While I am very careful to source my precious metals only from SCS® certified suppliers (SCS® stands for Supply Chain Sustainability; they are the global leader in the field of sustainability standards and third-party certification). Most of my precious metals suppliers are also members of the Responsible Jewellery Council. However, I want to point out that ‘recycling gold' is not what is commonly understood by the term.
True recycling avoids things ending up in landfills. Gold, of course, wouldn’t.
Instead, gold is simply melted, refined and repurposed.
Although SCS® certified refineries must maintain auditable records of their suppliers, there are loopholes globally which make it very easy for gold from unregulated and/or illegal sources to enter their supply chain.
This makes even 'certified recycled' gold untraceable.
I have just returned from the CircleCraft Market in Vancouver. I very much enjoy coming to Vancouver twice a year to show my work, and look forward to returning again in the summer, for CircleCraft Summer and the Harmony Arts Festival. Here are a few impressions of my last visit!
Upon arrival to set up the show, one always gets this amazing view of Vancouver harbour from below the Convention Centre West.
I love this view
Set-up went smoothly, thanks to my wonderful uncle Gary Zumar, who lives in Vancouver and always helps me out. Upon leaving on set-up day, I found this:
These banners with my rings on them would greet visitors all week
The ads all over town had caused quite the stir, and so I had a very interested audience for talking about the Onefooter rings, throughout the show.
Photos of my rings, and of my hands at work , adorned the busses
Even the subway platforms showed my hands (photos by Paige Littlefair) and my work (photos by Christina Arsenault):
The subway ads were particularly stunning
All this made mine a very popular booth:
The flow of people at the booth was steady
People were particularly interested in seeing the many variations of Onefooter rings with colourful sapphires. I even had one with a ruby, and some with very nice tourmaline, one of which found a happy new owner.
Trying on rings & asking questions
The highlight of the show was when a couple whom I had been working with over the past couple of months, came to pick up their commitment rings. It remains amazing to me that I get to play this huge role in couples’ lives – Thank You!
These two were as excited as I was!The couple had me make them a 18k palladium white gold Onefooter ring with princess cut blue sapphire, and a white gold MapleLeaf ring
Lastly: I got a treat, too. Craftspeople have a very hard time not falling in love with each other’s work. This time, I returned with a particularly special piece: my epic new teapot, which Lynn from Red Pot Pottery (Surrey, BC) has painstakingly ornamented in her precise yet whimsical way. Here it is, on the wood stove back in Halifax, where I have been preparing for the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council annual Christmas Market. It opens tomorrow morning – hope to see my regulars there!
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