JANE ELDERSHAW has worked at Australian Vogue, New Woman magazine, and the New York Post.

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 prin-ciples for assembling it successfully without sacrificing 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.

Hipsters and fashionistas will be pleased to find that Eldershaw also delves into the high-fashion roots of the medium, starting with Coco Chanel all the way up to recent collections by Jeffrey Chow. With step-by-step instructions, tips on finding the best raw materials, and instructional illustrations, Junk Jewelry is both a thoughtful how-to manual and a unique, intellectually satisfying style guide.

Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Distributor: Random House, Inc.
Publication Date: 07-22-2008
Pages: 144
Measurements: 7.34in X 7.45in X .46in X .82lb