Salvaged Copper Jewelry

by Liz Brummond.
(Raleigh, North Carolina USA)

My copper fascination started when I found a pile of copper left over from a construction project on the loading dock at work.

Chrysocolla with copper bezel and natural leather lace

Since then, I’ve salvaged it by digging up the copper from an electric dog fence and making friends with contractors.
Stripping the wire is not fun but the results are worth it – I now have over 150 feet of wire in gauges ranging from 12-28 and it’s a nice selling point – recycled, eco-friendly jewelry.

Cleo – salvaged copper pendant

Not to mention the stress relief of hammering it into submission. The pendant with the malachite was one of my first – I call it Cleo because it reminded me of Cleo’s asp – and is one of my best sellers.

The second is a slab of chrysocolla framed with a copper bezel I hammered; the stone came from a lapidarist at a gem show who had it left over from a project.

Liz Brummond
elfstones by Liz