Verse by Kara Gingras
Verse features a deliciously lush collection to tempt the demure and daring alike. The intense colors of finely faceted gems are enhanced by the elegance of rich gold and dramatic silver. Designer Kara Firstenberger received a Bachelor of Fine Art in fashion design from the acclaimed Savannah College of Art and Design, where she also took courses in art history and jewelry design. After graduating, she worked as a costume designer/ wardrobe stylist on several projects before ultimately founding Verse.
Beth Lauren
Designer Beth Lauren Silverberg has always felt passionate about art, fashion and design. She has creatively translated her many talents into craft: her delicate and feminine pieces which are sold under the ‘jewelry by Beth Lauren’ label.
Beth studied art and design and has a BA in art from Lehigh University. During her junior year, she traveled to the fashion and design capital of the world, Italy to perfect her craft. Prior to her studies abroad, she began designing necklaces with semi-precious stones, unusual clasps and a fashion forward look. Her designs have kept ahead of the constantly changing trends in jewelry, but her pieces continue the tradition of gracefully fashioned pieces with semi-precious stones in playful colors and unique materials.
The collections blend uniformly stacked rows, asymmetric composition, and woven and braided elements. The most recent 'tides' and 'infused heirloom' collections are a study in contrasts, merging delicate chiffons with chunky crystal and antique pieces with woven 14K gold-filled chain and metallic threads. The unique and often convertible pieces are all made by hand and carry with them a sense of sophisticated whimsy.
Beth Lauren jewelry is a little piece of modern garnish for the stylish, chic, and fashion obsessed!
Magnes Sisters
Once upon a time, a Russian artist prophesized the careers of her three Israeli granddaughters- Dina, Yael, and Tamar Magnes.The first would create clothing, the second would create jewelry, and the third would excel at graphic design.
Today it's only fitting that the sisters would look to their wise grandmother as the inspiration for their joint venture, a line of high end handbags.The sisters gathered in New York with a dream of designing and creating together. They love working with materials such as Italian leather, Natural canvas, vintage wool and silky linings.
Made in NYC, the handbag are an expression of their individuality and harmony as a trio.
Bo J.C.
It's as if gypsy collided head on with elegance and when the dust cleared, there was a collection of necklaces sparkling with sapphires, earrings dripping with Mexican fire opals and bracelets jingling to the tune of tourmaline. Such charm is the Bo J.C. jewelry line. Created in 1995 by sisters Cathy Charles, the treasure maker who designs each collection, Jeanet Lee, the storyteller at the business end of it all, and their busy bee mother Helen “Bo” Lee, designer of the one-of-a-kind couture collection.
The fabulous trio works with a small troop of artisans who are masters of intricate craftsmanship- hammering, twisting and wire-wrapping. Bo J.C. is ever expanding on what they do best- delicate, feminine pieces full of spirit and made with love. Whether done in fine gold chains or their trademark braiding technique, Bo J.C. necklaces look daring layered or stand divine on their own. Earrings are made with the tiniest and finest points in mind, while bracelets are dainty yet bold in their generous use of gems.
Bo J.C. is a must have accessory for the girl who styles her look down to the last detail.
Schleeh Design
Colin Schleeh was born in Montreal, Quebec in 1955. He began his design career working for his father, sculptor Hans Schleeh, polishing marble sculptures and cleaning the ever-growing piles of marble chips. Attracted to the organic qualities of wood, he began his studies in wood design at the age of 17, apprenticing at the Berufs und Fachschule, Holz und Kunstgewerbe in Stuttgart Germany, before moving to Edmonton.
Moving his family to Montreal in 1986, Schleeh worked as a boat-builder, set designer, custom furniture designer/builder, sculptor, jewelry designer, and completed a one year stint as manager of a custom furniture company, before accepting a position at Dawson College to head their Fine Arts studio. When it became apparent that the increasing demand for his work required his full attention, Colin Schleeh opened Schleeh Design with Rachael Schwartz in the fall of 2001.
Operating out of a converted studio on the banks of the Lachine Canal, Schleeh Design offers a line of innovative limited production accessories and serves as a showcase for Schleeh's collection of handmade vases and decorative art.
Recent work includes design commissions for Hermes of Paris, Bulgari and Shreve Crump and Low. Schleeh's work is represented in galleries and collections throughout Canada and the United States, as well as Japan and Europe.