Pinching pelargoniums

As a PhD student in ecology/botany at the University of Western Australia, Claire regularly muses about life and its’ interactions. During her spare time she indulges in creativity through contemporary jewellery making.

Having sourced vintage buttons (1940-50s) from the US and Australia, she combines them into contemporary jewellery pieces, reviving their art deco past. Each bracelet is constructed on a crocheted wire base (her grandmother’s art) with carefully placed buttons to ensure continuity of design and structural strength. Colour is largely predetermined by plastic manufacturing technology capabilities of the time; however, art deco fabric designs inspire interesting and unique combinations in the finished works. Her brooches also borrow from art deco industrial design, with arrangement of buttons on a vintage buckle base. The pieces themselves are a collection of works as each button has its’ own beauty and design.

‘Pinching pelargoniums’ is a reference to her incessant desire for new and interesting geraniums (plant icon of the 1950s), often ‘pinched’ as cuttings from neighbouring fences.

Claire has crafted art jewellery for about 5 years and has also exhibited landscape paintings in the last year.