recycled junk jewellery: tower hamlets safety glass earrings

I've just started doing evening classes once a week in silversmithing and jewellery making at the community college in Bethnal Green, just for fun.

I plan to make a series of 13 pieces of jewellery - one representing each Inner City Borough of London, using items I find on the floor in each Borough.

The first piece is these Sterling Silver earrings made from chips of car glass from an accident next to a bus stop on Grove Road, Bow, Tower Hamlets, London.



It was my first time trying to use silver wire like this. I was hungover as hell, and they took about 2 hours to make, but if I did them again, it would would take much less time. Pretty pleased with the result, the safety glass really blings well - much brighter than I thought it would be.

These ones aren't for sale, but I could make a new pair if you want, or even something different. Any ideas for the next pieces also welcome.

PS
I found the silversmithing course via the Tower Hamlets Learning Ladder scheme which is brilliant, has a range of courses in all kinds of different stuff, from cooking to languages, and cheap too - a 10 week course is £85, compared to fees of £400+ for doing it at a name like St Martins.

recycled toy jewellery: triceratops de los muertos

Another dinosaur ring. For the first time, I'm quite pleased with the painting on this one.

recycled toy jewellery: dinosaur ring

I just finished making this for my friend's birthday. I don't think it's very practical, but it was fun to make and paint. Dayglo orange with nu-rave multicolored tiger stripes.



This is how it started life - as a small plastic heterodontosaurus from the Brick Lane car boot sale:



You can see more photos of it if you're interested here on Flickr.

I might try to make more and sell them on Etsy, but they are dreadfully time consuming and fiddly.

recycled art party this Tuesday 17th July

originally uploaded by dead insect \ /.

We're back again at Favela Chic for the Hungamunga recycled art party.

The idea is you bring scraps, cereal boxes, general junk, and we provide paints, glue and material for you to turn it into beautiful art. More details on the club myspace.

Live bands and DJs play too, and at some point, you dance.

Check out pictures from the last one on my flickr here.

make recycled art! club night this thursday 22nd march

info at www.myspace.com/hungamunga

This Thursday 22nd March, at Favela Chic (Great Eastern Street, nearest tube Old St), I’m helping a bit with this recycled art/craft club night. It’s a little bit to raise awareness of recycled environmental stuff, and little bit so that people who aren’t really ‘arty’ (i.e. haven't drawn anything more than a brand diagram for the past 10 years) can come and mess around and have fun. The idea is that:

1. People turn up with bits of rubbish, cans, boxes, wood, etc…

2. We provide glue, paints, staples, scraps, colours pens, general art stuff

3. Everyone sits around listening to music, getting drunk and having a good time making stuff, drawing, painting, whatever. Then we dance badly to the finest DJs.


this is a thing I made from cans, spoons and cartons at a previous event

The whole thing is going to be absolutely dope. Especially as my friend Ben is playing, who rocks. Hope to see you there! Info at www.myspace.com/hungamunga