Flying Bling

I love jewelry.  I also like making my own jewelry from found objects.  These are one of a kind and I'd never sell anything because I like one of a kind things for myself.  I may give you something I make if you promise to keep it forever.  Anyway, I was looking through the local paper this morning and came across this article.  I've never heard of making jewelry out of this particular thing but anyway, read on:

FLIES MAKE JEWELRY WITH HELP FROM MOM, DAUGHTER

BY JAMIE SHEATS-JOHNSON -Knight Ridder News Service

Biologist Kathy Stout 43, and her mother, Marilyn Kyle, 66, of Wildscape, Inc. turn nature into art.  For 10 years Ms. Stout has raised caddis flies in her converted West Virginia garage giving them stones (opals, garnet, tiger's eye, jasper, lapis, gold nuggets, emeralds, rubies, sapphires and even diamonds) to build cocoons.

The bugs fly away and leave their casings, which Ms. Stout ships to her mother in Charlotte, N.C. Ms. Kyle designs and assembles the unique jewelry, which sells for $35 to $2,000.

Question: How do the insects create cases you use?

KS: " Each separate bin that we call a little independent stream has one color, one type of stone substrate.  The caddis flies use these stones to create their cocoons, to ensure their survivability when the water rises and in flood situations.  My caddis flies are pupating, which means they've sealed themselves up in their cases and they're going through metamorphosis.  In the next two or three weeks, I will have caddis flies emerging and flying away.  This is when I'll collect their empty cases, let them dry and use an epoxy to fill their cases to ensure they stay together."

Question: Do the bugs mind?

KS: "None of our bugs are hurt.  They live a nice, predator-free life with us."  Ms. Stout takes great care to re-create the caddis fly's stream environment.

Question: Who wears Wildscape creations?

KS: "Everyone from little girls 12 years and up to ladies in their 70's and 80's love my jewelry.  My mom pierced her ears at 60, so that she could wear pierced earrings.  Men like it because they can say, 'That was made by an insect.  That's cool.'"

Question: What inspires your designs?

MK: "I look at the cocoon to see what would emphasize the brilliance and the uniqueness of it.  When we're making earrings, we have to spread the cocoons out and see which one is similiar in size, shape and materials used.  It's hard to match the cocoons so that they look pretty and almost even."

Questions: What do you do at home shows?

MK: "Wildscape holds jewelry classes in Charlotte-area homes for folks to invite friends over and learn about the caddis fly and how to put the jewelry together (at up to 30 percent less than retail)."

Wildscape provides the tools and materials.

This article was published in the Life section of the Santa Barbara News-Press on May 17, 2006.

I thought I had heard it all but guess I haven't and would love to hear what others think of this.  I'm glad the flies weren't hurt.  I do every now and then see a really pretty bottle fly already dead and will sit it up on a shelf amongst my shelf pretties. The color is a fantastically brilliant cobalt blue.

Time to get out there in nature.  No telling what you'll find!