We're All Ears :: May Inspiration :: Trash Transformed

trans·for·ma·tion

/tran(t)sfərˈmāSH(ə)n/

noun

1. a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance.

   
   

   synonyms:

   change, alteration, mutation, conversion, metamorphosis, transfiguration, transmutation

I think we can all agree that there is far too much waste in this world.

Litter on the highways, trash on the sidewalk, overflowing trash heaps and floating barge dumps in the ocean.

Earth Day is celebrated in April, but for me there is no time limit on loving the earth.

I don't throw a lot of things away, and recycled as much as possible, which explains why I am a clutter-a-holic. But sometimes that tendency can serve me well.

There is a local art gallery that had an exhibit back in 2013 called "Re-Art: Trash Transformed." I had a piece in that (although I can't for the life of me remember exactly what it was!). There were some really ingenious pieces of art, all created from 75% recycled, repurposed, found or trash objects. They are mounting this exhibit again, entitled "Re-Art Revived" and I have been working on ideas that have to be in early next week in time for the jurying for prizes.

This challenge has me looking at those things I throw away so easily in a new light, and my favorite part of the challenge is to disguise the trash or alter it so that you would have no idea what it was to begin with. So since I am taking on this challenge, I thought it might be fun to see what you would do. Are you game?

Take a look around you. See what sorts of items you might have in your daily life that would normally get discarded. Stop and think about it a minute before you toss it away. Paper, plastics, metal....think outside the {jewelry} box! How can you transform these everyday things we take for granted and throw away into something special? After Easter I started keeping a baggie of those colored eggshells that I dyed, cleaned and ready for....something.... Hmmmmm.....that gets me thinking!

If you don't feel like clawing through your trash bins, why not look in your drawers....junk drawers, that is! I have at least two junk drawers in my kitchen (and one cupboard!). And my whole studio is a junk drawer at times! What objects can you find in there to give new life to? I stumbled upon a whole stash of used up gift cards. Wonder what I could make with those?

For me, a trick is to make the trash that is transformed truly something unrecognizable from its former state. Another tip is to mix materials....found objects with new beads, art beads with upcycled treasures. I plan to dip into my vast stash of art beads and gemstones to pair with the....oops! Not telling you!

Taking something that no one would expect in jewelry and elevating it to the level of adornment is exciting. I love when someone cannot figure out what the material is, and when I tell them they have that 'aha' moment! And it feels good to give new life to something that would otherwise sit in a landfill for the next 100 years.

A little upcycled eye candy to kickstart your Muse....clockwise from top left:
Nespresso pods - dollar bills - buttons and hose clamps - newspaper - magazines - soda cans - plastic bottles - tin cans

Be sure to take a BEFORE picture of the object that you are upcycling. I might even throw in a few process shots to show how I get it from its previous life to a new revised state.

If you need a little prodding about how beautiful castoffs can be, check out this collection of recycled jewelry from www.RecycleArt.org. Who knew trash could be so beautiful?

Join me on Friday, May 19th for the reveal of our Trash Transformed!

We're All Ears :: December Inspiration

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Use Your Leftovers challenge! 

After stuffing ourselves for Thanksgiving in the United States, as well as getting prepped for holiday open houses, craft sales, gallery openings and the sort, it is likely that you might have a leftover problem. 

Beading leftovers are no stranger to me. My studio looks like you pulled open one of those giant crackers and out popped all manner of beads, findings, leather, cord, clay, wire, metal and the like. When a bead rolls off my table (which they frequently do), I rarely bother to find out where it went. I just keep right on going. There is always another right there waiting.

If you are like me, then you have multiple projects happening at all times (and in my case, in various rooms of my house, much to the chagrin of my darling husband). When complete, the resulting project gets buried by the next one...literally. I imagine my studio is like an archaeological dig...strata of projects past are discovered as you dig deeper into the ever-growing pile. Every so often I feel the need to sort through it and {attempt} to put it away. But more likely than not, I am overstuffed from my marathon creating and I just push back from the beading table, vowing to tidy it up tomorrow.

There is only one thing to do with a bead feast craftermath like that: USE YOUR LEFTOVERS.

So in the spirit of the holidays, I challenge you to play the  

Leftover Transformation Game 

with me. Are you ready to play?

Make your own Keep Calm poster at http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk

First, take a picture of the craftermath from your bead feast. I know it won't be pretty! I expect that it will be littered with beady crumbs of all sorts. But think of those bits as delicious morsels waiting for your inspiration to strike!

Here is the picture of my craftermath from 2015 (oh, it's real people! And it hasn't really changed much in the last 12 months!):

The working corner of my studio room...if you can get to the table from all the boxes and bins behind it barricading it in!

Next, find a divided box, bin, baggies or small bowls and go through the stash on your festive table picking out coordinated sets that you can use to create earrings. They don't need to be same... this is a good time to practice asymmetrical earrings! Put these pieces together with ear wires, chain, findings, etc in each division of the box. I have found that a mini-muffin tin is a great way to corral these bits! Work quickly! Don't take too much time, just focus on filling the sections.Think of this like your staging area for Leftover Transformation.

Here is my tray from 2015...

Now, kick your creating into high gear! Consider this a Quickfire challenge...Put on some fun music...Set a timer (challenge yourself to see how many pairs of earrings you can create in an hour...or 15 minutes... or make one pair a day for 7 days... whatever works for you!). DON'T THINK ABOUT IT TOO MUCH (leftovers are supposed to be easy!), just make it happen. Sometimes the best things happen when you are on a deadline and you can't afford the time to overthink! 

Finally, share your bounty of tasty Leftover Transformation creations on Friday, December 16th with the blog party right here. I would be surprised if you didn't make multiple pairs of earrings from this exercise. The bonus is that you will now have a ready-made collection of quick gifts for stocking stuffers, teachers, co-workers and friends just in time for celebrating all the winter holidays and festivities! (Or a different pair for you to wear each day until the new year!)

In the spirit of giving, I will offer a giveaway of a surprise earring design grab bag of beads and components, valued at over $40. But in order to be chosen, you must participate in the blog hop starting on December 16th! Winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries on December 23rd (that will give you one full week to make your Leftover Transformation magic happen!).

Let's get this leftover party started...tell your friends to join in the fun, too!