Recycled into Jewellery – a mini-round-up of upcycled accessories

It’s been a little while since I showed off some awesome recycled crafts but I really should get back on with that because, wow, some of them are ace.

Here’s a selection of creations by three wonderful women, who are, coincidentally, all currently based in the north-west of England – sometimes I’m think I’m living on the wrong side of the Pennines… :)

0909-abscraft 0909-abscraft-fascinator

First up, Recycle This’s favourite wire-woman Alison Bailey Smith has been making pins, brooches and fascinators by recycling assorted plastic packaging and the like (above) – I particularly like the way she’s used bottle lids and the lids as centre pieces.




0909-swirlyNext, Ann Ellis sent over these necklaces/bracelets (above) she makes out by upcycling plastic bottles, bags and cans – gorgeous stuff and again, like Alison’s things, not something you’d immediately guess what it was made from.

Finally, Lynsey from SwirlyArts has been making brooches out of old buttons (right) – and badges out of old maps and other vintage papers.

Great stuff!

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11 Responses to “Recycled into Jewellery – a mini-round-up of upcycled accessories”


  1. Ann Ellis says:

    Thanks for the great mention, Louisa, this site rocks (that first pic of mine is a necklace, by the way). Hey Alison and Lynsey, love your work, we should get together!

  2. Great post!

    Here’s one of my pieces from a brace drawer label, scrap material, & old broken jewelry….

    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/2600464031_3f7d54fb4a.jpg

  3. Lynsey says:

    Oh how fabulous! Thank you for the include next to those other stunning pieces :) And yes Ann – we should get together :)

  4. Minnie Egg says:

    Wow, that jewelry looks fabulous!

  5. Bobbie says:

    What creative recycling! I love the 1st row, 2nd item! Is that a bottle cap in the center?

  6. How funny, I had just been eyeing Ann’s work up yesterday after seeing on a post somewhere! Yes, an exhibition may be in order.
    Yes it is a bottle cap from milk. I keep meaning to find a skimmed mile drinker as we only have full fat (blue) and semi (green) in my household. I have been using lots of packaging recently and I am really aware of how much we chuck away. I have worked with wire I reclaim from televisions for twenty years and combine sweetie wrappers with it. But have developed this range for an outlet in Scotland. So far it is only available in the North West but will get it out soon and will be trying to do etsy and folksy soon.

    You should also try to find some images of Ticky Lowe’s work, who did a project called Meadow with the National Wildflower Centre in Knowsley all made from plastic bottles in workshops. I borrowed part of it for an eco fashion show I did in 2007. NOT AS REFINED OR DURABLE as any of the work here but stunning in it’s mulititude- sum of all the parts and all that.

  7. They’re highly gorgeous! Well done, ladies! I wish I had your talent!

  8. Marti says:

    Awesome! I’ve been saving bottlecaps to make earrings/necklaces out of for a while now.
    Also if you check out http://www.etsy.com, it’s all handmade crafts and a lot of neat recycled things are there too!

  9. Just a wee updated Heather Skowood has written a book about Junk jewellery and I will have an image in this book coming out on April 1st http://ning.it/gklWr7

  10. violet says. says:

    awesome!!!!
    love the jewellery already making my own line to show friends
    dead excited.



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