Have you ever tossed out jewelry supplies that seemed unusable – and then regretted it later, when the perfect use for them popped up?
Here’s what happened when Marianna of Ocean Gypsy couldn’t make herself throw out what she thought were useless pieces:
by Marianna of Ocean Gypsy
“My jewelry making involves sometimes using a drill press to drill holes in sea glass, beach stone and seashells.
When some of the pieces have gotten chips or cracks around the holes, I thought they were wasted pieces, but I couldn’t part with them.
One day I needed a piece of sea glass with a large hole to accommodate a thick cord.
Instead of drilling a whole new piece, I was able to take one of the ‘wasted’ pieces and a larger drill bit to create the larger hole.
Suddenly, the chips were gone, and problem solved!
I’m so glad I didn’t get rid of those pieces!”
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you Rena for this post! You’ve given me a reason to keep all the beads and supplies I was thinking of giving away or throwing out. *grin*
I’m basically a very frugal person so I never toss any questionable beads, wire, etc. away. Instead I look for ways to incorporate them into designs where the “weakness” is hidden or even embraced. I also use questionable beads, components and wire as part of my practice and experimentation work. As I am always trying new things having materials to stimulate the thought process without any worry of damaging good inventory is a real plus.
Great idea, Sharon! Create without worrying about ruining expensive-quality materials.
I usually add my “unusables” to my treasure chest that I have available for kids (actually people of all ages!) to rummage in at shows.
Occasionally I pull something back out of the chest to use myself, but more often other people enjoy these odds and ends, and everyone’s allowed to keep their favorite “treasure” out of the chest.
The items that really appeal to other folks are often my unusable castoffs!
That is not a bad idea Rena, to put beads that you can not think of using in a treasure chest- others may have some ideas and uses. It fosters giving, recycling and creativity. I’ll remember it. Dita.
I save mine for my nieces to use when they come to visit. They love making jewelry and I’ve taught them basic jewelry techniques.
Hi, I never thrown anything away either, it drives my husband crazy! Sees, unless I buy ‘A’ or ‘AAA’ grade strands there is always 1 or 2 bad stones in a strand, but now that I hold classes in my workshop they come into their own, odd left overs, chipped stones or with bad inclusions don’t matter because they go in my ‘practice’ tub. Students make a practice piece to get used to the tools, techniques before I let them lose on the real thing! I don’t intend them to particulary want the practice piece but in fact 50% cannot part with their first masterpiece, substandard stones or not! last class there was much trading and giggles over the table as they each rummaged through their own ‘bin of a thousand beads’ looking to match stones each one liked. It got them used to shapes, colours etc too, a great ice breaker for groups who arrived not knowing each other.
Great tips, and I see lots of folks are “Green” ~ Never throw out anything, Reuse & Repurpose. Add a pair of interesting beads or gems to jazz it up a bit. Also save all your silver clippings, they can be recycled!
After reading these posts it inspired me to go through my old jewelry box where there are many pieces that are expensive materials but not my style any more. Now I feel better to break them and create some thing new. Some where I had read “It’s not important how much you have, rather how much you enjoy them”.
Recycling this way, going “green” I do enjoy them much more.
I agree totally about never throwing anything out, I started beading 20 years ago in a very small way just for me and my daughter and when I was distracted for a few years and had no time for beading….(imagine!) I kept old beads from back then….now I am giving classes these beads are part of a huge practice bead-bin for students to make their practice piece when they get used to the techniques…..there is much bartering and trading going on across the table as they sort through the huge variety of odds and ends…..I also encourage students to come to a Creative or Recycling day where we re-model what I call ‘Old and Unloved Jewellery’. One triple strand of grandma’s pearls can make a piece of jewellery for many members of the family, thereby all having a momento of their grandmother.
Jan What a good thing to be sharing old pieces in class and turning them into new art. And I love the idea of grandmothers pearls being treasured once more. Our will have jewelry tutorials in the coming months and recycling/repurposing will no doubt be incorporated.