painted leather and reused metalparts

Maalaan ja kuvioin isommat nahkapalat ja kuivuttuaan liimaan vielä toisen nahan taustaksi tukemaan nahan rakennetta. Kutsun näitä kuvioituja nahkapaloja koruvuodaksi. Leikkaan korun muodot suoraan näistä nahkapaloista, usein ilman kaavaa. Näin korut ovat aina myös yksilöitä vaikka silmämääräisesti korupari näyttää samanlaisilta.

Käytän koruissani vanhoja korunosia joita saan purkamalla mm. kaulakoruja. Pyrin aina ostamaan kaikki osat kirppareilta ja kierrätyskeskuksista. Olen tietoinen että en pysty 100% todentamaan uudelleenkäytettyjen korujen materiaaleja, pyrin silti aina tutkimaan ostamani korun jo ostohetkellä. Silmämääräisesti tunnistan laadukkaan vanhan korun ns. “halpakoruista”. Myös tutkimalla pinnoitetta ja korunosia tarkasti saan jo käsityksen siitä kuinka laadukas koru on. Silti en voi varmuudella todentaa materiaaliseoksia koruissani. Käytän aina korujen koukkuosissa jotka tulevat korvalehden läpi kotimaisen korukaupan osia ja heillä on todennettu tieto osissa käytetyistä materiaaleista.

I paint and pattern large pieces of leather, and once they are dry, I glue a second piece of leather to the back to reinforce the structure. I call these patterned leather pieces “jewelry hides” (koruvuota). I cut the shapes of the jewelry directly from these pieces, often without a pattern. Because of this, each piece of jewelry is completely unique, even if a matching pair looks identical to the naked eye.

I incorporate vintage jewelry components into my work, which I salvage by disassembling items like old necklaces. I always strive to source all my components from flea markets and recycling centers. While I am aware that I cannot 100% verify the exact materials of these reused components, I always do my best to examine them closely at the time of purchase. Visually, I can tell the difference between high-quality vintage jewelry and cheap costume jewelry. By carefully inspecting the plating and components, I can get a good sense of the quality, even though I cannot verify the exact metal alloys with absolute certainty. However, for the earring hooks that go through the earlobe, I always use components from a Finnish jewelry supplier who provides verified information about the materials used.


Aluminium and metal Susanoo earrings from old reused pots and pans

Charity shops etc are filled with unwanted aluminium and metal kitchenware. My interest is on coloured pieces but also the basic golden and silver hues are ok. My work methods are raw, I am not a professional cutting and hammering metal. But the process learns and after a few bleeding cuts in my fingers I started to use gloves when cutting these sometimes tricky pieces into smaller ones.

My endless inspiration source is nature. Organic shapes and roughness. Childlike approach to materials; curious and explorative.

This metal box has a nice orange colour but cutting it into smaller pieces is tricky. Carefully with gloves.
Check out my Instagram. Theres more about me and my jewelry. Independent artist Susanoo, no online shop. All pieces unique.

Hammered Susanoo design flower earrings from reused aluminium

I hammered and folded aluminium to get the right flower shape. To the middle of the flower I glued few silver colored plastic beads. Overall look is really delicate and dreamy.

In this short video you see the parts I hammered for the flowers. Aluminium I used for the earrings is old and broken pieces from hanging decorative lighting.

So just go wild with materials and experiment with different ways to put jewelry together. I usually get inspired by something I see in the old fashion/interior magazines; such as old editorial fashion pics from 80s and 90s which are my favourite years in fashion because of the drama and colors. I do love all vintage, the more age the better.

red leather earrings with reused jewelry parts

Red hot chili and tangerine with a bling from silver coloured bean(s).

This earring started about three years ago, something went sideways and I put it away in a box for a while. I do this when I loose interest in continuing my work at hand if something goes “wrong”. Then I can find the same project after a while (years) and start over and finish it. Like polishing an old artifact.

I buy my jewellery material from second hand or charity shops. Found this two toned red plastic necklace and liked the shape of the pearls.

It was easy to attach the plastic beads to the leather with small hooks that I made from metal wire.

How the earrings hang when put on is important, are they moving freely or should the earring just be seen from the other side? These earrings I made two-sided and movement is needed so that light can bounce on the silver coloured and red beads.