Recycling and Jewelry

I love the idea of recycling, and I try to incorporate recycled elements into my jewelry whenever possible (i.e., the floppy disk hubs).  The African beads in these necklaces are made from recycled brass, using the lost wax process. It is an arduous procedure that involves destroying the mold to retrieve the newly created bead:

 
Here's another necklace made from African beads:

The crimson beads are made from faceted carnelian, which is about as fancy as I get ... with tangerine gold aluminum chain.  And the patterned beads are wood.

In this era when we are told to constantly grasp for more, maybe what we really need to do is transform what we already have; to make it new and fresh.  Just a thought.

Here I am again.  I'm trying to get back into the swing of blogging.  The beginning of a year is always challenging for me, filled with activity.  I hope you're having a better time of it than I am.

Anyway, this seems like a good time to mention my floppy disk jewelry.  About a year ago, a coworker gave me a pile of old floppy disks and asked me to destroy them.  I asked her if I could have the hubs for making jewelry, and she said yes.  For a year now, I have been cleaning, painting, hammering and gluing stuff onto floppy disks, but it wasn't until a month or so ago that I had anything to show for it.  Here's where I am right now:

This has been a tough project.  I didn't realize when I began it that floppy disk hubs are made with industrial-grade stainless steel.  They are not intended for exposure to the elements, so they have to be painted or sealed in some manner to keep them from rusting.  I chose to paint them with an acrylic-based paint.

This necklace is made of floppy disk hubs, black aluminum chain and Swarovski crystals.

As I mentioned, I have other plans for the floppies as well.  This is an ongoing obsession.  So expect to see more of this stuff.

Have a great weekend!

An Extremely Freaky Chain Necklace

Well, I warned you.  This necklace has a little extra "freak" built into it.  When I first started this project, I was very inspired by the great bib necklaces that were everywhere.  I had intended the black aluminum chain to lend a slightly "goth" element to it, although I must admit that the Swarovski crystals are a little too sweet for a hard-line goth.  Oh well.  But that was my starting point.  The lowest circular link in this necklace likes to move around a bit -- sometimes it goes horizontal, although most often vertical.  It's kind of cool and kind of disturbing.  I would like to continue with this concept, and one of these days I plan on making a bib necklace that dangles closer to the cleavage area.  

Curb Chain's Sweeter, Sexier Side

I have wanted to make jewelry with REALLY BIG CHAIN for some time.  About six years ago I bought a length of stainless steel chain at the hardware store and  tried to make some jewelry with it.  It was pointless -- it was too heavy and I couldn't find a clasp that could stand up to it.  About a year ago I discovered aluminum curb chain, which to me is a dream come true -- this chain in particular is very large -- 14mm x 10mm -- yet extremely light.  I dig the whole "combining high with low" concept, so I enjoyed wire-wrapping it with peach freshwater pearls, Swarovski crystals and silver (zinc alloy) beads.  

The chain has a gunmetal finish and is 20 inches long, with a pewter toggle clasp.  This is another necklace that I can say was inspired by my nieces, who have taught me to always have fun, no matter what. Particularly with my jewelry!

Hey there.  Hope you're all out there having a stellar weekend!

As promised, here is another chain necklace, which features pewter, faceted black agate and black Swarovski crystal links.  It is 22 1/2 inches long and has a pewter toggle clasp.  I wanted to make something that really delivered, in terms of visual candy, so the links are of varying shapes and sizes, with the agate beads as a counterpoint.  This is a further development to my ongoing obsession:  "I love chains.  What is a chain?  What could a chain be?  What actually constitutes a chain?  What could I conceivably sequence in on a chain with or without looking ridiculous?  How about dreams?  Goals?  Cans of tuna fish?"

  







Does your brain hurt yet?  Mine does.  I'll see you again tomorrow.  Be safe.  Be happy.  Thank you.

Chain necklaces

I love a really nice chain necklace, and this love affair has prevailed for a good thirty years now.  I can remember the moment it began -- I was admiring a beautiful chain necklace a friend was wearing, and she said, airily, "oh, all of my artist friends notice this."  I think at that point I realized that I had strong visual ties to my environment.

I have recently decided to revisit my great love of chain jewelry, and here's an example for you (front and back of the same piece).  The gemstone is blue agate:

One of the benefits of making a huge, honking chain is that it can really stand up to huge, honking pendants! The coil connectors are made from 14-gauge black aluminum chain, alternating with pewter connectors.  Expect more of these ...

Have a great weekend!

My Latest Obsession

A few months ago I discovered African beads, and my life has never been the same.  I am particularly enamored of brass beads from Ghana, which are made from the lost wax process.  Here's a recent necklace I made from Ghana beads:

This is by no means a traditional arrangement -- these types of beads are typically paired with colorful beads with lively patterns, and are strung, not wire-wrapped.  So consider this a type of Afro-American fusion, I guess.