lawrence, a true gem.  Barbara has been passionate about gemstones since 1957 and enjoyed 38 years as President of Boston Gems.  Barbara has also served on the board and was a past President of American Gemstone Trade Association.  Barbara is currently an advisor to the North Bennet Street school and a member of our very own WJA Boston community. 

As you can see, we have the perfect pairing for an evening of Gems & Jewelry.  Listen and learn from Barbara's expert experience regarding the pricing of precious gems and how to set up a responsibly sourced supply chain with opportunities to ask questions that are meaningful to your practice. 

GEMS & JEWELRY 

March 26th

5:30pm - 8:30pm

Light refreshments and soft-drinks provided by Modern Pastry 

NBSS is a non-alcoholic venue

$25 for members   $30 for not-yet members

Please RSVP by March 12th

NEW DATE : WJA BOSTON HOLIDAY AFTER-PARTY

The holidays are behind us and the weather got in the way of our first party. 

Now, it's time to celebrate!  We do hope you will join us.

Cash Bar & Finger Foods

RSVP : BOSTONCHAPTER@WOMENSJEWELRYASSOCIATION.COM 

members and not-yet members are welcome

WJA BOSTON MEMBER SPOTLIGHT : MICHELE MERCALDO

Earlier this fall, the Women's Jewelry Association Boston Chapter had the pleasure of visiting Michele Mercaldo Contemporary Jewelry Design located in Boston's historic South End for our first member feature spotlight.  Michele Mercaldo's gallery displays not only her work, but you will also find fellow artisans that complement her own aesthetic along with perfectly executed seasonal window installations to delight every passerby.  Read below what the designer had to say.

Tell us about yourself.

I am a jewelry artist and metal smith.  I have a studio and gallery in one setting.  I divide my time up between my bench work, speaking with clients, and all of the things that go into keeping the gallery interesting.  I studied fine art at Massachusetts College of Art and have a degree in printmaking and a minor in sculpture.  After graduating, I worked in a variety of mediums before focusing on the jewelry discipline in 1987.  I fell in love with the scale and working with the material.  After 27 years, I am still exploring and refining my idea and my craft.

What inspires you on a daily basis?

All things man made, boats, buildings, and machines inspire me.  My work is best described as modern, clean and architectural. I always make my work by hand so it softens my forms, giving them a human touch. Recently, I have become interested in man made objects that have been left out in nature and the resulting affects that the exposure to the elements has on the forms and surfaces.

Describe your shop aesthetic.

The gallery is classic but modern, artistic but refined.  On display is my work and twelve other designers.  The jewelry on display is all hand made by contemporary jewelers with their own personal approach.  The seasonal window installation and art on display is an ongoing dialogue with the street.  Another venue for me to create on a larger scale, it keeps the gallery evolving and fresh.

In terms of jewelry style, what are you best known for?
Jewelry can hold significant meaning for people as well as marking time, commitment and personal milestones.  I have become well versed in making customized pieces and custom re-settings that fill this need.

What gives you the greatest pleasure in your career as a jewelry designer?

A great pleasure in designing jewelry is when a person puts on your work and it transforms them, enhancing their natural beauty or making them feel more complete.

If you could offer advice to women jewelry professionals, what would it be?

The best advice I can give a jewelry artist is to be persistent and true to your vision.  Developing a strong form language and bench skills takes time.  There is a theory that you have to put in ten thousand hours to get really good at anything.

What do you hope to gain from your membership with the WJA?

I am looking forward to being part of a community of women with similar interests and the support that we can give each in that setting.

Michele Mercaldo
276 Shawmut Ave
Boston, MA 02118
617-350-7909

      www.michelemercaldo.com 

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