Alta’s Ornamentation

Alta’s Ornamentation creates whimsical gifts and gleaming jewelry from Upcycled Silver plate Flatware. The owner/operator/artist is Joan Shroyer-Keno of Dryden, NY.

How did you start doing this?

I bought a few pieces of mismatch silver plate flatware in 2016 at a garage sale.  It sat for a year before I investigated what I could make from it.  I made a simple fish mobile and a teapot wind chime. Now in 2020, I create over 20 wicked and whimsical sea creatures from spoons, forks, butter knives, and serving pieces using the basic tools I “borrowed” from my husband. My creatures include whale, shark, pufferfish, proboscis fish, sea snakes, squid, manta ray, a variety of tropical fish and species yet to be discovered.  I’m careful to cut each mouth differently, hand etch the fins, gills and stripes, design different tails for different species, and make each as detailed as possible. My latest, greatest piece is my Fish Chandelier with tea light candles. Everybody needs one of these, right?

What about the Jewelry?

In 2018 I moved to jewelry design but wasn’t happy with the results.  I slowly invested in professional tooling and am so glad I did. I developed my skills and remember my grandmother telling “Practice makes perfect”! I made basic pendants, then fork tine earrings, then bracelets and rings.  Now I can create jewelry faster and its high quality with great prices.  I’m always shopping for flatware at the very best price.  I want people to have something really nice at a great bargain. It makes them happy and gives me great joy. My new favorite is Mermaid Tail pendants. They are created from a spoon bowl, etched with a pave finish, burnished and then I have the option to add a pearl rivet. All my pendants come with a silver snake chain and I have lengths from 16” to 30”. 

Who is Alta?

She was my grandmother who raised me. Alta Ethilda Barnhart was born in 1904 and making something out of nothing was her talent. She certainly needed that talent being married to a carpenter at a coal tipple who farmed on the side. She loved to knit, crochet, sew, bake, craft, and write poetry and lyrics. She had large plastic tubs and when the garden vegetables came on, she canned vegetable soup literally by the bushels. I’m grateful I inherited my ambition and creative abilities from her and followed her example of hard work, determination, and perfection. She was as CRAZY for jewelry as am I!

Alta Ethilda Barnhardt 1920s

Do you have a shop?

No. I have a basement studio with rotary tools, drill press, bench vice, bench grinder, sanders, a burnishing machine and dozens of hand tools. I have over two dozen silverware patterns in stock.  I create everything at my home and sell online. I attended over 30 art and craft events in 2019 but gave that up this year. I do have some inventory at Dryden Agway this Christmas season including bracelets, earrings and pendants.  I’ve spent most of the year creating my website and uploading my inventory.  I have a large selection of over 190 different items with 500 variations in size and shipping is free for the holiday season. Black Friday through Cyber Monday I will have a rare sale on all items on the website and will have limited surprise specials that will appear late Thanksgiving Day. www.altasornamentation.com (607) 244-4588