Jewelry artist Sandy Moore wanders through antique stores with a loving eye for worn pieces of metal and architectural trinkets. Along with old keys and chandelier prisms, these objects find new life from adornments for a space to adornments for the body. The peeling paint on the surface are preserved in the final jewelry piece to honor its previous use.
“I have always been crafty and I needed a pair of earrings for an outfit and did not want to spend $100 for the pair so I made a pair that looked like them. I was hooked after that and I started buying jewelry parts from Hobby Lobby and turning them into pieces that I liked. I finally attended a class that showed me how to use architectural pieces in jewelry and Branigan Brooke was born.” Sandy Moore explains her start in jewelry making.
In a special glass case in South Front Antiques downtown, Branigan Brooke Designs are displayed. Like charm bracelets, the necklace chains are strung with many found objects within the store. Sandy has added bracelets and earrings to her collection along the way.
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Photo by dirk olsen.
These last two images show one of the necklaces I was particularly drawn to and tried on for the photo. An elegantly chunky chain works nicely to hold the old door key plate, chandelier prism, and hotel key tag. She has also incorporated some objects with particular sentimental value such as dog tags and medals in several custom pieces.
“The most recent was for a reunion of three friends from Ole Miss. We incorporated a matching memento from Ole Miss in the three pieces and used keys to symbolize how they met living in the dorm, ” she further explains.
Her collection can also be found at MUSE Inspired Fashion, Memphis and Nashville. She is also set up for The Hope Presbyterian Market at Hope September 24th till 8 pm.
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Special thanks to South Front Antiques (shoot location) and dirk olsen for the portrait.
To see more great architectural and art finds at South Front Antiques, visit City Chic Living and look out for my guest post this week.
