During my thrift store hunts for unusual metal that could somehow become a piece of jewelry, I find that I just can't resist beautiful, old flatware.
Some of the flatware that I find to be especially irresistible is from the early 1900's, often made by Rogers Bros. or by Oneida.
I never know how I might use the spoons and forks that I end up claiming, but they come home with me because they're like small pieces of sculpture that deserve more than being relegated to the often-neglected kitchen wares section of the thrift store.
The spoon with the $1 price tag is a sugar spoon with the Orange Blossom pattern, made by Wm. Rogers & Son in 1910.
I love how the flowers have the look of repousse metal work, one of the reasons why I have not yet been able to take my saw to this spoon.
The top spoon is a Florida commemorative spoon made by Oneida Community, possibly in the 1940's.
The state spoons by Oneida are so rich in detail, and so much more interesting than the contemporary commemorative spoons that some people purchase today as a keepsake of their travels.
When I found this Florida spoon a few years ago, I also found one for Illinois.
I immediately knew that the Illinois spoon would be used to make something for me.
I spent two years in Illinois, attending graduate school at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign which is where I met my late husband.
All of my in-laws are in Illinois, and the state will always be a place that has part of my heart.
I saw cut out the 'ILLINOIS' section and drilled a hole at each end.
Sterling wire was used to wrap connectors of garnet and sterling beads along with heavy gauge silver links.
Because my hands are so busy with different projects, I don't typically wear bracelets....
but when I do,
my Illinois bracelet is usually the one that I choose.
