Jewelry That Grows On You. The Incredible Landscape Jewelry of Sarah Hood.

Artist and silversmith Sarah Hood combines miniature scale railroad materials like plastic trees, grasses, bushes and pebbles with sterling silver to culminate is one of a kind pieces that are nothing short of wearable art.







Her expert metal work and unique whimsical style is why several of the pieces from her Landscape Series reside in the Tacoma Art Museum's permanent collection.



Below are examples of one-of-a-kind sterling silver rings, necklaces and bracelets made with miniature plastic trees - some spray painted black-, tiny phony bushes, greenery and in some cases, gemstones. Beautiful detailing in the cast silver twigs and touches like bird toggles accentuate the craftsmanship in these unique pieces.



Many of the following fabulous pieces are available for purchase.











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Her 2001 Living Rings actually used live plants and succulents in tiny terracotta pots upon silver ring shanks:





She also crafts beautiful cherry wood bases to display her rings:







Silversmith and artist Sarah Hood at work:



Sarah's studio and furry friend:



all images ©Sarah Hood Jewelry



In the artist's own words:

"For years I’ve been working within the intersection of archetypal form and the natural world, creating one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces from organic materials. In Landscape, I’ve taken a break from the real natural materials--leaves, pods, seeds--which have compelled my work for many years to create miniature, artificial worlds within the context of jewelry. Working with model railroad landscape materials lets me create tiny snapshots of the natural world, scenes that can trick the eyes into believing they are seeing something much larger. In several pieces, this deceit is challenged by the combination of these small constructed natural forms with full scale, cast sterling branches, buds and leaves which, in material, are equally unreal and illusionary." -- Sarah Hood, Jewelry Artist

In addition to her inventive landscape jewelry/art, she creates what one might consider 'more wearable' pieces in gold, silver and enamel. Earrings, bracelets and necklaces are available in her etsy store.

23 Thai Artists, Designers & Brands Interpret the MINI in Scale Models.

The MINI Thailand Design Celebration commemorated half a century of the iconic MINI design tradition by commissioning leading Thai artists, designers and brands to interpret the classic car, all in the form of a 1:3 scale fiberglass model.



The artists had total freedom to express their individual creativity and the participating designers presented their model MINIs On October 27th to the public.




Then, from November 20 - 30, the cars were displayed at the Bangkok Art and Culture Center and Central World Plaza as part of the Bangkok Design Festival 2010, where MINI was also the official car.






























Participants included Taweesak Srithingdee, Jitsinga Somboon, Wuttikorn Kongka, Moey Scrubb, Sarit Hoontragul, and Dolchai Boonyarattawesh. Herman Miller and Wallpaper were amongst the brands participating.


above: TK Stripe by Santi Lawrachawee in collaboration with Nattapol Rojjanaratanangkool.©

above image courtesy of flickr



Finally, in January, the designed cars were auctioned off by MINI Thailand with all proceeds going to The Reading Room, a non-profit organization operated by The Foundation for the Promotion and Preservation of Thai Art.

images courtesy of MINI space, Mini.com.au, flickr and Wallpaper (Thai)