Rare Olive Jewellery Showcase

Nicole Gagnon (Rare Olive) creates wooden jewellery and accessories out of Guelph, ON.
She has a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Design from Humber College and a Diploma in Graphic Design from Nova Scotia Community College.
Nicole’s passion for wood stemmed from an admiration of her grandfather’s carpentry skills as well as from working with her husband, another talented woodworker. These combined experiences have led her toward the knowledge she now has of different woods and grains.

Visit the Craft Ontario Distillery Shop between September 12 - November 8, 2026 to Shop the entire collection – visit the Online Shop for the curated collection.

Craft Ontario: When did you start Rare Olive?
Nicole Gagnon: The rebrand from my name to "Rare Olive" was in 2020. Rare Olive seemed a fitting name in that ‘Rare’ refers to uniqueness in design and individuality in style and “Olive” for the green earthy side of this jewellery, a nod to nature.

I love working with my hands, which led me to pursue a maker/artisan career and lifestyle. I am inspired by my mission to create contemporary jewellery fashions with a sustainable ethos. There is ingenuity within my pieces, with styles that are versatile and that can be worn multiple ways.

How would you describe your style and the inspiration for your designs?
I would describe my style as minimalist. I find lots of inspiration in the shapes in contemporary architecture. I tend to produce a bold geometric look, perfect for the modern day trendsetter. Many of my wares are designed and made to be reversible with a different type of wood on either side. I hope to provide a sustainable craft for people who gravitate towards good design, slow fashion, and natural aesthetic.

What does your process look like?
I cut, shape, and sand all my own pieces using smaller woodworking hand tools ensuring very little to no waste in my methods.
Once I've selected fun woods, I begin the process of cutting and planning them down with the machinery out in my woodshop. I then glue and clamp everything into place. Using a combination of handsaws, band saws and a small CNC machine, I then cut out all of my shapes. The edges are all fairly rough at this point, so I then touch all the surfaces to my small belt sander and then hand sand the rest. The final step is applying a clear top-coat to protect the wood.

How does sustainability influence your practice?
My mission is to create modern, sustainable, high quality products. I am always looking for ways to reduce waste within my making processes and provide a product I can feel proud of. I enjoy providing customers with unique items that are alternatives to mass-produced commercial products.
I have chosen to work with wood as my medium because it is a more eco-friendly material. I often follow “cradle to cradle” strategies, by intentionally sourcing woods from trees that had to come down due to damage or disease. Our wood suppliers are local, they source some of the woods we use locally and some abroad (like Olivewood) . I am always hand selecting wood types with lots of interest in their grain naturally because I don’t use any stain in my pieces. I prefer to keep it all natural. 
Even the packaging I use if and when necessary is paperback wood veneer and completely biodegradable.

Are there any upcoming adventures that you would like to mention?
We have traveled across Canada twice now (all the way to BC) with our dog and little self-renovated vintage camper, taking on market shows along the way. I love connecting with my community and love sharing my passion behind what I make. I hope to be part of a movement that strives to create meaningful connections through fashion, while providing a sustainable aesthetic for people who gravitate towards good design, slow fashion and supporting handmade.