Singer KT Tunstall has backed a new project which makes jewellery out of used guitar strings for charity.
Not-for-profit collection, the Guitarwrist, creates collectible fan memorabilia from used guitar strings, donated by a number of international artists.
The strings and plectrums are turned in to bespoke bracelets, rings, necklaces and earrings, which range from £40 to £500.
Around 90 per cent of the profits from each sale will then be donated to the artist's charity of choice, which include Save the Children, CRUK, Teenage Cancer Trust, Help Refugees UK, Shelter, Dogs Trust, and Centrepoint.
The environmental initiative also hopes to make a dent in the 1.5 million pounds of guitar string metal which ends up in landfill every year.
Fife musician Tunstall was on of the first artists to donated strings to the project, saying it was a "real beacon of light in a world full of disposable products and feeling helpless when faced with our bigger, global problems".
She added: "They something that musicians usually just throw away and turn it into really meaningful and cool keepsakes, whilst at the same time helping all of us contribute towards great charities."
Other artists who have donated to the project include Duran Duran, the Darkness, Pendulum, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Enter Shikari, Stereophonics, Twin Atlantic, Toto, Steve Hackett, Marillion, and the late guitarist Alvin Lee.
Founder Ian Rendall, a senior music executive for 17 years, said: "We've been overwhelmed by the response to our initiative and we know the fans are going to love the products. When we had the idea for the Guitarwrist, it was always our intention to grow the project in as many directions as possible, helping us to optimise the fund raising possibilities."
Each handmade piece of jewellery comes with a letter of authentication, together with where the strings were used by the donating musician.
Designers Emma and Kitty Hedley also use recycled and ethically sources gold and gemstones where possible.
Tunstall, who is known for her hits Black Horse and the Cherry Tree and Suddenly I See, had previously kept a low-key figure since 2013, living in Los Angeles and writing songs for films like Million Dollar Arm, Winter's Tale and Bad Moms.
However she recently performed at the Kelvingrove Bandstand as well as part of the celebratory event for the opening of the new Queensferry Crossing and after releasing a new album last year.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel