These earrings are part of my range “I used to be a hot water cylinder”. Turning junk into beautiful jewelry is something I love to do, and one of my favorites is cutting up pieces of hot water cylinders and turning them into wearable art. “I Used To Be A Hot Water Cylinder” Spiral Earrings by Annie Desantis
The disks were hand cut and hammered over concrete to create a rough knobbly texture, which is perfect for building up the patina process. The hot water cylinders already have some interested aged patina, but these earrings have several process (top secret!) that I use to build layers of gorgeous verdigris. I then wax the disks to protect them.
These earrings are assembled with pure silver wire, hammered copper wire (both recycled) and old Tibetan beads made from coral and turquoise chips. The ear wires are Sterling silver.
Blue Moon is another neckpiece from my series “I used to be a hot water cylinder”.
“I used to be a hot water cylinder” ~ Blue Moon ~ by Annie Desantis
The focal piece is cut, hammered and folded from an old hot water cylinder. It has layers and layers of pigments and wax giving it luminosity.
It is attached to hammered reclaimed copper, threaded with beads that have been cut and hammered from old refrigerator pipe, and coloured with pigments and wax.
Factory waste sari silk that has been wrapped in pure silver wire attaches round the back of the piece, and a focal bead of howlite, threaded with a silver nail hangs to one side.
“I used to be a hot water cylinder” ~ Blue Moon Neckpiece closeup ~ by Annie Desantis
My series “I used to be a hot water cylinder” grew out fossicking round scrap yards and have one fabulous man “Hillbilly” who tucks aside interesting pieces of metal for me. I have a stash of old hot water cylinders which I cut, hammer, roll and shape.
“I used to be a hot water cylinder” ~Blue Dreaming ~ by Annie Desantis
Blue Dreaming has a focal piece that is hammered and rolled from a piece of hot water cylinder. Then coloured with layers and layers of Prisma colours and pigments.
The beads are hand made also, hammered from reclaimed plumber’s pipe and coloured with layers of patina in several processes and waxed. Attached to hammered and soldered electrical wire, also hand waxed and coloured, around the back of the neck, factory waste sari silk that has been wrapped in pure silver wire (recycled of course!).
Blue Dreaming is embellished with smaller hot water cylinder pieces, and pure silver spirals.
“I used to be a hot water cylinder” ~ Blue dreaming closeup ~ By Annie Desantis
Art and Jewelry created from recycled and transformed materials
