My new Fuji

Testing out my new camera. Love it.

Recycling,Repurposing,Reincarnating

I have been busy, the rain is back and I look forward to many hours in the Treehouse upcycling new jewelry pieces. I find it so gratifying giving new life to old silver-plated and sterling silver discarded treasures. Using these forgotten dreams and time worn cast offs I am recycling and recreating them into wearable jewels.

I find my inspiration in flea markets, thrift stores and recycling depots. My friends and family are feverishly searching garage sales and other sources to find just the right pieces for me to transform. It is like Christmas when my parents send me a box filled with items that have intricate designs, shapes and textures. Thanks everyone for keeping your eyes and your wallets open for me.xo
Mixed Metal Mimi

More Reclaimed jewels

More Upcycled treasures

New Piece- Paua shell pendant

I worked on this one for 2 weeks in workshop. The Paua shell was an earring which had a hole in the top so I had to find a way to incorporate this in the design. The shell also did not sit flat so I had to fit the shell into a putty, once hard I had to sand and file the putty so that it would sit nicely into the fine silver bezel. The bezel was also challenging since it kept lifting and it took two of us each with a flame to get it to sit right and not melt it in the process. I sawed out the designs in the pendant body but when I finished I was not happy with the result, so I added some silver wire over top. Finally I took some wire and formed a ball fed it through the hole and made a bale, Voila. It was a project that I took on for workshop practise and it was definitely a learning experience. The person I made it for was to give it to her mother who just turned 70. They both loved it.
Happy 70th and congratulations.
Mixed Metal Mimi