SPOTLIGHT ON ... ARTICLE
June 2007

Recycled Jewelry Art
Written by: Charlene Gary

I used to believe that everything was made or developed for one sole purpose. Once that purpose was obsolete or exhausted, the article would be thrown away, or possibly recycled, if facilities existed. I don't believe that anymore.

Ever since this past Earth Day, I am even more inspired to reduce, reuse and recycle. I grew up with that mentality, my mother being an old hippie and all. We were always trying to look at objects differently in our crafts at home. I've continued with that thought in my jewelry. To take something that-on the surface, to first look at it-seems obsolete and useless, and to turn it into a piece of art, is very exciting. I'm inspired to do more with ordinary objects I find around the house, in the junk drawer, the studio or workshop.

I have made some interesting necklaces using rubber cord, large hole glass beads and washers. The washers are a bit off-set, in that the ends don't totally close as a jump ring does. But it's a bit twisted, and almost open, but not quite. Kids and guys like that kind of look. They can still wear jewelry and look cool doing it. I have found square tubing made of brass that I have cut into 1/2 in. pieces and strung them along w/bone beads and other base metal spacers for an industrial look to a chain and bracelet. I've had to file the ends of the cut pieces so they won't scratch or scrape the person wearing it.

I have hundreds of old buttons passed down from my grandmother that I have been putting to use in bracelets using stretchy cord. I used the thicker diameter, to keep from breaking easily. I make sure to put a drop of super glue in the end knot to ensure it stays tied shut.

I have started to wire wrap stones that I find. I invested in a good quality, 2 barrel tumbler to smooth out and polish the interesting stones I find while walking, or while I'm with my dog at the park. I take a moment to look down to see what may be there. Some otherwise rough and unappealing stones have turned out to be quite beautiful once smoothed and polished.

I've found some small shells on my visits to the lake with my dog. I've cleaned them up, washed, disinfected, rinsed and clean coated them to bring a shine to the shells, and have fashioned them into earrings. These shells are delicate, so I wouldn't use them for bracelets or chains. There's too great a risk of breaking them that way.

I've fashioned trinkets from bubble gum machines into bracelets. I've used my dogs old name tags into key rings as a memento of our time together. Springs from retractable pens can be unusual spacers in a chain, with an old skeleton key as the focal point.

Use your imagination. Try something new with something old. Think of objects in a sideways manner and see what you come up with.

I've been a creative soul all my life. I've recently started looking at things sideways and found it to be a very unique point of view. It's helped me to try different things, and create new things I didn't think were possible. I enjoy working at my bench at home and showing my pieces at a local artists' shop. You can visit my blog at www.cleverminerva.blogspot.com