Hot Spots: meet The Treasury’s Emma Grace

Tuesday 10 August 2010, 12.00 AM
By The Team | Posted in Events

Waste not, want not – and still look a bajillion dollars in your recycled bling. Emma Grace runs The Treasury, an eco-friendly jewellery workshop where you can make shiny new appendages using your dated doo-dads.

Hot Spots caught up with Emma and found out how upcycling works (it doesn’t involve riding up hills), what happens at a Treasury workshop – and plenty more.  

Emma Grace, what inspired you to begin The Treasury?

For a while now I’ve been aware of the tension between two of my greatest passions: fashion and the environment. The Treasury resolves this tension by bringing the two together. Encouraging people to repair or make new jewellery out of ‘loot’ from home draws together the skills and creativity of my jewellery practice and my passion for sustainability.

What should people bring along to class?

Treasury workshops focus on fashion jewellery, so bring along old broken jewels, out-of-fashion pieces in need of a refresh, found objects that lend themselves to wearable art and any ‘upcycleable’ materials (such as metal) that may be handy.

You can also bring ideas or images of things you want to create. And don’t forget that all-important plate of food to share – shared food makes this a true community event!

What kind of jewels can we fix our loot into?

People are always really surprised at what they can fix and how creative they get with their designs. We get all the basic repair jobs (gluing brooch backs on, replacing catches etc) out of the way early, then focus the main part of the session on being creative with our materials.

I’ve had students make necklaces out of porcelain knick-knacks, brooches out of soft furnishings and rings out of doll’s accessories. Not to mention the endless possibilities of re-making necklaces just by adding (or taking away) an element or two.

Where are your favourite places to plot world domination in the city?

The recent influx of rooftop bars in the city delights my feline penchant for height and sun, but the idea for The Treasury was actually conceived at the HiFi Bar – there must be something about sticky carpet, claustrophobia and stimulation of the auditory senses that puts me in the right frame of mind for plotting world domination.

What do you love about Melbourne?

I love the love! The passion that we Melburnians have for our city and the constant flow of ideas and projects being dreamed up and realised is forever inspiring me.

Which other Melbourne-based creative projects do you admire and enjoy?

Bus Projects, Craft Victoria, The Clothing Exchange, Thread Den, Eco Innovators… the list is endless!

What do you have planned for The Treasury in the coming months?

Apart from world domination…? We’re planning a series of guest artists and designers to star at The Treasury classes and are planning to take the show on the road over summer – stay tuned!!

LINK:

The Treasury

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