Inspired by a workshop at the Fowler Museum in Los Angeles, I began recycling old beads, electronic, and bicycle parts, to design an original line of ecological jewelry. I have taken apart a camera, a TV, a tape recorder, to find some of the interesting pieces of circuit board and metal. But I soon discovered that this was not efficient and didn't keep big plastic parts out of the landfill! So my search for materials continued.

I am excited about my newest designs which incorporate gemstones, reused, some new, and vintage beads with used bike parts and bits of copper plumbing. I also work with recycled beads made from glass bottles. They look and feel like beach glass. It has been rewarding to not only reclaim used "stuff" but to support other recycling and reclamation efforts. The findings are sterling silver and are mined from conventional sources. If you have found more ecologically mined silver, I would love to learn about it. I plant a tree for every piece of jewelry sold through Trees for the Future and I reuse packing material (bubble wrap, envelopes, etc.) whenever possible.

I am self-taught in the art of beadwork. My work has been featured in E Magazine, a national environmental publication and on Fine Living's American Shopper television show. I have exhibited at craft and art shows in and around Maryland including: The Green Festival, Takoma Park Folk Festival, Takoma Park Street Festival, Mt. Pleasant Days, Colorfest, Oktoberfest at the Schifferstadt Museum, Local Color at the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center, Taste of College Park, and New Market Days. I am a proud member of Coop America and have been awarded it's Business Seal of Approval.

If you think of reused items that would make great jewelry, I would love to hear about them. Or maybe you would like to commission something custom-made. Send me an email. Some of my favorite pieces have been sparked by my clients' ideas. I hope you will enjoy wearing or giving a Junk to Jewels original.