Emefa Cole

A thousand facets sits with Emefa Cole to discuss her childhood in Ghana, moving to London in her pre teens and how a stationary shop was the start of her jewelry journey! I hope you enjoy our conversation ABOUT: The genesis of the designer can be pinpointed to a childhood fascination with jewellery, precious metals, and stones of the Earth, where girlhood awe flowered into an enrapturement, a bottomless admiration, and a depthless love affair. Growing up in Ghana, Emefa was utterly enthralled by the local folklore surrounding tales of people unearthing gold nuggets exposed by heavy tropical rains; the spectacle of gold winking from the soil’s confines so fixed in her mind that a mythology around unveiling Earth’s treasures holds court and pervades her work to this day. More formative interactions with jewellery include both creation and purchase–stringing Job’s tears (seeds that grow on long grass plants) to construct necklaces, and choosing her own jewellery for the first time: a glorious pair of gold studs set with stones red as pigeon blood. You can follow Emefa on Instagram @emefacolejewellery or her website https://www.emefacole.com/ Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A thousand facets sits with Todd Pownell, they discuss about his beginnings in metal shop and how he enjoy creating. How he met his wife Debra and they build an incredible brand together inspired by the vastness of the universe. About: Works of jewelry have always been made as trophy and tribute, part of our human celebration and re-invention of natural beauty. The jeweler’s art binds us across history to generations who fought and loved at the beginning of our world, and farther, to the earth itself and the stars. At TAP by Todd Pownell we remember that a simple adornment can mix the sensual clarity of moonlight with the hard splendor of our planet’s profound mineral veins. As artisans we perfect these elements and deliver them, home to the sweep and tenderness of the body, like treasure washed onto sand. Noble metals and gemstones are beautiful not only because of sheen or lustrous color but in their ultimate molecular structure, as examples and reminders of a universal order.  These are qualities which are the guiding lights of craft, and as artists, we echo and honor them in the harmonies of our own works. We hope to evoke mystery, and the fast-changing yet eternal conditions of the natural world – of wind and storm, and sunlight as it spreads sharp and warm through the last minutes before night. Our aim is to distill an ultimate romance and bring it, polished, to the flesh, as an emblem of all that is deep and lovely, translated in metal and stone. You can follow Todd on Instagram @tapbytoddpownell or their website https://www.tapbytoddpownell.com/ Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A thousand facets sits with Tura Sugden, they talk about her childhood in Australia, how she has a curiosity for creativity since childhood and how responsible sourcing and manufacturing is the most important thing for her brand. About Tura: Classically trained in both goldsmithing and fine art, Tura Sugden has a unique approach to fine jewelry design and a traditionally rooted execution. She draws upon her experiences - seven years apprenticing and studying advanced techniques in Belgium, Maine, Tennessee, Kansas and California and earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2008 - and now operates a modern atelier, melding old world goldsmithing with a contemporary point of view. Using generations-old hand building techniques, each setting is crafted from solid gold. Rolled, pulled, extruded, sawn, filed, sanded, soldered, and cut until each stone has a protective space. The studio produces only one-of-a-kind and small-production collections, with an emphasis on sustainable and responsible practices. Inspired by the bones of construction, classic silhouettes are redefined with signature settings and uniquely curated gemstones. It is a collection of essentials and heirlooms, romance and luxury, built by hand and born of tradition, thoughtfully produced using recycled gold and ethically sourced diamonds. You can follow Tura on Instagram @turasugden or her website https://turasugden.com/ Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A thousand facets sit with the incredible Alice Cicolini. They spoke about her childhood surrounded by art, her time as a curator and how jewelry found her. She has taken her travels as an inspiration for her work and she celebrates the makers behind it. About: Alice Cicolini is a designer and creative commissioner, curator of several international touring exhibitions on design and a published author, including a book on contemporary British dandyism, The New English Dandy, for Thames & Hudson. She is a Research Associate at Central St Martins, where she graduated in 2009 with a Masters in Jewellery Design. Formerly Director Arts & Culture for the British Council in India, she remains closely involved with Indian craft and design. Alice has exhibited at the V&A, Sotheby's and Homo Faber. She has collaborated with Carpenters Workshop Jewellery and CAST, as well as Peter Ting and heritage British pearl company Winterson. Alice was part of the British Fashion Council’s celebrated Rock Vaults initiative, curated by Stephen Webster, from 2012-2015. Her work has been featured by Joanna Hardy (Masters of Modern Jewellery),  Carol Woolton (Drawing Jewels for Fashion), Olivier Dupon (The New Jewellers) and Melanie Grant (Coveted). A chapter of Kyle Roderick’s book for Rizzoli (Bejewelled: The World of Ethical Jewelry) has been dedicated to Alice’s appreciation for and dedication to the sustainability of artisanal skill. Alice Cicolini is available at Liberty, Twist, Dover Street Market, Auverture and a select list of inspirational independent stores across the US, Japan and Europe. You can follow Alice on Instagram @alicecicolini or her website https://www.alicecicolini.com/ Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A thousand facets sat with the McCaul brothers, Barry and David in their beautiful store in Dublin, Ireland and they chat about how their career in the jewelry industry, how they mix new technology with traditional traditions and what it is to be back on the town they grew up to open their store there. About: We are traditional goldsmiths, known for our unique modern fine jewellery. Our signature style is curvaceous, modern and elegant. Each piece of McCaul Goldsmiths’ jewellery is designed, made and set in-house, from start to finish, using traditional techniques and modern technology. We love to explore new ideas and are continually adding new designs to our collection. Visit the McCaul Goldsmiths’ ateliers in Dublin and London to watch us at work and browse the current designs in our collection. As classically trained goldsmiths, our style and forms are heavily influenced by technique and the properties of the precious metals we work with. We aim to create elegant jewellery that accentuates the curves and contours of the body. Rings gently meander around the fingers and earrings sweep and caress the contours of the neck. Precious metals are hand-forged into sweeping tapered loops; a curve highlighted with lines of tiny diamonds; colourful gemstones inspire one-off creations. Our search for exceptional gemstones regularly takes us to fairs abroad where we source our most remarkable stones. You can follow Barry and David on Instagram @mccaulgoldsmiths or their website https://mccaul.com visit their shops: Dublin Atelier:  The Diamond, Main St, Malahide, Co. Dublin, K36 V2V0  email: [email protected] phone: +353 1 5155038 London Atelier: 56 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QE email: [email protected] phone: +44 207 502 7033 Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A thousand facets sits with Isabelle Capitain, they talk about her beginnings in Germany, her journey in the jewelry world, how she opened her shop in London and how she just wants a good pint! About: Isabelle Capitain designs and makes bold, distinctive contemporary jewellery of impeccable quality and exceptional finish. Her signature collections are heavily influenced by a Bauhaus aesthetic, with its clean, minimalist lines and strong geometric shapes. She plays with balance and form, setting gemstones off-centre and combining metals of different hues to create sculptural pieces that are effortlessly elegant to wear. Her precise, considered approach to design stems from the rigorous training she received on a four-year apprenticeship in her native Germany. She honed her skills under master goldsmith and stone setter Eberhard Mach, where she mastered the technique of micro pavé stone setting. This combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology guarantees that each piece of jewellery is designed and finished to an exacting standard. Clasps and brooch backs are given as much care and attention as the part on display. Isabelle delights in designing hidden surprises into her work: a cluster of miniature diamonds set into the back of a brooch, or nestling on the under-side of a ring shank. Working with only the finest materials, Isabelle hand crafts each piece, from initial design to finished jewellery, in her East Dulwich atelier and showroom. She is happy to take on bespoke commissions, including engagement and wedding rings, and works closely with clients to realise their desired piece of jewellery. You can follow Isabelle on Instagram @ic_handmade_jewellery or her website https://isabelle-capitain.co.uk/ Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A thousand facets sits with Chris Oliver, the Head of Professional Training at the Goldsmiths Centre. He is working to create the curriculums for the new generations of jewelry artists. We discuss his beginnings, what inspired him to go into education and what he has learned about jewelry! About Goldsmiths Centre: Designing, making, crafting and finishing: it all comes together at the Goldsmiths’ Centre. Come to our home, a stone’s throw from Hatton Garden, and join more than 100 makers and businesses in the jewellery and silversmithing industry. Hone your craft, learn new skills, build your business or attend one of our events to make new connections. We welcome everyone: from the young and curious, to designers, makers, manufacturers and craftspeople at all stages in their journey. You can follow Chris Oliver on Instagram @chrisollie99 , or for more information on the goldsmiths centre, visit their website https://www.goldsmiths-centre.org/ Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A thousand facets turned 15 earlier this month and we are doing a small celebration by inviting some of our previous guests to ask a question! We are so thankful for our community and is so nice to have some of our great guests back for a little bit! Great questions by: Allana Lalot -@allanalalot and @lalotcollective Amy Wilson- @amy_wilson_pr Charlotte Hytting- @faconfaconjewelry Cristina Villegas- @cristina.rocks and @moyogems Ellis Mhairi Cameron- @ellismhairicameron Hannah Blount- @hannahblountjewelry Jade Mellor from Gillwing jewellery- @gillwingjewellery Jenna Fennel- East Camp Goods-@eastcampgoods Judi Powers- @judipowers Karin Jacobson- @karinjacobsonjewelry Keira Wraae-Stewart from aetla @_aetla_ Max Danger - @danger_jewels Liz Kantner -@liz_kantner Nia Tahani from Gemcorps- @gemcorps Sarah Pulvertaft-@sarahpulvertaft Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A thousand facets sits with Giovanni Corvaja for the premiere of Season 3. We discuss about his love for gold, and how his research has made him one of the most important goldsmiths of our generation. About: Born in 1971 in Padua, Italy, Giovanni Corvaja began work as a metalsmithing at the age of 13 at Pietro Selvatico High School of Art in Padua under the tuition of Francesco Pavan and Paolo Maurizio. In 1988 was awarded the Diploma di Maestro d’Arte, and in 1990 – the Maturità d’Arte Applicata. In 1990, he joined the Royal College of Art in London to continue his studies in the field of art jewellery. After graduation from the Royal College with the Degree of Master of Arts in 1992, he returned to Padua where he pursued his artistic career in goldsmithing.[Career[edit] The Headpiece from The Golden Fleece Collection, exhibited in the 'What is Luxury' exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. The Golden Handkerchief (hand-woven golden fabric) Giovanni Corvaja has been exhibiting his work internationally since 1989, and has presented his pieces in more than 150 solo and group exhibitions worldwide. Some of his annual exhibitions are in major art fairs such as The European Fine Art Fair, Pavilion of Art and Design, London Masterpiece, London and COLLECT since 2008. You can follow Giovanni Corvaja on Instagram @giovannicorvaja , visit his website https://giovannicorvaja.com/ Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A thousand Facets and Allana Lalot from Lalot Collective are going small business shopping for the holidays! A fan favorite, Allana is passionate about handmade and we are so excited to give you a list of items from small businesses that we either purchase or we are deeply coveting: https://www.bolalyon.com/ https://kosnargems.com/ https://www.ellismhairicameron.com/ https://www.thefalls.store/ https://dragondiffusion.com/ https://minandmon.com/ https://barehands.us/ https://www.jokuma.com/ https://www.southernkindnessgallery.com/category/papou https://rifatto.stores.jp/ https://www.jennileemarigomen.com/cave-echo https://www.luciegledhill.com/ https://givehgiveh.com/ @chiara.catalano.cc You can follow Allana on Instagram @allanalalot and @lalotcollective, visit her website https://lalotcollective.com/ Please visit @athousandfacets on Instagram to see some of the work discussed in this episode. Music by @chris_keys__ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices