…On their way to being art.
Fire Mountain Gems had a closeout sale recently, during which I got some great items that will all make incredible book or jewelry art. Eventually.
The first such transformation will be these six carved bone rings, originally from China & dyed with dark brown bands and peace symbols. For around $1 each, I thought they’d make perfect mini-platforms for altered art. They vary in ring size, and the raised (peace symbol) portion is no more than .75″ across. I did a preliminary clean on the one on the far left.
The brown dye was so fugitive it rubbed off on my hands! That had to go, via about an hour with a tub of water, a cordless Dremel, and some graduating grades of sandpaper. While I hated taking away another artisan’s hard work, I have to admit that the cleaned rings look so much better.
Then I made some ‘pages’ from strips of machine-embroidered linen and cotton bias tape. Drilled some holes in one of the newly-cleaned rings. Cut, embossed, and painted some leather strips. Carved out two more bone shapes, to go with the ring. I have to find or order boxes to fit them, because they’ll need some kind of storage/presentation case.
With luck, I’ll be showing off the first of six bone mini-book rings in a week or so. My target wholesale price will be around $85 to $100 each. I’m reasonably sure the edition will sell out within a year of delivery to my art agent.
Not a bad investment in art supplies and a little time.