Editor’s Note: We invite artists and reuse enthusiasts to share their stories about growing a sustainable movement or small business while making a positive difference for the planet. The beautiful work in this article was created by Simone Cabral.
I’m an artist based in Bloomington, IN, and I give discarded aluminum coffee pods a second life by transforming them into handmade jewelry and small art pieces.
Each piece begins with used coffee pods collected from my community, materials that were never meant to last beyond a single use. Before any design work begins, the pods must be cleaned, sanitized, flattened, cut, folded, and shaped entirely by hand. They arrive dented, stained, and inconsistent, carrying the marks of their previous life. Learning how to work with those imperfections, rather than erasing them, was one of my first challenges.
Coffee pods are lightweight but sharp, fragile but stubborn. Early on, I spent a lot of time testing how the aluminum responds to pressure, movement, and long-term wear. The goal was never just to reuse the material, but to do so responsibly, creating pieces that are comfortable, durable, and meant to be worn often, not treated as fragile statements.
Crafting, Learning, and Building Trust
I’ve been intentionally learning and practicing upcycling since 2021, combining hands-on experimentation with my professional background as a technician in environmental sanitation. Along the way, I also received training with a Brazilian jewelry designer, which helped me refine my techniques, understand balance and movement, and translate raw, unconventional materials into intentional, wearable forms.
One ongoing challenge in working with reused materials is building credibility and helping people understand the value of the work. Because the material itself is familiar and often associated with waste, some people initially struggle to separate its origin from the skill, time, and knowledge required to transform it. I’ve learned that transparency is key. When people see the process, understand the training involved, and experience the finished piece firsthand, the conversation shifts from “What is this made from?” to “How was this made?”
While I’ve seen coffee pods reused by other artists online, since I started repurposing them, I haven’t encountered others working with this material at the in-person art fairs I’ve attended.
Story, Place, and the Human Side of Sustainability
Nature and place play a central role in my work. I draw inspiration from the northeast of Brazil, where I was born, and from Indiana, the place I now call home. These landscapes, one coastal and vibrant, the other grounded and quiet, influence the shapes, textures, and rhythm of my designs. The material may be industrial, but the inspiration is deeply organic.
Over time, I’ve learned that people connect most strongly to reuse through story and touch. Jewelry offers a unique entry point into conversations about sustainability. It’s personal and worn close to the body. When people learn where the material came from and how much time and intention went into transforming it, they begin to see waste not as an endpoint, but as something in transition.
I reach people primarily through in-person experiences at art fairs, workshops, and local retail spaces, where dialogue happens naturally. Sharing the full process, including the slow and often unglamorous steps, helps demystify reuse. Sustainability isn’t effortless, but it can be thoughtful, creative, and accessible.
What began as a small experiment at home has grown into a mindful, independent practice rooted in reuse, intention, and storytelling. When someone wears one of my pieces, they’re not just wearing jewelry. They’re engaging with a question: What if everyday materials still have something to offer?
My tagline is simple: Wear the change you want to see.
For me, that change starts small, with attention, care, and a willingness to look at waste differently.
About the Author
Simone Cabral is the founder of and artist behind By Soul & Hands. From the first sketch to the final package, Simone brings each creation to life through her own two hands — designing, crafting, and fulfilling every order with care.