These bracelets were started during the filming of JEWELRY for the Craft In America program for PBS.
Lights! Sound! ACTION! All of these bracelet were created on location (in my studio) while a six-person film crew positioned lights, microphones, and camera for a close-up focused on my hands. Crafting became measured in digital seconds as I cut, filed, and riveted with familiar movements to fabricate bracelets that reflected how I was feeling - like a star. My craftsmanship was on full display, transforming humble tin can materials into a bracelet for a future audience. This was an amazing experience.
“Feeling Like a Star” bracelet shown in the these photos, (center bracelet above and the two photos below) has a metallic gold layer around wrist. This is lifted off the surface and unlike any other bracelet. The star motif for this bracelets was symbolic of my staring role in the JEWELRY episode by Craft in America for PBS every piece of tin cans used for this bracelet echoed the star motif. There are small gold stars riveted on to the tin cans surface, star motifs on the tins and a teapot to represent the “teapot constellation.”
All of the bracelets were started during the filming because I have to all multiple bracelets started to show different stages in the fabrication. The video crew only filmed on day in the studio, and the second day was doing the various “interview” segments. (Learn more about my filming experience on my blog ASK Harriete. )
One side of the “Feeling Like a Star” bracelet used a lavender Gypsy tea tin with gold colored accents, 14K gold stars, applied teapot.
The outside edge: dark blue and navy starry wave design, 14K gold stars, applied teapot constellation with cup.
Inside the wrist: dark turquoise and black texture with gold colored lines
Dimensions: 4.75”W x 4.75”H x 1.75”D
”Created Exclusively Bracelet”
This bracelet is fabricated from recycled tin cans which were assembled so carefully that it is from the most previous materials. The dark brown pattern is from a Marie Belle chocolate tin. The wrist is metallic tin cans and a very ordinary tin for Cream Wafer Roll cookies.
The outside edge was from a triangular Altoid tin which is really boring except for the shape.
The reverse side of this bracelets is a bronze to copper metallic tins that had an embossed texture from some kind of Asian cookie tin.
The multiple layers were rivets with a huge number of 10k gold rivets adding a touch of glamor and irony.
Dimensions: 7 1/4” ht x 6 1/4”w x 3/8”depth
“Craft In the Movies” Bracelet
This “Craft In the Movies” Bracelet is not wearable, but I made the decision that the appearance was more important. There is a lot of jewelry out there in the world with precious metals and gemstones that I would not consider wearable. I love the idea of the film strip going right over the wrist opening.
The front uses a Candy Land game tin, dimensional film strips, gum drops, sterling silver rivets, 10K gold rivets
The reverse side is an AOL tin 1000 hours free, warm orange and yellows with green text
The outside edge: black with hard candy pattern from vintage 1950s candy tin.
The inside wrist: Green Oreo tin (this bracelet is not wearable because the film strip goes across the opening)
Dimenions: 5”W x 5.5”H x 2.25”D
All of these bracelets were designed to be a tour de force of craftsmanship from recycled materials.
I used 14k and 10k gold for many of the details with the idea that they represented a very special experience.
Sold and exhibited as a group only.
All photos on this page by Philip Cohen Photographic.