Compostable and Recyclable Shipping Materials

Last October I posted a list of environmental practises I do daily along with a few things I was working on for the future.

One of those things I was working was greener shipping materials AND I recently ordered compostable mailers and stuffing! I hadn’t ordered sooner because I had so much left over of what I already had. Here’s the thing with packaging: you have to order in bulk! Because most of my work is custom, I don’t need as many bubble mailers as I am required to buy! Anyways, I was able to repurpose and donate a lot of my old materials to people who can actually use them multiple times.

So moving forward, all of my shipping materials are compostable or recyclable! The velvet bags that I ship jewellery in are neither, but they are meant to be reusable and last you a long time! I used to order cheaper ones until I found the new ones I use. Although they are more expensive, it’s important to me to use packaging that is going to last a long time if it’s not compostable or recyclable.

Looking forward to wrapping up orders to ship, guilt-free!

Blogtober: Green initiatives I practice in my business

People often ask what green initiatives I practice aside from recycling metal and donating to environmental charities. The question inspired me to make a list for blogtober!

1. As already mentioned, I recycle metals whenever I can. I have always done this and it is one of the cornerstone’s of my jewellery-making process.

2. Proceeds from each sale are donated to charity and I always post a list of my donations here on this blog because transparency is important to me. You can see a list of my 2020 donations here. I also donate to other charities at random throughout the year and will post it to my blog!

3. I use less packaging and recycled options when possible.

4. I don’t take plastics bags when buying supplies and opt for less bags whenever possible.

5. I recycle bags when I do get them (I take them to the grocery store or any place that recycles bags).

6. I recycle all batteries. I keep a box in my office and when it’s full, I drop it off somewhere that recycles batteries!

7. I use consciously-mined stones.

8. I purchase supplies locally whenever I can.

Want to do:

1. Collect rain water

2. Continue to find greener packaging solutions.

3. More ideas to come…

Metamorphosis: Call for Volunteers!

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!