What is Metamorphosis? It's a jewellery project where I turn your old silver or gold jewellery into something new at no charge (unless you want a material that you don't currently have)! You give me ideas of what you like, and then I surprise you with one of them of my choice! Swipe to see the last few metamorphosis' I've created.
I'm taking 2 volunteers for the fall. You must live in the lower mainland and be able to travel to my New Westminster studio. Application deadline is this coming Monday the 19th!
Interested? Please get in touch!
Metamorphosis 42: From barnacle to mermaid!
This metamorphosis is for my dear friend Michele. She bought the mussel and barnacle ring on the first anniversary of her mother’s passing. Since then, her feelings have changed and she was unsettled with the memories it brought her. Knowing this, I wanted to make her something new that represented where she’s at today in terms of her memories, feelings, and style.
Fire and smoke are cleansing so I was happy to torch the ring as soon as I got it and get rid of that bad juju Michele was unsettled about! There was a little blue stone in the ring but I had no intention of using it knowing that I had some pretty moss aquamarines that Michele loved.
Why moss aquamarine? The first reason is because aquamarine is Michele’s birthstone. Also Michele has this amazing wavy hair that always reminds me of mermaid hair (or at least what I think mermaid hair looks like)! Upon receiving the ring, Michele also told me that the colour reminds her of the ocean where her mother’s ashes lie. Also, the colour of the stone is similar to that of her son’s eyes which gives the ring another layer of family meaning.
The moss aquamarine sits in a sterling silver basket setting that I made entirely by hand. There’s something about a big gem stone in a basket setting that is both classic and simple, yet glamorous at the same time!
Now I need a moss aquamarine ring!
Ps- Michele is an amazing photographer. Go check out her work at her website here.
Pss- if you want the satisfaction of seeing the old ring torched…go to my Instagram!
METAMORPHOSIS 14: INTRO
Volunteer: Alyson G.
Profession: Social Worker
Likes: vibrant colours, feminine yet edgy, whimsical patterns, flowers, nature, family-inspired
Dislikes: neutrals, dangly earrings
I"ll be honest: I have no idea where to start! As you can see, I have lots to work with. Something will eventually come to me when I'm knee deep into breaking things apart!
METAMORPHOSIS: JUNE INTRO
Volunteer: Tara K.
Profession: Controller
Likes: Big jewellery, turqouise, black, purple
Dislikes: Dainty jewellery, yellow, orange
Tara loves jewellery! All kinds and the more the better! You might think of this as an easy month for me because if Tara loves all jewellery, it’s likely I’ll make her something she likes. But because she already has so much, I have/want to come up with something unique. Time to start designing!
METAMORPHOSIS: MAY INTRO
Volunteer: Tess R.
Profession: Community Fundraiser Coordinator
Likes: Dark colours (black, navy, purple, green), practical and feminine jewellery
Dislikes: Pastels
Tess gave me a lot of silver and gold which means I have a lot of options. It also means I’m going to stress myself out thinking of all those options! First things first: the elimination round. Set aside what I know I want to reuse and melt everything else!
METAMORPHOSIS: APRIL REVEAL
Arrowhead Stud Earrings
I chose to make Tracie a pair of arrowhead studs because they seemed like a practical piece of jewellery she could wear straight through from her meetings, to her workouts, to being a mom, etc. Arrowheads symbolize strength and I figured if she was only going to wear one piece of jewellery during the day, I might as well make something practical and symbolic.
METAMORPHOSIS: APRIL INTRO
Volunteer: Tracie D.
Profession: Film Photographer
Likes: Cool colours (blues, greens, etc), earrings, necklaces
Dislikes: Earthy colours (reds, oranges, etc)
I know exactly what I’m going to make Tracie! Or so, I think I do. Once I start melting these rings who knows what might happen. But unlike other months, as soon as I met Tracie and saw these rings, an idea popped into my head.
METAMORPHOSIS; MARCH REVEAL
Amethyst Pendant
I haven’t slept in two days. True story. I’ve been so nervous.
When I started playing around with what Stef gave me, I kept going back to the idea of making a pendant. When I finished it, I realized that I made something that encompassed details she didn’t want. She said she liked big but simple or metalwork with no stones. I made her big, metalwork, and with stone.
I really wanted to make a Moroccan-style/Game of Thromes pendant and Stef had the right materials to do that! The pieces just kind of came together for this pendant where as I struggled with every other design I came up with for her.
METAMORPHOSIS: FEBRUARY INTRO
Volunteer: Amrita G.
Profession: Philanthrophy Services @ Vancity
Likes: most types of jewellery, unique designs
Dislikes: Anything that looks to perfect or clean, yellow, big hoop earrings
Amrita likes jewellery. She has a lot of it and wears a lot of it together. My challenge this month will be to make her something unlike anything she has. Mind you, I think she has an endless jewellery box so it’s likely I’ll make her something she already has. On the plus side, her tastes are diverse which means I can get a little bolder in my design.
METAMORPHOSIS: JANUARY REVEAL
Gold and silver cuff.
As I mentioned in my INTRO post, I can’t remember how Laura feels about bracelets but I do remember her saying she doesn’t have any cocktail jewellery and doesn’t like jewellery that gets in the way. I decided a cuff would fill the cocktail jewellery void and because the bottom is open, it won’t clink about or get in the way as much. And….this is a bit of a stretch, but she said she liked trees and the hammered finish sort of resembles tree bark. Right?!
METAMORPHOSIS: JANUARY INTRO
Metamorphosis is here! I thought it would take me awhile to get volunteers but I had an overwhelming response from people willing to trust me with their old jewellery. (Cue nervous laugh...)
Without further ado....let's meet the first volunteer.
Volunteer: Laura T.
Profession: Finance Manager
Likes: Simple jewellery, neutral colours, trees
Dislikes: Jewellery that gets in the way, very bright colours, the beach
Laura seems to like simple, classic designs. I thought some bangles would be a good way to go but they can get in the way of her desk at work and they can be noisy when worn together. She also said she didn’t really have any “cocktail” jewellery so
Metamorphosis is here! I’m really excited and inspired but also really nervous because there’s a chance I might make things that people hate! (Cue nervous laugh….)
For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, read about my Metamorphosis project here. I thought it would take me awhile to get volunteers but I had an overwhelming response from people willing to trust me with their things. (Cue more nervous laughter…)
I have decided to post an introduction post at the beginning of each month, an update half way through, and then a reveal post at the end of each month. January’s project will only have two posts because I’m making this decision more than half way through the month.
Here’s a little info about January’s Metamorphosis volunteer a long with a photo of what she gave me!
Volunteer: Laura T.
Profession: Finance Manager
Likes: Simple jewellery, neutral colours, trees
Dislikes: Jewellery that gets in the way, very bright colours, the beach
Laura seems to like simple, classic, yet practical jewellery. That being said, she said she doesn't really have any "cocktail" jewellery. So maybe I should make her somehting big and bold? Or maybe something practical that she can actually wear every day.
METAMORPHOSIS
Shortly after my epiphany mid-September, I came up with a new jewellery project idea for next year. Even though it’ll be very challenging, I’m really excited about it! Now, I just need some volunteers!
Project Name: Metamorphosis
Who: Me and you
What: I turn your old jewellery into new jewellery
Where: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
When: 2015 (I will need one volunteer per month – that’s 12 volunteers)
Why: Because recycling is important and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. Waste not, want not…right? And honestly…what else were you planning on doing with those broken chains or random pieces of jewellery that were cool when you were 16?
How: Interested individuals will raid their jewellery boxes for old silver (or gold) jewellery (broken, don’t want it, bored of it, etc). We will meet in order for me to look over your jewellery and so that I can get to know you a little. Then I will design and make you a one of a kind piece. I will return to you whatever jewellery I don’t use. I will not tell you what I am making so you will have to trust me. In return for your trust, my labour will be free. I will also document the process from start to finish so that you know how your piece was made. Either way it’s a win win for you because you weren’t wearing the jewellery to begin with and your still getting it back, just in a new form.
Sample:
I voluntered my friend Eva in order to have a test sample for this project. She gave me a bag of silver to eventually melt into something new. I decided to play around with the silver she gave me to see what I could come up with.
Eva is a teacher: literally a hands-on job so she wears earrings and necklaces more than rings (although she also loves the latter). Her style and tastes are whimsically ecclectic.
This is what I made her.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
MAKING OF:
If you’re interested in being a volunteer for Metamorphosis, please read the following.
Agreement details:
We will need to meet at least two to four weeks before I start making your item. Why? To make sure we have enough materials. That means the process from start to finish could take eight to ten weeks.
During our meeting we will take an inventory and photos of what you give me (you will get a copy of the inventory list and photo before we part). You will then be able to track what you gave me and what I used. I will use said photo when I post the “making of” your item to this blog.
In the “making of” post, I will feature your first name and a brief description of why I chose to make you what I made you (eg. you don’t wear rings so I made you earrings, you like the colour blue because it reminds you of the ocean, etc). If there is a personal detail that will help me design something for you but you don’t want shared, you’ll have to let me know in advance.
The point of this project is to use items you already own. The only potential cost you may incur is if it’s absolutely necessary for me to add materials you don’t have. For example, some of the items you gave me aren’t actually silver so I have to supply you with some (unless you’re able to bring me more). I will notify you before I start your jewellery to see how you want to proceed. If after I start making your jewellery I decide to change my design and it requires I add a material you don’t have, I will incur the cost.
You leave your items with me at your own risk. Do not give me anything you might still wear if I don’t use it. I may accidentally break stones or melt everything if I can’t use parts of the items you originally gave me. The items you get back might be in the same condition or melted into a bar, wire, etc.
Lastly, I will need you to sign a friendly waiver when we first meet to make sure you’re clear on these details.