If you naturally gravitate toward thrift-store funkiness,if you like to wear distinctive ensembles, and if you take serious things lightly and silly things seriously, you'll love the 25 hip,stylish, and surreal projects in this fashionable guide to designing jewelry out of everyday objects and wearing it with flair.

Designed to make people look twice, Junk Jewelry's beauty lies in featuring otherwise ordinary items in artful, surprising ways. What looks like a metal cuff turns out to be made of safety pins; translucent hoop earrings are actually computer chips; and a drawer pull transforms into a pendant. As the world goes green, there's never been a better time to pack a visual punch with recycled materials and everyday objects or mementos found in a dresser,at a flea market, or in the attic.

But Junk Jewelry isn't just about throwing together useless bits without some thought--artist and designer Jane Eldershaw shares principles for assembling it successfully withoutsacrificing imagination. You'll learn how to find inspiration, create aesthetic rhythm, and pull off wearing the pieces with panache.

With a focus on acquiring a visual vocabulary and having fun without spending a lot of money, the 25 projects featured here are perfect for anyone who appreciates thrift-store funkiness and avant-garde fashion.

INTRODUCTION

Junk Jewelry Should Be Taken

Seriously！ (and Lightheartedly) 8

PART 1 ORIGINS

Coco Chaneh Jewelry Becomes Fun 14

Elsa Sch|aparelli: The Desire to Shock 14

Surrealism: Jewelry as Symbol 16

The Future: Wearable Art and Technology 17

PART 2 CONCEPTUALIZING

Thinking Like an Artist 20

BUT I'M NOT AN ARTIST！ 20

How to Begin 21

DRAW INSPIRATION FROM

JEWELRY DESIGNERS 22

ARTISTIC TECHNIQUES 23

1. Elevate the mundane to art status 23

2. Bring together two connected ideas 24

3. Mass together something mundane 24

4. Assemble ingredients with a theme 25

5. For unity, group by color, shape 26

6. Create rhythm by contrasting shape 26

7. Think of wire as a medium 27

8. Celebrate a quality by repetition 28

9. Let an especially pleasing object be itself 28

10. What does it remind you of？ 29

PART 3 CREATING

Starting the Pack Pat Way 32

Raw Materials: Finding

Findings 33

Bare Necessities 34

The How-To Projects 27

The Trashy Treasure Necklace 36

Antique Hardware Bodyware 42

Hanging Chain Necklace 46

Stationery-Store Foldback Clip Neck Ring 46

Button Brilliance 52

More Button Brilliance 56

Roadside Regalia: Tail Light Belt Buckle 60

Hobby Store Letter Earrings 64

Multicultural Pendant 68

Keyboard Couture 72

Game Piece Glamour 77

Label Pins 82

Flower Scour Power 86

The Ribbon Shop Medal 90

Fab Fabric Beads 96

Arm Candy (and Ear Candy, tool) 100

Highly Strung: Wire Necklace 104

Motherboard Earrings 108

Tile Mesh Bag Earrings 112

Safety Pin Cuff 116

Key Tag Creations 120

Champagne Top Necklace 125

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow 125

PART 4 WEARING

How to Wear Junk Jewelry 134

APPAREL PRINCIPLES 136

Apparel Principle #1: Symbolism 136

Apparel Principle #2: Focal Point 136

Apparel Principle #3: Suitability 137

Apparel Principle #4: Body Language 136

Apparel Principle #S: Attitude 138

Apparel Principle #6: Degree 139

Apparel Principle #7: Theme 139

Apparel Principle #8: Edit 160

RESOURCES 141

INDEX 143