Everyone Has One…
You know that drawer that sometimes doesn’t open well because –
It is full of important things:
- water bills
- eye prescriptions
- field trip notices
It is full of one-of-a kind things:
- one earring waiting for it’s match to be found
- a fortune from inside the Chinese cookie that was just too good to throw away
- a ribbon from a package
- a broken piece to a necklace
- a toy from a birthday party treat sack
It is full of office supplies:
- paper clips
- scissors
- staplers
- tape
We have a name for this drawer in our kitchen. It is called “The JUNK Drawer.”
However, in our family we know that Mama (a.k.a. me) will realize if one piece of glorious junk is missing from the drawer.
My found treasures saved in the kitchen drawer create unique, meaningful Junk Jewelry.
This necklace tells a story. It is made from a chain that I wore when I met my husband. The necklace broke, but I just couldn’t throw away the chain. Hanging on it is a key. It was the one I didn’t give back to the realtor when we sold our first house. The button came off a winter coat my Mom always wore. The earring was an odd one out -- the other one is lost for good, but I remember buying it at The Limited with my BBF 22 years ago. The washer was in my driveway. I added the #4 to it. It represents the number of people in my family. I salvaged as much from my drawer as I could to create meaningful wearable art.
Oh, I know I am a saver as I like to call it. My husband refers to me as a “pack rat” or even says I am a hoarder. None of those names bother me. I embrace them. I am a saver. I find comfort in little pieces of my history. It is like the question about the old quilt, worn and tattered verses the new comforter. Which would you choose?
I would 100% of the time pick the worn quilt.
- The one that comforted me as a child.
- The one my Grandma made with scraps of fabric from clothes.
- The one that always reminded me of home and my roots.
I suppose that is why I love wearing jewelry that holds a piece of my history.
The one that comforted me as a child.
Here is another piece of necklace history. Oh, the college days! They seem like 100 years ago. I was in a sorority, met my husband, and became a teacher. Twenty years later, I still have my college T-shirts. I love them because of how soft and worn they are. They still fit because that was the days before “fitted T’s.” I don’t wear them often, except when painting a room or the house. When I was in sunny California, I went to Quick Silver. They had necklaces from torn T-shirts. I am sure I heard the angels singing. That is exactly what I wanted to do with one of my college shirts. Now I have a useful item that reminds me of the fun I had in college without storing a shirt that I didn’t wear.
My 12 year old daughter is fashion crazy. She is always pointing out trends and favorite things in her magazines. She first found this necklace in Vogue. Then we went to Anthropologie and saw a similar one. We both had that “aha” moment and felt we could create this necklace ourselves. After much tulle tying and some fun bling, I think ours is elegant but interesting.
The last nifty necklace I want to show you is made from a cheap, stretchy headband. My daughter wears them for sports. Kelly shared with me this cool bracelet made with the same idea using ponytail holders. You wrap fabric strips to cover the headband, add a charm, and you are ready to wear. Super easy and super cute! If you are holding on to a skirt that will never fit again, don’t cry. Tear that fabric and wrap away around an elastic headband or an elastic ponytail holder. You can fit perfectly into it now!
I hope you are inspired to create some unique, meaningful necklaces that tell a story about you or your past.
Let your junk become jewels
-and let your art become wearable.
~Kara (Studio Pink)