VERSO Handmade Sculptural Paper Jewelry

 Congratulations to brit.otto, giveaway winner!

About a year ago I featured Melanie Brauner of VERSO Jewelry in Washington state who is a professional papermaker, bookbinder, letterpress printer, fiber artist and metalsmith. As you might imagine, a variety of handmade items results from her long list of interests, but today I'll be focusing on the very special abaca paper and metal jewelry she creates.

Delicate in appearance yet surprisingly strong, it is made by suspending abaca fibers in water and casting them, layer by layer, onto wire forms over a period of several days. Sometimes Melanie colors the paper with teal or indigo dye and rust.

Moss Earrings - Dip-cast abaca paper and brass flowers, dyed with teal dye and rust. Sterling silver drops with freshwater pearls. Sterling silver earwires.

The fibers cling to the wire and shrink as they dry. Repeated dippings cause the formation of a tight paper skin.

Dewdrop Necklace - Dip-cast abaca paper and brass and copper beads, amazonite, sterling silver 34" chain.

Melanie then combines these sculptural forms with silver findings and freshwater pearls or amazonite that result in wearable art jewelry.

Gate Necklace - Dip-cast abaca paper and brass pendant, sterling silver 30" chain.

There is no question each eye-catching piece is unique and will draw questions from curious onlookers.

Meteor Shower Earrings - Dip-cast abaca paper and brass drops, on a sterling silver chain and earwire. The paper is hand-dyed in with indigo dye and rust, then sealed.

Melanie likes that people have the opportunity to learn about papermaking when they are introduced to her jewelry. 

Creek Bed Necklace - Handmade copper and dip-cast abaca paper bead, freshwater pearls, sterling silver, 16" chain.

The two jewelry pieces seen below are her best-selling items. The graceful Pistil Earrings feature dip-cast abaca paper, brass bells, freshwater pearls, and sterling silver. The Riverbend Necklace is an undulating pendant of copper wire that has been dip-cast with abaca paper. It hangs from a 30" sterling silver chain.

Melanie will be sending either a pair of Pistil Earrings or a Riverbend Necklace to one lucky winner. This in an international giveaway! [ENDED]

To enter, post a comment below in which you name your choice of either the Riverbend Necklace or Pistil Earrings. Be sure to include a way to be contacted within the text of your comment as Blogspot unfortunately doesn't show its bloggers the entire comment form. For those who would rather not post a visible email address, comment here and send me a quick message at ann.b.martin@gmail.com so I will be able to contact you if your name is drawn as the winner.

If you are on Instagram, you have the option to earn an extra entry by visiting the giveaway photo [ENDED] and following directions. The winner will be announced at the top of this post and on the IG giveaway photo as soon as she or he has been notified.

Giveaway ends Saturday, April 2, 2016.

VERSO Jewelry is also on Instagram and Pinterest.