People to See: The Jewelry Makers What is “Sprouting” around the corner?
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ince the beginning of time, humans have searched for creative ways to adorn themselves. Through the centuries, a wide variety of materials have been used: gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, polished stones and beads made from glass, clay and potatoes. Potatoes? Yes, potatoes! After all, the potato is a gift from God, plus it is a novel idea to use it as the foundation for creating jewelry. Jo Ann Hahs and Linda Freeman have built a thriving business, Gems from the Earth, by using this idea. Their journey began after seeing a potato necklace in October of 2010. According to Jo Ann, “God planted the idea that my friend, Linda, and I may want to play with this idea.” Linda began making some pieces and by Christmas had enough necklaces completed to use as gifts. Jo Ann began experimenting on her own and suggested they try to sell some of the necklaces with the proceeds going to their church’s partner church in El Salvador. First official sales were at a yard sale in March of 2011. Excited that the necklaces sold, it was decided they needed a name for their project. After some thought, Linda came up with the idea, Gems from the Earth. The name is especially appropriate since the potato is a product from the earth. It is also a great novelty that catches attention. When people first see the necklaces, they assume those rectangular or square shapes are rocks. On closer examination some begin to wonder what they are. Even after feeling them, most are still not sure. Once the solution to the mystery is revealed, the usual response is, “Really? I can’t believe that’s a potato!” Linda and Jo Ann’s basements are
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By Kandy Derden Things to Do Editor loaded with drying potatoes, tons of beads, hundreds of bottles of acrylic paint, and an over-abundance of pendants. “We are always on the look-out for unique and stylish pendants and are willing and able to use broken, recyclable jewelry,” said Jo Ann. To make a necklace requires peeling the potato, cutting it into small pieces, sticking a hole through each piece, stringing the nuggets on a cord, and then letting them hang for seven to ten days until dry. After the potatoes are dried, they must be removed from the cord and sorted according to size and shape. For one necklace, anywhere from twenty to thirty six pieces are needed. Once the required number of nuggets is obtained, a pendant must be chosen to coordinate with the size of the nuggets. Next, the process of mixing paint begins in order to match the colors in the pendant. Each nugget is painted individually with a small brush. This requires several handlings of each nugget, because a base coat is followed by the application of several other colors so the nuggets match or blend with the pendant. The final layers involve a coat of sparkle and a sealer. With painting done and thoroughly dried, it is now time to arrange the painted nuggets in a pleasing pattern. Beads and spacers are chosen to give that final touch to the necklace. The final step is the process of stringing the nuggets, beads and spacers on a stretchy cord and then securely tying and gluing that cord. A plus for some people is the fact that there is no clasp to fasten; the necklaces just stretch to go over the head.
