Chained pearls 2

7.9 x 1.5 x 1.5 cm

keshi pearls, small freshwater pearls, up-cycled sterling chain, up-cycled sterling sheet, sterling wire, fine silver bezel wire

Jessandra was inspired to make these earrings after having a discussion with fellow silversmiths about the use of purchased chains as part of a handmade piece of jewellery. Using something pre-made can keep costs lower for customers, but does it take away from the purity of fully crafting by hand? Jessandra thinks there needs to be flexibility navigating between commerce and craft. Her approach for these pieces was to recycle broken pieces of chain, using them as chain instead of melting. Up-cycling is when you make something better from something that was not usable as is. She uses up-cycling and recycling of sterling as well as found pieces (beach stones and sea glass) within her art practise. In these three pairs of earrings she has used the blackened chain to suspend and connect keshi and small freshwater pearls. Chained pearls.

Jessandra is a self-taught artist who has had a lifelong love of creating. In her early twenties she studied nursing; eventually becoming a maternity nurse, birth doula and prenatal teacher. She dabbled on the side with fibre arts and painting, while raising four children who were encouraged to paint outside the lines and pursue their own artistic endeavours. In 2003 while living on a small western pacific island she discovered sea glass and was drawn back into creating jewellery. On her return to Canada she took a couple of silversmithing courses to learn the basics then added in some book and internet studies on using the new material precious metal clay and started to create highly textured ocean inspired jewellery. Each year Jessandra has added to her skills in manipulating metal and natural materials in order to express her unique point of view, enjoying the interplay between creativity and skill that is silversmithing.