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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 finding smooth stones is hard, but not impossible.

Before my "treasure hunt" the heavy rains we had washed lighter weight and smaller stones to the sides of the alley, as well as toward the street on both ends. Those two places were where the best stones were found.

Standing water at the end of the alley highlighted the beautiful colors of the stones. Since silt and sand settled in the center of pooled water, small stones/treasures were found around the edges.

Adding these stones to my local lake shore finds will result in jewelry that will evoke sentimentality and meaning to me as well as to anyone who lives and/or grew up here.
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , found objects
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , found objects
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , found objects
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , found objects
Beautiful jewelry can be made with all the rocks you find, but other found items are plentiful. This is all I have left from my 1½ years of walking outdoors during the height of Covid19. The treasures filling two shoeboxes did not go as far as I would have liked them to.

One day I found quite a few small and medium sized orange pieces of plastic in one spot, so home they came, along with some shattered safety glass pieces-the little bag with the small piece of red plastic in it. Little pieces of that orange plastic were put in a lot of jewelry as accents, and I will be sad when the last bit of orange is used.
Judy Larson's After the Rain - Found Treasures - , General Education, Design, , found objects
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 saw that my granddaughter's favorite playground had pea gravel under all the equipment, I knew I needed some. Playgrounds are like protected beaches-you can't/shouldn't remove any pea gravel.

So, on the way home I stopped at a landscaping company. They laughed at me when I said I wanted to buy a couple cups of pea gravel. They gave it to me. Most of the pieces were too small for my use, 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, , found objects
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, , found objects
A few tips for walking outside and treasure hunting:
Bring small sealable bags to put your treasures in. That way your pockets will not get dirty.

Being older, I am always watching where I place my feet to avoid falls. Since not everyone cleans up after their pets when walking them, you don't want to step in that!

Also, not everyone leashes their dogs when walking them. These dogs are generally very friendly...BUT sometimes jump on you in their exuberance and can knock you down-been there, not hurt, but also not fun. Since the majority of people walk their dogs morning and evening, before and after work, you may wish to avoid those times.

Be mindful of your surroundings. You should be able to hear traffic as well as everything going on around you so don't listen to music, etc., on your walks. It is very easy to get excited and distracted when looking for and finding treasures!

Don't walk the same route every day. Make sure the alley is wide and wide open so you can clearly see your surroundings as well as be seen.

You may want to determine if the alley is city property or not. Some people may not want you on or near their property.

Always leave a note or let someone know where you are going.

Materials

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Tools

WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $170.72
  • Gold Club Price: $128.04
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): Design, General Education

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