photo: along the shore on a beach in St George, Bermuda
Sea glass: For every piece of sea glass that we find, probably twenty-five pieces are tossed back not meeting my jewelry standard. Since my sea glass is never machine manufactured or altered, I rely on the surf and sand to do its work. Currently I am creating with sea glass from the mid-Atlantic region, New England, the Pacific Northwest, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, France, Spain, Bermuda, Gibraltar, Scotland, The Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, the Baltic Sea and the Azores.
My secret on keeping sea glass looking bright - a dab of baby oil on a cloth to polish. White sea glass should be left unoiled.
Sea glass: For every piece of sea glass that we find, probably twenty-five pieces are tossed back not meeting my jewelry standard. Since my sea glass is never machine manufactured or altered, I rely on the surf and sand to do its work. Currently I am creating with sea glass from the mid-Atlantic region, New England, the Pacific Northwest, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, France, Spain, Bermuda, Gibraltar, Scotland, The Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, the Baltic Sea and the Azores.
My secret on keeping sea glass looking bright - a dab of baby oil on a cloth to polish. White sea glass should be left unoiled.
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Chipped China: I have always loved the look of vintage china, and hate to see it tossed in the dustbin just because of a chip or crack. I take a piece, further break it into interesting pieces, sand the edges, sometimes solder the edges and make it into wearable art. Do you have a pieces from you great-grandmother - I can make it into a necklace, pendant or earrings for the next generation to enjoy. How about a charm fir the bride from her grandmother's china? |
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Beads: To me beads are the second most important element in making the pieces unique and a standout from other items massed produced. As I travel, I look for interesting beads - in Morocco I found many things of beauty. I also use Fair Trade Beads when I can, mostly from Ghana, to not only help the woman in that country, but because they produce interesting, handcrafted pieces that are not seen everywhere and often are made from recycled materials. Soon I will have beads from Thailand made by local villagers. I also use many beads handcrafted by local artisians.
Stones and Terracotta Tile pieces: I love to use the stones I have found in New England and in the Mediterranean for making jewelry - smooth and flat - almost Zen-like. Terracotta pieces, often trash swept into the ocean after storms, are pieces of beauty unto themselves.
email: allwwashedupgems@gmail.com
