(photo: from Amy Hanna’s book.)
You never know where starting a blog will take you…
When I started my blog, I never ever thought I would meet someone, by posting a photo of broken bits of jewelry. But that is how I met Amy Hanna.
Amy Hanna lives in southern California, is a jewelry maker, and because of photos on my blog, of broken jewelry, we became friends. Amy wrote asking me, if I could find her the likes of things she saw on my blog. I wrote back, “Yes.” She wrote back, “Hallelujah,” I wrote back, “Amen.”
I do not wear jewelry… well except my wedding band, a pair of earrings (that I never take off,) and sometimes a string of pearls. I am not a jewelry person. But I admire how other women put it together.
When I was nine or ten, my mom took me to the Five and Dimes, and because I didn’t cry at the dentist, she gave me some money to buy a little present for being such a brave girl.
I remember taking my time, looking at everything closely, checking the prices, recounting the four quarters in my hand, like it was going to change or something.
I kept coming back to a small, rhinestone, brooch, shaped as a pelican. It stole my heart!
I never wore the pelican brooch, but it has been with me ever since. My lucky charm you might say.
(photos: from Amy Hanna’s book.)Amy has published a book about jewelry making. “Rejuvenated Jewels”. Step by step, details, and tidbits on everything one needs to know about making jewelry. Amy’s book has stunning photos of her vintage pieces, it is inspiring book of art to look at. Some of the jewelry pieces in her book are of little bits and pieces that I found for her. Amy is clever, she has a good eye for putting it together. Each piece of her jewelry is one of a kind.
Finding old jewelry at the flea markets, is pure pleasure… I spend time digging through haystacks of boxes, get dirt under my fingernails, buy bits and pieces and stuff them in my jean pockets. Sometimes they go through the washing machine because I forget about them. Then I send the little washed treasures from the haystack to Amy, and she creates gorgeous pieces of art.
A broken, “mother of pearl”rosary, a heart medal and a cat charm.
Two antique lockets side by side, full of history, yet empty.
An angel estampe, from Limoges. Knowing Amy has made me look at things differently. Before I met her I would have thought, “Isn’t that a sweet piece.” and walked on by, leaving it behind at the brocante. Now, I think, “Oh Amy is going to love this!” and instead of walking on by, I scoop it up and stick it in my pocket to send to her.
(photo: from Amy Hanna’s book.)
I wish I could claim to be the one who finds all of Amy’s beautiful pieces, she is first and foremost, the main source of her discoveries. Isn’t the piece above incredible?!
Looking through Amy Hanna’s book has opened my eyes… no, I am not going to make jewelry, but knowing Amy has made me dig deeper into those boxes at the French brocante.
I found this piece this weekend. A wooden bingo chip and a writing hand token. I wonder if Amy’s style includes bingo chips? I doubt it.. but then again:
(photo: from Amy Hanna’s book.)
If Amy can make shoes into earrings, maybe should can take a bingo chip and turn it into gold!
(photo: from Amy Hanna’s book.)
Amy makes me want to wear jewelry. Darn her! Luckily for me she does send me some of her creations.
(photo: from Amy Hanna’s book.)
Looking at Amy’s book of Jewelry is eye candy. I love looking at her photos. I don’t know about you but sometimes it is a crazy thing, looking at beautiful objects inspires me and makes me envious, all at once.
I want that Marie Antoinette necklace? Okay Amy? I do not care who owns it…can you please get it back and send it to me?
I found this piece too… I do not know what it is, other than a broken piece of jewelry. The dealer asked me, “What are you going to do with it?” I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I am going to eat it.” and laughed. Well, it is true, if Amy doesn’t like it, I’ll eat it.
Every bit of Amy’s jewelry is made up with vintage pieces. The links, the hooks, even the elements in the chain. In the photo above, look at the many different pieces she used in making it. How many hours did it take to find, dream up and create this piece? Amy amazes me.
This is my favorite piece. It is a small image of Jesus, under glass, fixed on a thick, square, piece of paper, then attached to a piece of tin. Circling around the glass is a laurel-leaf, metal rim.
Looking at it made me think, that someone a hundred years ago made it, without a doubt a creative soul, a jewelry maker, a woman expressing her creative gift, someone like Amy… a kindred spirit.
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