A Thousand Facets

Latest Episodes:

Keira Wraae-Stewart from ætla Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

A thousand Facets sits with Keira Wraae-Stewart from ætla. they discuss her beginnings in the jewelry industry, how her travels inspired her and how teaching children art can ignite your passion for jewelry all over again!

about:

ætla was founded in Edinburgh by Keira Wraae-Stewart in 2020, during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic with a view to showcasing and supporting fine jewellery created by talented local, international and lesser known designers and artisans. A major focus of the business has been to provide clients with a range of luxury, designer jewellery created through sustainable and ethically responsible means.

Before launching ætla, Keira worked in the design and manufacture of jewellery in both London and Thailand for over 10 years, at a number of well established brands including Vivienne Westwood and Maria Francesca Pepe.

Of both Faroese & Scottish descent, Keira decided to return to the UK to launch ætla; the boutique maintains its Scottish roots - being intertwined within Edinburgh‘s majestic City Centre - whilst clearly embracing the Faroese/Scandinavian aesthetic sensibilities that have greatly influenced Keira throughout her life.

You can follow Keira Wraae-Stewart on Instagram @_aetla_

or visit her website

https://www.aetla.co.uk/

Store location:

46 St Stephen Street in Edinburgh

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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Ananda Khalsa Aug 17, 2023

Show notes

A thousand facets sits with Ananda Khalsa about how she started her jewelry journey, how she created her voice with her hand painted jewelry and we talk about her wonderful store!

Ananda draws inspiration from natural forms, and the vibrant luminosity of natural gemstones. She strives to capture the precious quality found in ancient jewelry, while creating pieces with a modern sensibility. All of the gems used are hand picked for their unique and exceptional characteristics.

Many of her pieces contain an original painting on paper, which is set behind crystal in silver or 22k gold. An important influence in Ananda's work is the powerful symbolism behind each of the subjects she chooses to paint.

Each of Ananda’s pieces is handcrafted in her studio in Northampton, Massachusetts by Ananda and her highly skilled team of jewelers.

You can follow Ananda Khalsa on Instagram @anandakhalsajewelry

or visit her website

https://anandakhalsa.com/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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Gillwing Jewellery- Sarah Burns and Jade Mellor Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

A thousand facets talks to curators of Gillwing jewellery Sarah Burns and Jade Mellor about how they started their journey in the jewelry industry,

how they found themselves in Gillwing Jewellery and how they have created a very special place for jewelry artists to share their art and how they have made

the shop an integral part of their community.

About Gillwing:

Established over 20 years ago, we continually strive to source the most unusual and beautiful jewellery pieces to showcase in our Islington gallery.

"HANDMADE ON THE HIGH-STREET"

Today we feature over 50 artists, specially selected for their quality, inventiveness and originality. By visiting international exhibitions as well as graduate shows we bring you the best established names as well as exciting fresh talent on the cutting edge of design.

PASSIONATE ABOUT JEWELLERY

Jewellery is our life's passion and we love creating bespoke pieces to meet your needs and desires. By working closely with our artists we enjoy bringing your special requests to life.

You can follow Gillwing jewellery on Instagram @gillwingjewellery, Sarah Burns @sarahburnscollins and Jade Mellor @jademellorjewellery

or visit their website

https://gillwingjewellery.com/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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Jay Moncada from Perpetuum Jewels Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Jay Moncada is behind perpetuum jewels, a supplier of antique diamonds and responsibly sourced gemstones. He has made his life purpose to educate himself and others on how to create a business that is environmentally responsible. He serves at the board of Ethical Metalsmiths and collaborates with pure earth!

Perpetuum Jewels was founded on the premise that the traditionally obscure paradigm of the jewelry industry is to be disrupted, not by large enterprise but by small community, grassroots efforts and independent voices.

About Ethical Metalsmiths:

EM is a community of caring buyers, jewelers, designers, and suppliers committed to responsible, environmentally-sound practices for all facets of the Jewelry Industry. Their mission is to inspire responsible jewelry practices through education, connection and action.

Perpetuum Jewels is a supplier member and supporter of this non-profit organization. We firmly believe this community offers the most diverse voice of professionals truly committed to an ever evolving sustainable practice and they represent the most positive outlook for all of the jewelry trade, from mine to consumer.

Jay serves as board member and Treasurer of Ethical Metalsmiths since 2018

About Pure Earth:

In collaboration with jewelry designers, we donate gems for jewels to be auctioned off during the yearly fundraiser by Pure Earth, a global leader in toxic pollution cleanup. Since 2017, Perpetuum Jewels has participated with Pure Earth to help raise over $100k to support their ongoing efforts in the cleanup and elimination of legacy pollution in the developing world, with great focus on lead and mercury alleviation.

You can follow Jay on Instagram @perpetuumjewels.bling and @perpetuumjewels (for Trade), visit his website

https://www.perpetuumjewels.com/

https://ethicalmetalsmiths.org/

https://www.pureearth.org/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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Shakti Ellenwood Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

A thousand facets sits with Shakti Ellenwood, she thinks of jewelry as a powerful vehicle to transmit positivity. She creates a bond with her designs that will carry to the wearer! Her responsible practices makes her work so much more special.

Shakti Ellenwood is a renowned designer of ethical jewellery, whose handcrafted creations offer a unique blend of beauty and integrity.

Shakti Ellenwood is a different kind of goldsmith. Her approach to jewellery making comes from a unique talent to heal through the medium of gold. After 25 years of sitting in ceremonies with indigenous elders and shamans, she learnt that jewellery could be a key to unlocking the wearer’s full potential and generating more happiness in their lives.

Handcrafted in her London studio, her talismanic jewels are created consciously while singing ancient Indian mantras and weaving spells, dreams and blessings into their very bones. Her amulets are animals and symbols each has a healing vibration, often accompanied with a story told by elders and tribespeople.

For each piece to carry the highest vibration of love, she works only with 18ct Fairtrade gold from Peru. This traceable gold is called ‘gold with heart’ for it supports and protects the small-scale artisan miners with care for the environment and wildlife around the mines.

While making wedding and engagement rings, she puts blessings into the rings for the couple’s journey through life together. She loves to hear couple’s stories and can tailor the prayers according to each couple’s unique wishes.

Shakti is a B-Corp certified goldsmith. She has the highest earning score of all jewellers in the UK and was voted “Best For The World 2022” for her commitment to giving back. In 2022 she donated over 2% of her sales to social and environmental causes. She is also a Fairtrade licensee.

She trained in San Francisco from 1995 under fifth-generation Armenian master goldsmith Hratch Nargizian, launching her own company in 2000. Her work now melds the artisanal skills passed down through centuries of fine jewellery craftsmanship with her own distinctive visual style.

You can find Shakti Ellenwood on Instagram @shaktiellenwood or her website

https://www.shaktiellenwood.com/

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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Bonus- Tell me your jewelry story! Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

On A thousand facets the podcast, I've been sharing stories of artists and people in the jewelry industry. But I also want to hear from you! I would love for you to share the story of your most precious piece of jewelry and why is so important! Send me a 2-5 minute voice message with a photo of the item to Atfglobalmedia@gmail.com . It can be anything that carries a story! I'll saved them all and create an episode of all your stories at the end of the year for the last episode of the season!

Can't wait to hear all your stories!

Atfglobalmedia@gmail.com

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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Amy Wilson PR Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

A thousand facets sits with PR extraordinaire Amy Wilson to talk about her beginnings in the Fashion Industry, the way Patricia Fields and Alexander McQueen inspired her and how she stumbled on the world of jewelry and never looked back!

We discuss the importance of sustainability and how she picks the people she likes to work with!

You can follow Amy Wilson on Instagram @amy_wilson_pr

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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Ancients 17- Loren Gurche Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

*NOTE- A thousand facets no longer works with Ancients17

A thousand facets sits with Ancients 17 (aka Loren Gurche) they talk about being born in the natural history world and how that became his calling since childhood. We discuss the beginning of his opal business and we have a comprehensive conversation about the incredible world of opals and what makes this stone so unique.

About Loren:

I stumbled across the wonders of opal due to my passion for exploring all things natural history. I was fortunate to have been exposed to paleontology fieldwork at a young age, and I quickly learned I wanted to devote my life to exploring nature and understanding how the history of the land beneath our feet can inform us about the future of our planet.

I started teaching myself to cut opals when I was 19 and first starting college. Cutting opal quickly progressed from an experiment to an obsession, and I have devoted much of the last 4 years studying this gem, its formation, and how to process and cut them to best bring out their natural beauty.

I continue to follow a career path as a research paleontologist, while ancients17 helps to fund many of our expeditions and research endeavors exploring the history of the earth.

You can follow Loren on Instagram @ancients17 and @ancients17sales, visit his website

https://www.ancients17.earth/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

https://www.youtube.com/@DeepTimePaleo

Visit John Gurche's work - https://www.johngurchepaleoart.com/

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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Lene Vibe May 25, 2023

Show notes

A thousand facets sits with Lene Vibe and they discuss their loved of nature, jewelry and cemeteries. Nature is Lene's love and it's perfectly executed on every piece she makes!

Lene Vibe launched her collection in 2002, based on her love for the natural world – from working in her garden, to exploring the forest and watching the constant movements of the ocean. All of this now provides inspiration for the whimsical flowers and creatures that surround precious pearls and gemstones in her collection.

She designs and manufactures her jewelry with great joy, and hopes each piece will be worn with the same happiness and passed down to loved ones. Lene handcrafts all of her pieces at her workbench with a thoughtfulness to how they will feel when they are worn.

Lene does not sketch any of the pieces first; it seems to all take place in her imagination and comes out in the way in which she approaches the metal. Her pieces have a three-dimensional quality and are brought to life in 18K gold, a range of pearls, colored gemstones and polish rough cut and raw diamonds.

You can follow Lene Vibe on Instagram @lenevibe.dk and visit her website http://www.lenevibe.com/

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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Hannah Blount May 11, 2023

Show notes

A thousand facets sits with Hannah Blount where they talk about her love for eggs, her upbringing with Nantucket and the beauty of "waiting". They discuss her different collections, what's the inspiration behind it including her grey ladies, And of course, we need to talk about the head of HR, Beryl!

About:

The daughter of a fisherman and a seamstress, Hannah was raised in the tradition of hand skills, hard work, and dedication. In their weathered island home, she and her six siblings learned how to entertain themselves amidst the chaos that comes with such a large family. The dingy fishing paraphernalia that littered their backyard was a playground of inspiration: gritty snapshots of beauty against the clean backdrop of their hometown of Nantucket. These familiar moments inspired her to create beauty of her own.

You can follow Hannah Blount on Instagram @hannahblountjewelry and visit her website www.hannahblount.com

Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode.

Music by @chris_keys__

https://youtu.be/nKQHjg_E0yE

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