Sometimes when people are having a clear-out they remember that I make jewellery, and without my asking them, they present me with a bag of old, out of fashion, and sometimes broken jewellery. If I can, and if it's an item they love, I will mend the broken jewellery and return it to them. But more often than not, end up taking it apart and adding it to my stash.

One time these bits and pieces came in very handy when I ran a workshop.. They provided an interesting selection for the participants to choose from.

Recently I received more odds and ends of broken and unloved jewellery, and decided I would try and upcycle some of it.

The thing I've noticed while taking apart these pieces of jewellery is the amount of intricate beading and wire-work that has gone into making some of them. Some of these are made with minuscule beads that are really fiddly to work with, and it's truly humbling to think of the time and effort someone, somewhere, put into making them.