This week’s column in The Evansville Courier and Press was about Debra Talley and her recycled jewelry art. Check out her story here.
I especially love this box
and this beautiful frame.
Here’s Debra holding my favorite box of her collection.
Debra Talley and her recycled jewelry art
I first fell in love with this type of art back when I was the Community Services Director at the Evansville State Hospital. Every three months all of the CSDs from around the state would meet. We would meet in different areas so we could learn about the other state hospitals. Anyway, one meeting was held in Logansport where Harry Shoemaker was the CSD. In his office hung this beautiful Christmas tree jewelry art. I absolutely fell in love with it. Well, when I left in the early 90s to pursue another path, at my going-away party Harry presented the tree to me! I was so excited to have this beautiful tree and all of the junk jewelry attached.
Harry Shoemaker and my tree
Well, I’ve moved a few times since then and the tree is gone. I’ve kept the jewelry to add to another project that’s on the list of things to do. Maybe now is a good time to dig all that jewelry out! Unfortunately, I’ve not kept up with any of the CSDs. So Harry, where ever you are, thanks again for such an appropriate and lovely gift.
Just a reminder, tomorrow is the deadline for entering the Eco Craft Giveaway. Be sure and go to this post and comment to enter. Do not comment on this post for the contest.
Eco Craft
Deadline for the contest is Wednesday, June 23 at 6 p.m. CST.
Have you made any recycled jewelry art? I’d love to see it.
Gorgeous projects! I enjoyed this post and the article so much because I have a burgeoning collection of vintage costume jewelry. Mostly broken bits and pieces, single clip on earrings, and brooches. I planned to use them for art projects, and Debra’s pieces are wonderful inspiration!
Kim, I’d love to see what you come up with. Glad you liked the article.
Lynda, I have used bits of old jewelry in some mosaic projects. I’ve also received quite a few pins that were made from found objects, jewelry, buttons, etc. They certainly are conversation starters!
Many years ago when my maternal grandmother was alive, we had gathered for one of our Christmas get-togethers. She showed our family a Christmas Tree project that a man had made for her using family jewelry. The jewelry was mounted in the shape of the tree and placed in a shadowbox frame. When my mother and I saw it, we were not happy because the jewelry used was some of our family jewelry including 2 cameos, a ruby ring, a topaz, diamonds, and an emerald pin. Fortunately the man was not a thief and he had the sense to simply wire the bejeweled rings in a recessed fashion so nothing was harmed.
Thanks for bringing back the memories…..I’m sitting here laughing over that one!
Wow! So glad he didn’t glue them on!
The tree Harry gave me had a lot of junk jewelry that his state hospital and been donated over the years. As an art project some of the patients helped to glue them all on and gave the tree to Harry for his office.
Great stuff! Love the box.