The Art of Forgotten Things: Creating Jewelry from Objects with a Past

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A dark romanticism pervades The Art of Forgotten Things. Necklaces and bracelets using one-of-a-kind components hint at fragments of stories that exist only in the imagination, evoking a half-remembered, mysterious past. Each piece tells a story, if only one could find the key. Melanie shows how to create delicate beaded frames, clasps, nets, and components with seed beads and combine them with mixed-media elements for jewelry with an evocative look and feel. An extensive techniques section includes instructions for flat and tubular peyote, right-angle weave, bead netting, bead embroidery, and picot edges and fringes; basic jewelry techniques such as wire wrapping; mixed-media techniques such as foiling; and additional embellishment. The author discusses various types of beads used in the projects, from tiny seed beads to crystals, pressed glass, pearls, and more, as well as other materials, tools, and "treasures" that make each creation unique. Detailed step-by-step instructions are provided for each project and most also feature variations in which the project is dramatically altered by adding or changing elements. There is also an emphasis on using readily available materials and items a person might already have in their collection, along with directions for locating more unusual or vintage items.