Recycled silver jewellery inspired by the nature and landscape of Northern Ireland - everything from historic landmarks to the coastline - with a little bit of stargazing thrown in there too! To make my pendants and earrings I use metal clay, magic stuff formed using tiny particles of reclaimed and recycled fine silver. I use the clay, that is malleable to begin with, to pick up textures from moulds I make and fabric and lace I collect, before cutting and shaping each item. As they're fired with a blowtorch the organic binders contained in the clay burn off leaving a product that is 99.9% pure fine silver. Polishing comes next - to bring out the super shiny gleam that you only get with fine silver - and then oxidation using liver of sulphur, which can result in dramatic dark shades or dazzling iridescent areas of green and purple. I also use gold and black acrylic ink on some designs. This entire process takes place in my kitchen, so it really is handmade from scratch, and each piece of jewellery is slightly different and completely unique to its owner! To finish everything off I attach the pendants to sterling silver chains and the earrings to hand-made sterling earring wires. As well as the silver clay, all jewellery boxes and postage materials are eco friendly. I also use lab grown gem stones, and semi precious stones that are purchased from a small UK company who ethically source them.
