NOT BROKEN

My TORN collection is inspired by torn pieces of paper. I always try to use any scraps of paper before I recycle them, for note-taking or creative projects, and there’s something beautiful and imperfect about the rough edges of my torn scraps that I wanted to replicate in metal. This also means that each piece in the TORN collection is entirely or at least partially made with my scrap silver, too. I want this collection to be a reminder of the beauty in reuse, in embracing things as they are, even if they’re uneven, broken or not whole. It’s a reminder to me of my mission to overcome my harmful perfectionist mentality.

This bracelet from the TORN collection started life as a series of shapes I wanted to turn into earrings but, lined up on my bench, I realised how amazing they’d look as a chain.

The pieces are formed from small molten (imprecise and irregular) ingots which I then hammer flat. This makes the metal splay out in different directions, creating the outlines you see here.

After filing and sanding the edges smooth, I then use a torch to reticulate the surface of the metal on each side of the pieces – reticulation in where you melt the top level of silver so it flows and pools, forming a mottled texture. Each piece is then drilled and connected with a small jump ring.

The TORN collection is still under development. Make sure you're signed up to my newsletter to hear when it drops!