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Hummingbird Necklace |
Kathleen Nowak Tucci is an extraordinarily talented Gulf Coast eco designer. Her recycled Nespresso cup jewelry is stunning and highly memorable! How did did she get started with these used aluminum coffee machine capsules? It wasn't a straightforward path.
She first wanted to work with thin rubber. She said, "I went to a local rubber gasket store and they didn't have rubber that was thin enough. I kept saying that I wanted it as thin as an bicycle inner tube. They told me that I should just get an inner tube! So I went to a bicycle store in Pensacola FL and they gave me two boxes of used inner tubes. My original idea was a flop but after thinking about the possibilities of the rubber inner tubes, I began to experiment. Rubber is a great medium because it is flexible and lightweight."
"I saw the Nespresso coffee capsules at a friend's house and thought that the colors were beautiful. I asked her to save the used ones for me. I experimented for over a year before I came up with an idea that integrated the rubber inner tubes and the Nespresso pods, Now many of the designs only include the Nespresso capsules." It is not surprising to learn Kathleen made the switch because of the vivid hues of the coffee capsules. As she pointed out on her Facebook page, a day working with color makes her happy!
One of my favorites is the gorgeous Hummingbird necklace shown at the top which was inspired by the colorful breast feathers of these tiny birds. Her clever use of both chain maille and black resin clay is inspiring!
Kathleen added in a message to me, "Though not my initial reason for using the recycled items, I now am very aware of how much we consider disposable can be made into something beautiful I love the dichotomy of using items destined for a landfill into a piece of jewelry with great intrinsic value."
If you are interested in seeing her work and meeting her, Kathleen will be at a three artist group show at the Pensacola State College, Anna Lamar Switzer Gallery for the months of June and July 2015.
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Art Deco Brooch |
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All the colorful studio Nespresso jewelry was photographed by Victor Wolansky; the model shots are by Janine Joffee.
Before You Go:
- Recycled Coffee Cup Jewelry Tutorials
- Going Green with Fabulous Recycled Rubber Jewelry
- Rubber Glove Jewelry by Min-Ji Cho
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Jewelry Business Tips
I just can't believe those are rubber elements! They look so perfect and bright.awesome work by Kathleen..thanks for bringing it here Pearl!
ReplyDeleteThose black elements are black resin clay as Kathleen now does mostly the nespresso cup jewelry these days.
DeleteWow, these are really amazing! Such talent and ingenuity. I especially love that Hummingbird necklace!
ReplyDeleteI agree. As I always say, it is not what you use, but HOW you use it that counts!
DeleteStunning! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteKathleen's mind is a wonderful thing! Seeing beauty in the Nespresso cups? Absolutely brilliant!!
ReplyDeleteHer work makes me want to look around more to see what is available. Although I don't think I've got whatever Kathleen has to visualize something like this!
Love her work!
Thank you so much for sharing my work. I have had so much joy making this colorful collection. The post was one of the best on my newest jewelry!
ReplyDeleteIn Zimbabwe, where I come from, bicycle inner tube is put to a myriad of uses. But never such stunning jewellery as this!
ReplyDeleteWay to upcycle, really loving everything about this. Amazing photos as well :D
ReplyDelete