Creating Contemporary Sterling Jewelry From Antique Flatware

Those who know me, know that I am hopelessly addicted to rummage sales, estate sales and flea markets. I have an eye out for all sorts of things, but these days I am drawn to nice tools that I can add to my jewelry bench, or anything made of sterling silver that I can somehow incorporate into my SToNZ Jewelry designs.

Last week I was at a sale where the kitchen drawers were filled to overflowing with all sorts of utensils and gadgets. For the most part, there was nothing of interest there, until I spotted a couple of broken forks way in the back of one drawer.
The people running the sale seemed to feel these broken forks were worthless, so I got a nice deal. Yep, they were sterling.

I had an idea for a personal challenge: try to make as many pieces of new jewelry from the silver on these broken vintage forks as I could. How fun!

The first thought I had was to use the pretty roses from the neck of each fork. I used a jewelers saw to cut them out. Sanded them smooth, and soldered sterling posts on the back. Earrings!

Then I hammered one of the fork heads flat and sawed out a couple of free form hearts.

After some filing and sanding they looked just right! Next, to solder on silver jump rings and turn these lovely things into charms.

I decided to hang one from a slinky silver curb chain and added a wire wrapped freshwater pearl charm. A great combination. The necklace works with the charms worn together or one at a time.
And who would ever guess that the heart started life as a fork, once upon a time?!
Recycling can be very fun.
CHARMING, actually.

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