Jun 1, 2010

Celebrity gift bags feature local artist’s recycled jewelryBy Jenny LeeVancouverSun.com

Vancouver, Canada — Jessica Reiss’s eco-friendly sterling silver and recycled bead jewelry will be given away in Leo Awards celebrity gift bags this weekend.

The Vancouver designer studied commerce in university, but became interested in jewelry design and silver smithing. She learned silver smithing at continuing education courses in North Vancouver and now creates her hand-crafted ecocessories jewelry full-time, in a shared Gastown studio. The business is just over two years old.

Reiss cleans recycled beads, sorts them by colour, then pairs them with sterling silver components and clasps.

“The only thing I’m really throwing away is the string and I don’t reuse clasps and earring wires,” Reiss said. “I am able to salvage 95 per cent of the piece that comes to me.”

Read complete article.