180 Workshop, Deb Houghtaling

Greenfield, IA

ARTIST'S STATEMENT

Reuse.  Repurpose.  Reimagine. 

 

I focus on giving new purpose and new life to reclaimed materials.  A self-taught jewelry artist, I first ventured into repurposing materials to make jewelry in 2012 when the opera house in my hometown of Greenfield was being renovated.  The copper cornice was too fragile to be reused, and I naively said that maybe I could make some earrings from it.  Much experimenting and several how-to YouTube videos later, I had found a new passion

 

I have since looked to other materials to repurpose into jewelry – cookie tins, wine/beer bottles, deconstructed abandoned houses in Detroit, and damaged/unused books.  No matter the material I use, its original purpose has been spun around – given a 180.

 

 Technical Information:

 

This jewelry has been created from damaged/unused books, specifically the book covers.  I scour thrift stores, book sales, and library cast-off shelves looking for books that have little value for reading anymore.  My favorite books are outdated textbooks or manuals (such as The Essentials of Modern Carpet Installation from 1962) and Reader’s Digest Condensed Books.

 

I use a laser to cut, and sometimes etch, the book covers into shapes and designs I have created using design software.  All raw edges have been coated.  All of my recycled book jewelry is mounted onto cards that mimic a library check-out card and have care instructions printed on the back.

 

I use purchased steel hardware for ear wires (surgical steel), settings, hoops, and chains.  After using sterling silver for many years, I switched to steel for most of my jewelry because of the lower price point, hypo-allergenic features, and lack of tarnishing.

 

Care instructions:  Although this jewelry is made for daily wear and the edges have been coated, it is not waterproof.  Avoid wearing in the pool, shower, or heavy rain.  If your jewelry does get wet, allow it to air dry.  If you need to clean your jewelry, gently dab with a slightly wet paper towel and allow to air dry.