Written by Zoe Siegel

Cutlery, silverware, tableware. Forks, knives, spoons. Silver, stainless steel, plastic. Eating utensils have many different names, come in many different forms, and are made out of many different materials, but they have always been used for the same purpose: preparing and eating food. However, the art of recycling silverware is becoming more popular, whether it's a simple bracelet made of a bent spoon or an intricate linked fork necklace, silverware is no longer just for food.

Jen McGlashan has been making cutlery jewelry for 8 years now, running a business called McFlashpants. She welds the metal herself and has created an environmentally friendly tumbler that polishes the metal, made out of soda bottles and yogurt containers. Her collection contains a variety of creations, priced from $7 to $325. Not only is there beautiful jewelry, but there are also innovative holders, hooks, hair pieces and pins. Possibly the most interesting, ingenious items are the Living Jewelry Family. Yes, they are truly living- there is a necklace made of sections of a candlestick with vines intertwined in the pieces (called Cassandra Candle Stick) and a potted plant pin (the Patricia Series) are just two in this Family. The Piece and Love Series is uniquely wonderful as well. It is an updated take on the broken heart necklaces; each sterling silver pendant is a puzzle piece and they all fit together. The ideas that McGlashan comes up with are nothing short of amazing.

McFlashpants' pieces can be found on the Etsy website, the Teich website, and, from June 5th to September 5th 2010, in a retail shop on Governor's Island in an event partially hosted by Etsy.