"Where's Marty?" learning about broken plate jewelry

Hi Everyone!

To many of you let's welcome back Julie Ames to "Where's Marty?".

As a refresher course, or a way of introduction, Julie (Juliet), Ames created the "Salt Box Art" craze.

More than once, people who know we are friends through her work, ask me what else Julie Ames does. The answer is A LOT! Simply put, Julie has been an in demand jewelry maker for almost two decades, featured in over 100 stores coast to coast.

Julie takes plates, cups, anything chinaware, and finds a cool pattern within. She then brakes the object using a cutting tool around the said pattern.

Using one of two grinders, she smooths the edges down.

Then, she turns them into pendants, bracelets, earrings, rings. You name it! She turns shards into unique jewelry.

As a matter of fact, something cool she does can be seen in the picture above. Occasionally, a family of a recently departed mother, grandmother, or aunt, will bring in a favorite piece of the deceased family member's china and ask for keepsakes to be made from it as a remembrance. 

Julie's work is so unique that she has been flown to Hong Kong by an upscale Mall to be featured in a presentation of jewelry from makers world wide. 

Yes, this is a lot to a lady who came up with a wacky idea to turn our cities winter salt boxes into beloved items. And YES, the first salt box, seen below on her website, was made of ceramics.  

The link to her website is here. Christmas orders are being taken now by the way.

We enjoyed our visit with Julie Ames today and hopefully you did too. We'll see her here again during "Salt Box" season.

Marty B!