With all the buy-stuff events coming up over the next couple of months – and because it’s generally wonderful and inspiring, I thought it was high time we had another look around the world of upcycled jewellery – the stuff people are making by reusing and recycling random things that would otherwise be headed for landfill.

• Julie from NotesOnPaper makes fun brooches out of plastic bags and other waste materials – check out this fabric version made from a promotional health & safety advice (!) scarf…
• The fab MaryHoresh sent us two of her favourite recycled jewellery links – first, Niki Guy’s lovely sea glass/tumbled glass creations…
• And second, Judith Williamson’s jewellery and accessories made from old packaging – mostly tinplate from old sweet/biscuit tins. Mary also recommended Judith’s workshops: “good fun”.
• Fluxplay’s Maria Whetman also works in tin – I love her rings but I have to admit that this cute pinwheel brooch is probably my favourite item!
• Kathy from ArtworkbyKD makes fantastic earrings from old plastic bottles – covering the plastic in tissue paper and vintage texts to upcycle them further. She also uses old drinks cans – one of my favourite recycled jewellery materials – to make big hoop earrings – ace!

• LianaKabel makes very fun items using old craft equipment – plastic knitting needle bangles and statement necklaces, and also brooches and hairclips using tape measures.
• The House of Ismay makes deliciously simple brooches and cufflinks using off cuts of wood and vintage magazines, books and maps – sometimes less is more.
• The main “ingredient” in these earrings by Bella Tierra Jewelry is plastic bags – fused together to make a interesting, malleable material. And there is a how-to if you want to make your own!
• And another how-to – Alicia of TheMayFly has written a great tutorial: how-to make old belts into wrist cuffs.
• Finally, if you need somewhere to store your jewellery – somewhere as fun and wonderful as the creations above – how about using an old tennis or squash racket? I regularly see vintage wooden ones popping up in charity shops – they’d look fab on a plain wall.

What are your favourite pieces? Do you have any other great examples of random stuff recycled or upcycled into jewellery?