Last year my hobby du jour was jewelry making. I began with simple beading classes, moved on to wire work and then took on a metal-smithing course.

Imagine my surprise when the first day of class I was handed a blow torch and expected to solder tiny beads of metal together. If you know me, this is like asking a small child to separate egg whites from the yolk without getting any shell bits mixed in.

It took lots of practice and sadly there was a small heap of sterling silver scraps that paid the price. Thankfully, there are more talented people than myself who have figured out what to do with the leftover silver. One such person is San Francisco jewelry designer Kris Nations. Her collection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings include pieces made from recycled sterling silver with vintage glass beads which add just the right touch of color. I love these Grain Earrings.