B.B. Bellezza Handcrafted Jewelry: Thursday Green Artist of the Week

I am so happy to bring you A Bit of Color as the featured green artist of the week this week. A Bit of Color uses polymer clay to make all sorts of jewelry and accessories. (Also check out her sculptural ceramics and Smoke-fired ceramic jewelry)

What I am most excited about is A Bit of Color’s line of headbands and pins that use recycled jeans. You can find them in her Etsy shop here.

The Interview:

What specifically do you do that is “green” in your business?

I use recycled/upcycled jeans in making flower pins, headbands, and other accessories. I also use recycled packaging wherever possible.

Why have you decided to use these green practices?

My mother always saves old blue jeans to make quilts and potholders out of. Even though I live far away from her now, out of habit, I keep worn-out jeans in a bag in the closet. Usually, I'd just take them to my mom when I visited home. Then one day, I thought, "Blue Jeans and Polymer clay--that's gotta be an awesome combination!" I pulled out my jeans, some remnant fabric, a needle and thread, and of course, my polymer clay.

Do you have one tip for people to incorporate being green into their everyday life?

You don’t necessarily need to be a pack-rat to save materials from the landfill. When throwing something away, I like to ask myself if it’s something I can use in a project. I keep fabric, ribbons, cardboard, boxes and packaging (for shipping my ceramic art ), and anything else that catches my eye. If I can’t use it or don’t know someone who can, then I see if I can recycle it before just throwing it away.

Where do you draw your inspiration?

My 3-year-old daughter is my biggest source of inspiration. When I’m out of ideas, she’s my go-to gal to ask for something crazy to make next. This is where my nesting bird pieces came from (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19641053 and http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20017678 came from. I asked her what I should make and she told me I needed to do some birdies.