Small but mighty makeover!

Do you have a piece of jewellery you don’t or can’t wear but you’re sad to melt it down?

My customer had her dad’s ring. She was really close to her dad and was on the fence about melting his ring but she couldn’t wear it because it was way too big and hard to size down because of the design. I suggested melting down the band but keeping the face of the ring and turning it into a pendant. That way she has the best of both worlds! She has the most important part of her dad’s old ring and she was able to make her and her daughter new rings using the leftover gold.

Not all makeovers are big. Some are small but mighty!

Metamorphosis 35: White gold, moonstone, and mother of pearl ring

Kat came all the way from Seattle to be part of this project! She left me her old grad ring that she never wore and trusted me to turn it into something new!

Kat was super organized in regards to sending me information of what she liked and didn’t like. I always love when people have visual references of their preferences because sometimes things get lost in translation or my idea of something is different than theirs!'

To make Kat’s ring, I melted down her white gold ring (see photo of it below) and made a plain band. I picked moonstone and mother of pearl for her ring because they are alternate birthstones to hers (pearl/alexandrite). Her grad ring had an alexandrite but I didn’t want to repurpose it. I made the settings for the stone and then soldered them to the band. After the ring was cleaned up and polished, I set the stones with the middle piece still between the settings. Cutting it out before I set the stones would make the stones harder to set since the band would be weaker once cut. After the middle piece was cut out, I gave the ring one more polish and voila!

METAMORPHOSIS: KAREN

Amethyst Cuff

I was stumped on this one. I really didn't know what I wanted to make. Karen had said she would like either a ring or bracelet, something that incorporated the amethysts from a jewellery-set, and a piece of jewellery that represented a new start.

I sat down to brainstorm and nothing came to me. I wanted this to be special for her. Karen is going back to art school to follow her dreams so I wanted this to be something that reflected this new beginning.

Normally I hit up pinterest for inspiration but that didn't get me anywhere. I got the idea for this cuff by rummaging through my "silver to melt" bag. Karen mentioned she liked leaves and feathers and what do you know, I had two leaves in that bag. To make them work however, one had to be upside down which took away it's leaf-look. I tried thinking of different ways I could change the design so that both leaves were facing up but, short of making a new leaf, nothing came to me. It finally occured to me that the blank leaf was ok. Karen's starting a new chapter in her life, a blank slate of sorts, so it's fitting that one leaf be blank. And after that realization, it also made sense to use twisted wire: her old and new life coming together.

Thankfully I can report that she loved it!

METAMORPHOSIS 18: REVEAL

Leaf Pendant

Kelsey had said she wanted something to represent her daughters. She had sent me some photos of necklaces she liked that featured multiple dangling gems or gems and leaves. When I saw the leaves, I knew I wanted to make a leaf for each of her daughters!

I asked Kelsey to describe her daughter's personalities. Based on what she said, I designed the patterns on the leaves accordingly.

The diamond was an after thought that I think was meant to be. It was a pendant that her husband had given her. For some reason, although I cut the bale off, I didn't take the diamond out of it's setting when I was taking all of her jewellery apart. As I picked up her bag of leftover stones, I noticed the diamond and thought, what if I add it to the pendant?! So I did and voila! Another metamorphosis complete!

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

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.