The Sunnyvale Sun

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Designer finds beauty in making old jewelry new

By Erin Hussey

When it comes to jewelry, whether it's a multi-colored, beaded earring from the '80s, a flashy pendent from the '70s or a broken bracelet, Lynn Deglin sees potential beauty.

"If you get stuff from other people, it tends to be more interesting," says Deglin, who, for the last 10 years, has been turning unwanted, mismatched jewelry pieces into her own unique creations.

"A lot of these things you will never see in a store because they just don't keep making the same beads."

In 1997, Deglin was encouraged to take a jewelry repair class with a friend. Although she wasn't particularly interested in beads or jewelry at the time, she decided to go.

"I'm usually game for most things," she says. "Then something about it grabbed me and that was it."

Since then Deglin has been commissioned to make bridal jewelry, sets of necklaces for siblings and a variety of other earrings and bracelets. Close to 90 percent of each piece is made from what Deglin calls treasures--jewelry that is out of style, broken or simply considered trash by its previous owner.

"You never know what you are going to get," Deglin says. Over the years she has worked with stones, gems and crystals including turquoise, rose quartz, pearls, jade, amber and numerous vintages of beads.

"The coolest thing is that you know no one else is going to have it," says Julie Collier, who commissioned Deglin to make her wedding jewelry. "They are completely original."

In addition to making pieces for brides, Deglin also specializes in making jewelry that symbolizes a deceased parent.

"My dad had purchased this long strand of amethyst beads for my mom in Korea," says Jennifer Haydon, whose mother died almost five years ago. "I have two sisters and we loved the piece, but it wasn't our style. Lynn made each of us a set of necklaces, bracelets and earrings. She also had enough left over to make 12 sets of earrings. I gave them out to friends of my mom, and it really touched people."

Because Deglin sells most of her work by word of mouth, she makes her living as a graphic designer and photographer. Before she was utilizing her artistic talents, she worked in the business world as a project manager. Deglin's friend, JoyceAnne Piece, believes part of her success in jewelry actually comes from her background in business and technology.

"She has the most uncanny way of finding unique solutions that I have ever seen," Piece says. "That's why her jewelry is so unique."

When someone gives their discarded jewelry to Deglin, she always thanks them with a new, customized piece. Currently she has two large bins of donated jewelry to work with. Deglin explains that sometimes the designs take shape quickly,and sometimes they don't. When they do, a light goes on.

"When I hit it, my brain goes 'ding,' " she says. When developing a piece, Deglin simply lays out the beads in different configurations. "You just kind of know that you've arrived and it's working."

For now, Deglin does not foresee making a career out of her recycled jewelry. She wants to keep it as an avenue of personal enjoyment.

"It's very relaxing for me," she says. "It's very meditative."

To donate your unwanted jewelry or to purchase one of Lynn Deglin's pieces, email her at ldeglin@yahoo.com.