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

social media

facebook 

instagram

Boston Magazine

Best Of Boston 2014

Ore : Everyday Jewelry

Improper Bostonian Magazine 

Best Jewelry Designer 2014

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

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENTS

"For our first letter from the Presidents, Sia and I would like to thank everyone who gave their time, donated items and provided sponsorship for our highly successful Jewelry Night Out. We had a huge response and National was very impressed by our enthusiasm and the number of people who joined that evening. In fact we had enough members join to officially become a Chapter after the National board met in early November! So, thank you to everyone! We did it! Boston became a chapter in a remarkably short amount of time." - Marlene Richey

Let the Women's Jewelry Association open doors for you in 2015 by joining today!  

Be featured and get celebrated.  

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THE BOSTON GEM : A JEWELTINI

Sia of Quadrum Gallery

The official cocktail of WJA Boston's Jewelry Night Out was the Boston Gem, a delicious Jeweltini.  If you missed out on our fabulous evening at Modern Pastry, and our cocktail, we have you covered!  Here is the recipe for you to prepare during your next cocktail hour, and be sure to visit our Instgram page to catch up on our wildly successful event!

BOSTON GEM : A JEWELTINI

1 oz. Citrus Vodka

1 dash Triple Sec or Grand Marnier

1-1/2 oz Cranberry Juice

1/2 oz Fresh Lime Juice

1 oz Prosecco

3-4 frozen Cranberries

Shake Vodka, Triple Sec, Cranberry and Lime over ice in cocktail shaker.  Strain into a martini glass, and top off with Prosecco.  Garnish with frozen cranberries for a jewel-like effect and shine bright all night!

View images from JNO by using these hashtags through social media 

for event images across all of our chapters!

Boston's First WJA Event: Jewelry Night Out 2014 was a Huge Success!