Julie’s beautiful hedgerow jewellery is hand-crafted from eco-friendly silver clay. Each piece (usually a leaf, but sometimes a fruit, berry or nut) is totally unique as the original is used only once. The result of the jewellery-making process is a perfect impression direct from nature and consisting of pure (i.e. 99.9%) silver.
The process starts with Julie seeking and choosing a leaf of a plant with a healing reputation. She scours hedgerows and woodlands for hawthorn, mugwort, oak, dandelion, willow, vervain and other medicinal herbs, but leaves of garden plants like ginkgo and houttuynia also make striking pendants.
The purchased silver clay is recycled from obsolete electronic and electrical equipment and consists of micron-sized particles of pure silver, mixed with a non-toxic organic binder (the clay).
The chosen leaf is pressed into the clay, then the shape cut out, finished and dried. The bale is fitted and the prepared leaf is fired on a gas burner or in a kiln. The firing is a dramatic and colourful event as the binder materials burn off to leave the pure silver leaf. This is now quenched in cold water and polished to a satin finish.
Julie makes pendants, necklaces, rings, earrings and bracelets. Bespoke designs can be commissioned. If you have a tree or other plant that is special to you, Julie can tell you how to choose and preserve the leaves or other parts to send to her.
Each finished piece is posted in a box made of recycled materials and secured with an eco-sourced ribbon. Prices include postage in the UK. If you wish to order from overseas, please email Julie to check prices: silver@hedgerowmedicine.com