A few posts back I showed a picture of some of the great finds I scoffed up at the local junkyard. I just love going there to find whatever treasures are laying on the ground that can be transformed into unique pieces of jewelry. So this past week I have been working with this particular stash.
FROM JUNK TO JEWELRY
FROM JUNK TO JEWELRY
The first step is to somewhat sort what I have. Here is a plastic bag filled with some of the pieces I plan to work with.
Notice they are all rusted. They had been sitting for a few months outdoors in a bucket with a little bit of water. Then I set them out to dry for about a week longer.
Notice they are all rusted. They had been sitting for a few months outdoors in a bucket with a little bit of water. Then I set them out to dry for about a week longer.
My intent is to keep the rusted look, so each piece is coated with a sealer to preserve the rust so it doesn't come off. The first layer of sealer is hand painted on carefully to keep the rust from falling off , then hung to dry. See the next photo.
The second layer is done using a a plastic baggie with some sealer inside. Put your piece in the bag, squish around it to get it all covered, then drag it to the top of the bag to remove the excess sealer.
The second layer is done using a a plastic baggie with some sealer inside. Put your piece in the bag, squish around it to get it all covered, then drag it to the top of the bag to remove the excess sealer.
My drying system: I use old Christmas tree hooks and hang them from a rack I found, where else but the thrift store. After the second coat of sealer is dry I apply a layer of clear gesso, this is done so I can add paint to each piece. The gesso gives it tooth to hold the paint.
After that is is just a matter of playing around with your pieces to see how you want to assemble your jewelry. Once the jewelry is made, I give it a final layer of sealer.
SOME SAMPLE PIECES
After that is is just a matter of playing around with your pieces to see how you want to assemble your jewelry. Once the jewelry is made, I give it a final layer of sealer.
SOME SAMPLE PIECES
I can't tell you what this is made from because I don't know what these parts are called. This piece has three layers of metal parts and a blue turquoise howlite stone. To create the bail, I wrapped copper wire along each of the sides with loops so a chain could be added. Each layer was separately painted before attaching using metallic paints. After it was assembled it was dipped in liver of sulfur to give the copper wire a patina.
This pieces is available at my Etsy Shop.
This pieces is available at my Etsy Shop.
This piece has two layers made with washers. The base layer was all bumpy giving it great texture, the top layer was smooth. Again, each was separately painted, then attached with a copper wire wrapping, A bail was formed at the top to attach the chain. A dangle was attached below the junkyard pieces. I used an abalone bead topped with a hammered copper spiral.
This piece has 4 layers. Three from the junkyard, and the top is polymer clay. The base layer is metal, the next layer seems to be that heavy duty plastic that is used in headlights, the layer on top of that which is not seen, is another washer to give it a bit of a lift.
There are two holes in the polymer clay bead which are wire wrapped with copper. the top to create the bail, the bottom to hold a dangle which is a stone spiral wrapped with copper, then connected with a small amount of chain.
More pieces are in various stages of completion. I'll share them when done.
There are two holes in the polymer clay bead which are wire wrapped with copper. the top to create the bail, the bottom to hold a dangle which is a stone spiral wrapped with copper, then connected with a small amount of chain.
More pieces are in various stages of completion. I'll share them when done.
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