Jen was born a creator and lover of pretty, shiny things, but it wasn’t until 2002 that she discovered the thrill of working with precious metal. A weekend class to ‘make a ring’ was the beginning of a passion to continually learn new techniques and increase her skill in creating stunning, wearable impressions of the world around her. Jen studied in both Auckland at Workshop 6, and in Brisbane at the Goldsmiths School.

Instagram: JenBanksJewellery
Website: JenBanksJewellery.com.au
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E-mail:Banksji@gmail.com
Phone:0404 348 215

A big shout out to all the wonderful folk who came last night to be part of the experience that is a Hammer & Hand winter exhibition. Once a year we go all out to bring you a new body of work from each of our members; we lay on a delicious array of nibbles; the mulled wine flows; and the stunning braziers flicker and flame while you listen to the dulcet tones of live acoustic guitar. None of this would be of any point if it wasn’t for our lovely, dedicated followers and supporters. We thank you. Much love from the Hammer & Hand crew xx

Melting Point Exhibition .. Hammer and Hand Byron Bay… photo, Mischa Pringle http://www.rollsouth.com/

and woosh! the sound of another month going by….

The opening evening of our MetaLust exhibition was a great night.  Lots of people, clear skies, fire in the gorgeous (Bruce Pringle made) brasiers, yummy nibbles, 4 litres of mulled wine gone in less than an hour….and gorgeous new works unveiled by the whole crew from Hammer and Hand.

I went for a old mixed with new theme for my MetaLust – cast organic pieces set with large and/or bright stones.  I’m really pleased with them….so without further ado:

Red gum branch set with a stunningly cut green quartz

Amethyst how I love you….set in a bottle brush seed pod head

Gum pods ring set with yummy hessonite stones

Cheery tree twig with organically set opal triplet

Beautiful blue quartz in a blackened, rustic setting and chain

I’ve been making my tin earrings for a few years now and they’ve always enjoyed a lot of love and attention, but since stocking them at the Tweed Regional Gallery in Murwillumbah in northern NSW, they have gone crazy!

So much so, I decided they needed their own brand name.  The name ‘Cupboard Love’ came from the idea that the tins they are made from have often spent a long time in the back of a cupboard before finding new life and love in the form of my earrings.  Also, of course, they may have contained food of some description at some point in their previous life.

The following is from an information postcard I made for their display at the Tweed Gallery:

Cupboard Love

– vintage tin earrings –

These beautiful earrings are created from vintage tins collected locally and from overseas. Each tin began life containing tea, or biscuits or perhaps chocolate; then may have spent years at the back of a cupboard, or possibly as a well loved container for buttons or other treasures.

Jen selects tins with lovely scenes or colourful patterns; hand cuts, files and sands them into circles; she then domes them slightly to add a 3D feel and to catch the light. After drilling a hole for the ear wire, each earring is sealed with marine grade varnish to protect its charm. Finally a sterling silver ear wire is attached.

Every pair is different and unless another tin the same is found, quite possibly never to be repeated.

Jen hopes these unique earrings bring much fun and colour to your day.

Jen Banks Jewellery

= more pretty shiny things!

Large Leaf Pendant. Sterling silver, peridot

Florite and cast seed pods necklace

Sea Foam Collection – Leaf Cycle/Hearts
Sterling, leaf imprint

Sea Foam Collection.
Sterling, leaf imprint

“Not Your Grandmother’s Pearls” Collection.
Sterling, freshwater pearls

Double-sided/two-way, “Can’t see the birds for the trees” Pendants. Sterling, patina

Textured disk necklace.

“Not Your Grandmother’s Pearls” Collection.
Sterling, patina, freshwater pearls

Cast sterling silver red gum seed heads. SOLD

Sea Foam Collection.
Sterling, leaf imprint

New Collection “Global”. Moroccan Goth. Small and medium. Sterling silver, patina.

“Not Your Grandmother’s Pearls” Collection.
Sterling, freshwater pearl, amber, tigers eye

New Collection “Global”. Foliage. Large. Sterling silver, patina.

New Collection “Global”. Soaring. Small and medium. Sterling silver, patina. I just can’t stop making these pendants!

While I think every day is the best day for telling people that they’re awesome; I have included some heart earrings here today to keep in the spirit of all things lovey-dovey.

Fresh water pearl earrings

24ct gold leaf on sterling silver hearts. 24ct leaf heart globe pendant also available

Understated yet unmissable – fresh water pearl earrings

Delicate and sweet fresh water pearl earrings – matching bracelet and necklace also available

Kinetic sterling and moonstone earrings

Delicate and sweet fresh water pearl earrings – with or without dark grey patina matching bracelet and necklace with patina also available

Sea urchin earrings, cast in sterling silver. Matching pendant also available

….but no longer!

I’m very happy to have music where ever I go (not from the bells on my toes, but from the jingling of my arm amour.

Commissioned bracelet – I’ve worn mine for many years – this is the same design as the first soldered link bracelet I made.

Commissioned hand pierced leaf cuff. Very happy customer and artist!

Hand pierced hinged cuff – in progress

Forged steel and amethyst cuff

Hand pierced hinged cuff – in progress

Hand pierced hinged cuff – for no other reason than because I could.

“Not Your Grandmothers Pearls” bracelet

Cast sterling silver Cypress Pine and Red Gum seed pod and pearl acorn bangles.

Cast sterling silver She Oak seed pod and pearl acorn bangle.

Cast sterling silver Red Gum seed pod and pearl acorn bangle.

Cast sterling silver She Oak seed pod and pearl acorn bangle.

It flies, it’s wasted, cherished and stolen – hopefully these pendants only get treated to one of those options!

Sweet little birds to sing you through your day

One of a collection of five pendants – each containing a photo I took on the Northern NSW coast

Deep in the forest are many fascinating and unusual plants

Etched copper necklace – it tinkles gently with every movement

Leaf pendant with gorgeous green dew drop. SOLD

One of a collection of five pendants – each containing a photo I took on the Northern NSW coast

Orb branch pendant

Steel, peridot and gold leaf (planet?) pendant

One of a collection of five pendants – each containing a photo I took on the Northern NSW coast

One of a collection of five pendants – each containing a photo I took on the Northern NSW coast

One of a collection of five pendants – each containing a photo I took on the Northern NSW coast

Moonstone and gravillia seedpod necklace

Purple goldstone and bottlebrush necklace

BIG statement necklace! Cast sea urchin and amethyst pendant. This one will get you noticed!

Leaf and blue topaz dew drop pendant. SOLD

Leaf and opal dew drop pendant

Three little birdies ready to grace the necks of three little girls at a wedding in France

New design in my landscape pendant collection. Sterling and etched copper.

A range of styles and collections here – different styles, metals, stones, sizes, colours and collections 🙂

Textured wide, and polished narrow bands

Steel and sterling ring. From our 13 Boxes Exhibition

Star Nebula Ring – sterling and deep blue stones

Star Nebula Ring. Sterling, amethyst, citrine, peridot

Steel and amber ring. For an upcoming exhibition

Steel and 9ct gold ring. From our 13 Boxes exhibition

The evolution – from coral to star nebula rings

Follow the yellow brick road. Sterling and 9ct gold.

Wheat ring.

Textured stackers

Stackers, stackers, and more stackers!

Steel and 9ct gold ring. From our 13 Boxes exhibition

Sea bubbles ring in sterling.

….of lace….and necks 😉

How ’bout these pretties?

eye catching sterling and lithograph pendant – going to do a series of scene pendants for an exhibition later this year

sterling silver and green beryl leaf pendant. extra pretty

‘moon over the water’. ebony, bone, sterling and 24ct gold leaf. changing the findings and chain to 9ct gold and will then be SOLD 🙂

so pleased with this one! pre-purposed printers copper plate necklace

cast sterling silver elder seed cone pendant

re-purposed printers copper plate keepsake

american white oak and sterling silver SOLD

washi paper and acrylic necklace