Have you even looked at the old, broken bits of jewelry, loose beads, partial bead strands, and bits and pieces of some sort of adornment for sale at flea markets, antique shops and garage sales? Have you ever wished you could just buy it up, take it home and give it a new life, if you only knew how. Or perhaps you already have a box full of loose beads and jewelry odds and ends; single earrings, broken necklaces, more loose beads too lovely to just toss, and need ideas on how to "repurpose" these old treasures. Binky Morgan has the answers for you in this delightful book from Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.
Remaking and "Repurposing" Old Pieces of Jewelry
Have you ever picked up an odd earring here, a brooch with no pinback there, a broken belt buckle, some tied-off strand of beads that obviously broke long ago, a single bead left from some formerly-glorious necklace or bracelet, or an old-fashioned dress clip just because they were simply too lovely and interesting to allow them to end up in a landfill somewhere?If you're like me, you're probably still holding onto these beads and other little treasures, wondering if you'll ever find a use for them. Collecting these bits and pieces has become popular for scrapbook artists, collage makers and multi-media artists, but with the help of Binky Morgan's book, beaders and jewelry makers can benefit from these tiny bits of day's gone by.
The first part of this charming book covers a few basic jewelry-type items that can be made from found objects including antique keys, old brooches, thimbles, bits of fabric trim and single earrings. The second half of the book is equally delightful, as it is devoted to images of repurposed items created by such beading greats as Rhonda Kuhlman and Chris Ake, Ann Benson and Jody Lyons. It's a feast of repurposing ideas for beautiful old beads and beady odds and ends.
This is a must-have book for anyone searching for ideas and inspiration for their own beaded, found-object creations. If you don't have any stray, orphan or loose beads or bits if the past of your own, this book will certainly inspire you to look a little more closely at those bargain beads and bits next time you're at the flea market, the thrift store or the antique shops.
