Last minute gifts for your Valentine!
by Jesswf on February 14, 2012
One of the busiest time for Magpie around Valentine’s day is lunch time on the 14th, so for those of you still looking for great gift ideas, check these out!
These are all pieces designed by Hilary Druxman, 1- sterling silver tear shaped link earrings, $77. 2- sterling silver “love” stamped pendant, $88. 3- white pearl and sterling silver earrings, $33. 4- white pearl and sterling silver necklace, $194. 5- sterling silver chain linked bracelet with white pearls, $88.
All of the pieces above are PANDORA. 1- 18kt rose gold and 0.37tcw pave diamond Lovepod ring, $2015. 2-18kt rose gold and 0.14tcw pave diamond Lovepod bracelet, 16cm, $885 (price varies with length of chain). 3- Circles watch with gold plating and .005ct diamond, $235. Liquid Silver Fluid bangle, $195. 5-Liquid Silver Flow bangle, $245. 6- 14kt gold and Melanite ring, $835.
Stackers Jewellery box. Lidded box, $50. All other trays are $30 each.
A Stackers jewellery box with a few little pieces of jewellery, would make a pretty excellent gift.
Gerard Yosca cuff bracelet, $190. Gerard Yosca necklace, $313.
Happy Valentine’s day!
Jess
Guest Blog: Krista Leben of Wed By Hand
by Jesswf on February 7, 2012
Krista Leben is the producer of Wed By Hand (Ottawa’s first Indie Wedding Show), producer of Urban Craft (monthly market at the GCTC), director of the Ottawa Craft Co-op, and owner of Urbanite Jewelry. She’s got a lot on her plate, but she managed to get this blog post and contest together for us, even with Wed By Hand coming up this weekend!
Getting married in 2012, or maybe 2013? You’re probably right in the thick of making seating charts, choosing color schemes, picking out flowers and much more. Planning a wedding can be a pretty big task, and finding vendors and resources to help you get through the process can literally be a life-saver. If you’re the type of bride who loves to scour wedding blogs, dreams of DIY’ing your way through the big day, and who wants to create a wedding day that truly reflects your values and vision—Wed By Hand is the place for you.
Wed By Hand, Ottawa’s Indie Wedding Show. Taking place at the Glebe Community Center this Saturday, Wed By Hand is a DIY, eco-friendly and handmade wedding show that’s designed to help couples find something different for their wedding day. Wed By Hand is all about hooking you up with local small businesses that will help you personalize your wedding in a truly unique way.
Now in its third year, the show not only gives you the opportunity to chat with over 40 unique vendors—from vegan bakers to jewellery makers to picture takers—but it also gives you the opportunity to actually learn how to DIY your big day. This year, the show will offer 8 DIY and informational workshops to help you create the wedding day that you’ve always wanted. Learn how to create your own bouquet from local flowers, print your own invites -and- plan an awesome wedding on a budget—all from experts that really know their stuff.
This year the show has also expanded to include a tasting room, full of local bakeries, caterers and more. From a DIY candy bar from The Candy Store to a tea bar from DAVIDsTEA to vegan baked goodies from Auntie Loo’s, attendees will be able to sample tons of scrumptious food. Consider Wed By Hand’s tasting room your one stop shop for getting all those cake tastings done in one place!
And if you’re looking for fancy duds for your special day, we’ll have everything from dresses to fascinators to ties for you to check out. Victoire and With Love Bridal Boutique will be on hand with some seriously sweet dresses. For the grooms-to-be, we’ll also have screen printed ties and bow ties made from vintage fabrics—perfect ways to spruce up your groom!
Sound like fun? We’ve got 2 tickets + a highly coveted swag bag for one lucky winner. Wanna win? Just comment on this post and let us know what you’re planning to DIY for your wedding day! Enter by Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 11:59pm to win!
Wed By Hand, Ottawa’s Indie Wedding Show
When: Saturday, February 11 from 11am-5pm
Photos taken by Anne-Marie Bouchard
Thanks Krista!
Westboro’s first Private Party!
by Jesswf on February 3, 2012
I’m proud to announce that Magpie in Westboro hosted its first Private Party last weekend! Earlier last week Olivia (from Mafia Jewellery) emailed us with an idea of the colour scheme and style the bride is going for, what designers she liked from our website and her Pinterest page (if you’re planning on getting hitched sign yourself up for Pinterest, it’s such a useful tool). We gathered up jewellery from all three stores based on the information and had it all here waiting for their arrival at 8:30am on Saturday. We’ve never had a morning party before, but it was a great way to start the day! The girls shopped for jewellery before setting out to get the bride’s dress. The only thing missing was Mimosas…
What a gorgeous wedding party, and at 8:30 on a Saturday morning!
“How do they look?” The bride, Kate, shows off her two top picks.
The bride and her sister share a silly moment!
The bridesmaids will be wearing these Silver Seasons Olive Branch earrings with their soft grey dresses, and may add the Hilary Druxman pearl bracelet to match. The wedding will be in Tuscany!
The bridesmaids look to the bride for her choices and advise.
The bride chose these Silver Seasons Phacelia earrings to reflect the beautiful Tuscan setting of the ceremony, and to go with the creamy colour in her dress.
Beautiful choices!
If you’re ever interested in having your own private party at Magpie, email info@magpiejewellery.com or call 613-233-3337 to set it up!
Have a great weekend,
Jess
Leah Alexandra’s Estate Jewellery!
by Jesswf on January 27, 2012
Harness your individuality with Leah Alexandra Estate jewellery. The pieces in this line are collected by Leah from around the globe during her travels… antique markets, estate sales, and pawnshops. Leah was raised in Ontario and during her childhood she was taken “antique hunting” every weekend by her father. The love of a great find has lasted through Leah’s adulthood and she is very excited about these pieces. Dating mostly from late Victorian period to the Art Deco era, these one of a kind collectable lockets are 12 or 14kt gold-filled, on new 26-inch 14kt gold-filled chains. A person is walking hand in hand with history when wearing one of these pieces. Some of the lockets date back over 100 years and now Leah has given them new life mixing nostalgia, history and a great sense of style.
Magpie is super excited to now be carrying a selection of lockets and pendants from Leah Alexandra’s Estate line of jewellery. All of these pieces will be available at our Rideau Centre location, feel free to email info@magpiejewellery.com or call 613-233-3337 ext. 151 if you’re interested in purchasing them online or having one transferred to a different location. Here they are!
From left to Right:
1-Gold fill Heart locket from the 1940s, $275.00
2-Gold fill Heart locket from the 1940s, $242.00
3-This Victorian Beauty is originally from England, it is 9kt gold with a blue sapphire from between 1900-1910, $418.00
4- A rare piece, Fleur de Lis dated 1890-1900, $341.00
5- A sweet little 1920s locket, $209.00
A beautifully engraved pin converted into a pendant , dated 1910-1920, $242.00
If you ever watch Mad Men you’ll see this is just like the necklace Joan wears! It’s another pin-turned pendant still in beautiful condition dated 1910-1920, $341.00
There are a few more necklaces, but you’ll have to visit the Rideau Centre to see them in all their beauty!
Have a great weekend! Spring is only 52 days away!
Jess
My Favourite 5: Priscilla
by Jesswf on January 17, 2012
Even after a crazy busy holiday season, all three Magpie stores have a great variety of jewellery to suit anyone’s style! This morning Priscilla chose her five favorite things in the store, enjoy these beauties:
1. Holly Yashi Primrose Path studs, $38. 2. Silver Seasons orange blossom Brooch, $123. 3. Hilary Druxman Pearl Bracelet, $110. 4. Leah Alexandra Pyrite and Black Garnet bracelet, $250. 5 Myka Earrings, $68.
Thanks Priscilla!
Anat Kaplan
by Jesswf on January 13, 2012
For the month of December Magpie in the Glebe carried Anat Kaplan’s jewellery line Anouk. To no one’s surprise, it was well received and we decided to move her pieces over to our Westboro store to give her the “featured designer” space here. When she returns from sourcing diamonds abroad we will be getting more of her pieces in to carry at Westboro permanently!
From left to right, Aqua Chalcedony pear shaped cabochon ring in 10kt yellow gold, $900. Ancient Promise solitaire ring with diamond in 14kt yellow gold, $1920. Peruvian opal and 14kt gold ring $960. 10kt gold textured necklace, $660
From left to right: Textured leaf earrings, $455. Ancient Promise Solitaire ring, $1920. Textured leaf Necklace, $495.
It’s worth venturing out into this weather to see, I promise!
Jess
Winter Stone
by Jesswf on January 4, 2012
Garnet may be the birthstone of the month right now, but don’t these dendtritic agates remind you more of a January landscape?
According to our Crystal Bible, Dendritic Agate is believed to aid in communication with nature. It is associated with the protection of the earth, rain, prosperity, abundance, healing, restoration and creativity. It’s also said to improve self esteem and emotion balance.
MetalSmith
by Jesswf on December 16, 2011
Magpie’s very own Walter Vandermolen just announced to us that he is going to be teaching a Metalsmithing course at the Ottawa School of Art! It’s called “Creative Jewellery Making: Basic Techniques” and it runs on Monday nights, 6:30-9:30 from February 6th to April 2nd! If you’re interested in all the details or registering for the course, click here.
Hope to see you in class!
Jess
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Our Favourite Gifts for Her!
by Jesswf on December 13, 2011
We’re still sending new pieces to our showrooms every day, here are a few of our very favourites!
A simple twist on the classic Strand of Pearls, Hilary Druxman uses Freshwater Peacock pearls with black string, Necklace $194, Earrings $55, Bracelet $110
Any of the Pyrrha Seals make great gifts, part of the beauty is the card that comes along with each seal! Anchor of Hope Seal, $256
New (to Magpie) Designer Gerard Yosca has been a huge hit! These earrings are $136 and they go beautifully with the green patina Michael Michaud uses for his Silver Seasons collection, Bracelet $98
My photo of this piece from Georg Jensen doesn’t do it justice, to really appreciate the fluidity of the silver and how striking the necklace is you need to see it in person (and you probably need to try it on), Neckwire $467, pendant $600
Anne-Marie Chagnon Earrings $29, Necklace $58 Bracelet $138. We have a great selection of Anne-Marie Chagnon jewellery in all three stores, it’s a perfect combination of bright colours and antique looking pewter (and the prices are amazing!)
The perfect gift for any fashionista, Alexis Bittar makes beautiful bakelite inspired fashion jewellery and anyone would be lucky to open a box with one of his pieces in it. Earrings, $ 90 Necklace $70 Simple Lucite Bangle $125 Lucite Bangle with crystals $195
Whatever you choose, she’ll love it.
Jess
Magpie goes to Oz Kafe
by Jesswf on December 9, 2011
The website and the stores have been so busy I’ve barely had time to think about the Blog! I can’t complain, I love the Holiday rush we get at the beginning of December. To get into the spirit Magpie was treated to a delicious dinner party at Oz Kafe, one of my very favorite places in Ottawa. I’ve never seen it as glittery as this past Sunday night! It was also the introduction of the most amazing Brownie I’ve ever eaten, we were so lucky.
Megan and Mallory
Erin and Martin (Magpie owners, thanks for dinner!) and Jackie and Walter the gemologists and custom experts.
Jaclyn wearing her Hilary Druxman Pearl strand and earrings, very classic.
To no one’s surprise, Alexis Bittar was the most worn designer at the Christmas party, I wish I had Kayla’s collection!
Sarah in Alexis Bittar Earrings (she also had four of his bangles on, some Leah Alexandra, Matsu and Anne Sportun… amazing!)
Most importantly, the brownie was wearing icing sugar and mint chocolate gelato, I hope to see it again soon!
Thank you Oz, Martin and Erin for the lovely evening and thanks Laura for taking these wonderful pictures!
Have a great weekend!
Jess
PS. If you live in Westboro, the Clocktower Brew Pub beside Magpie has finally opened!