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After the Rain - Found Treasures

by Judy Larson
Our car was scheduled for an oil change and rain was predicted for the entire day. Since I could walk home, waited for a break in the rain, dropped the car off, and started my walk home.

I decided to walk down a wide-open alley that in the past had yielded a few small stones that could be bezel set. My hands were full when I left the block long alley and hurried home. The next break in the rain had me walking back with a bucket to find more treasures.
Instructions
Gravel used to pave alleyways is usually crushed rock, so smooth stones are rare but not impossible to find.

Before my "treasure hunt," heavy rains washed lighter, smaller stones to the sides of the alley and toward the street at both ends. These spots had the best stones.

Standing water at the alley's end highlighted the stones' beautiful colors. Since silt and sand settled in the center, small stones were found mostly around the edges.

Adding these stones to my local lake shore finds will create jewelry full of personal meaning for me and anyone who lives or grew up here.
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , finding smooth stones
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , we had washed lighter weight and smaller stones to the sides of the alley
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , put them on a bucket
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , found objects
Beautiful jewelry can be made from all the rocks you find, but other found items are plentiful too.

This is all I have left from 1½ years of walking outdoors during the height of Covid-19. Two shoeboxes were filled with treasures, but they didn't stretch as far as I hoped.

One day, I found quite a few small and medium orange plastic pieces in one spot, so I brought them home along with some shattered safety glass pieces (including a little bag with a small red plastic shard).

The orange plastic has been used as accents in many jewelry pieces, and I'll be sad when the last bit is gone.
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , Little pieces of that orange plastic were put in a lot of jewelry as accents
If you would like smaller stones, consider heading to a landscaping company
Most of the stones I find on my walks are 5/8" or larger.

When I noticed my granddaughter's favorite playground had pea gravel under the equipment, I wanted some too. Playgrounds are like protected beaches you shouldn't remove pea gravel from them.

On my way home, I stopped at a landscaping company. They laughed when I asked to buy just a couple of cups of pea gravel and ended up giving it to me.

Most pieces were too small for my needs, but many were perfect.
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - If you would like smaller stones, consider heading to a landscaping company, General Education, Design, , put them on a ziplock bag
What else can you find on your walks?
These butterfly and moth wings look beautiful preserved under resin. I find them on the road quite often when out on walks.

At that time of year, I keep a small clear plastic box in my pocket to put the remains in.

I have way more than I will ever use, but it does not hurt to have some to pick and choose from. It is now August, and this is the start of this year's collection.
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - What else can you find on your walks?, General Education, Design, , I find them on the road quite often when out on walks
A few tips for walking outside and treasure hunting:
Bring small sealable bags to store your treasures this keeps your pockets clean.

As I'm older, I watch my step carefully to avoid falls. Since not everyone cleans up after their pets, you definitely don't want to step in that!

Also, some dog owners don't leash their pets. These dogs are usually friendly but can jump on you with excitement and potentially knock you down been there, not hurt, but not fun.

Most people walk their dogs in the mornings and evenings, so you might want to avoid those times.

Be aware of your surroundings. You should hear traffic and everything around you, so avoid listening to music or using headphones on your walks. It's easy to get distracted when hunting for treasures!

Don't walk the same route every day. Choose alleys that are wide and open so you can see clearly and be seen.

Check if the alley is city property some residents may not want you near their land.

Always leave a note or tell someone where you're going.

Materials

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WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
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20 X 15 Inch Padded Work Mat
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WireJewelry Pro-Series Single Barrel Tumbler, Jewelry and Metal Polishing Kit, Includes 1 Pound of Jewelers Mix Shot and 8 Ounces of Shinebrite Burnishing Compound
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18 Compartment Bead Box
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): Design, General Education

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