What goes on Behind the Bench?
I am a natural born maker, and makers gonna make! I repurpose, reuse, upcycle or recycle everything I can get my hands on. I can't even begin to express the joy that comes from creating with intention and turning what some call old junk into a work of wearable art! Like this one:
https://motherofmetal.com/collections/bracelets/products/leather-cuff
For a while I tried drilling holes in all the beach glass and stones I had collected over the years. Tedious work that! I like more instant gratification. Being a knitter and crocheter for most of my life, I guess I naturally turned to a more string-like substance and began my wire wrapping journey. I still turn to my knitting when metal-fatigue sets in though!
Thanks to the internet and a good employee discount at a bookstore, I devoured information and practiced new techniques. Wire wrapping is, in my opinion, the best way to showcase the beautiful gifts from Mother Nature I had been collecting over the years. The possibilities are infinite!
I eventually invested in a 15 pound rock tumbler and learned the ropes. The treasures needed that just-from-the-sea wet-look. Tumbling the stones to a high polish is a process that takes well over a month to complete. Not that I do ALL of the work mind you, I plug it in and it goes ’round all by itself, but I was glad I had chosen the 15 lb capacity barrel!
The suede and leather I use are reclaimed, hand cut and hand braided. (No, DON’T throw away that old jacket or purse or belt!! I may take it in trade for a treasure so let’s talk discounts!!) I use vintage buttons, broken jewelry, spent bullet casings, and so much more!
With the exception of the finer copper binding wire, the copper used is from gathering up old household wiring and stripping the casings to expose the usable wire beneath. It can be challenging to work with and get all straightened out. Let's just say I have a good, solid handshake! 
This is all done by hand as well and is really DIRTY work! (Sometimes I have helpers and oh man, am I thankful for that!) My very first lot of old 220 wiring came from disconnecting live kiln plugs in my old house and was completely stripped with my trusty jack knife. I have since moved up to a real wire stripper, but it’s not an automated process; I still have to put the muscle behind it. Here is about 5 hours of hard sweaty stripping!
NOW go check out my Smashed Pipes!
Or read some more here: https://motherofmetal.com/blog/rocking-chair-musings