Uncommon Finds

by Patty Lakinsmith

I sometimes browse around the internet for art jewelry that excites me to the use of new materials in jewelry. This week I found some great, unusual pieces and I thought I'd share them with you, and with obvious inspiration from Maire Dodd, I've interwoven some relevant quotes.

Ever consider using the Sunday comics in your jewelry?

The forum contributor who made this simply decoupaged the comics paper over wood beads, but they could also be wound around mandrels to make the traditional style of paper beads. What about decoupaging the comics onto metal?

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The world is but a canvas to our imagination. - Henry David Thoreau
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This next artist is a new favorite of mine. Sarah Hood creates beautiful, organic pieces with nature herself as the components. I wish my younger brother had kept his model train stuff, or rather, I wish I would have snatched up some of his shrubbery...

Visit Sarah's website to see some really spectacular work incorporating leaves and seed pods of all kinds. I collect these kinds of organic materials too, but have not yet been brave enough to use them.

Margaux Lange's work makes me wish I had saved my dolls. Do you think there are any left in the thrift shops within a 50 mile radius of her studio? I'm guessing they are hard to find there.

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To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk. -Thomas Edison.
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Montana artist April Hale takes the natural materials theme to a place I've not seen it taken before: roadkill.

There are several really great aspects to this theme. First, it's recycling at its finest. While this animal fortunately wasn't killed in order for April to make this necklace, it's body would have just rotted somewhere if she had not taken it home to use. The other really great thing is that whomever wears this necklace is bound to have better luck than the rabbit, right? On top of all that good news is the fact that Ms. Hale will probably graduate with a certificate in taxidermy as well as her MFA degree.

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It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see. -Henry David Thoreau
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I'm newly inspired to cast a wider glance around my studio, and maybe even beyond, for my next art jewelry project.