Today I learned that there are several ways to refer to a collective of keys depending on what type of image a person wants to invoke. According to Grammar Scope a Bunch of keys is perfect for informal, casual conversations, a Set of keys highlights organization and purpose, a Ring of keys is a visual and practical descriptor, a Bundle of keys is used for informal and loosely grouped collections, and a Cluster of keys is often used in poetic and imaginative contexts.

I’ve decided to go with Cluster for this latest key batch because I like the romance of something poetic and imaginative and feel that’s what I most want to convey with this 5000 key art project - something poetic and imaginative.

Key 2685 is made from a rusty can opener and several road finds: a rusty ball bearing with an earing bent around it at the top; a screw, a teeny spring, and a rusty part that I don’t know what it was for at the bottom. It is enhanced with bits of jewellery (most of which appear on the Other Side of this key). This key to me has real personality and attitude.

Key 2686 veers off into space with the coloured resin and sparkles in what was a glass locket at the top of the key. The shaft I cut off of what might have been part of a lock and embellished with bits of lock tumblers and chain. Other parts include a watch surround, necklace bits, the centre of a Dremel metal disc, beads, and a rhinestone.

Key 2687 is made up of more road finds and discarded objects: a clock dial, a washer (this is my most common find), more old screws, a Libra pendant, a Philips screwdriver, and various chain and jewellery bits.

Key 2688 is made from a very large Allen key, a chunky bracelet, a brooch, part of a pendant, a chain, and the end of a toffee hammer. The bracelet was originally green and the Allen wrench was blue and black. I didn’t like the look of the colours together for this key so I decided to paint those parts black and use Stuart Semple’s Shift paint on the shaft of the key. This magical paint reacts to heat and changes through the colours of the rainbow (think mood ring if you are old enough to remember what that is).

Key 2689 is made from sort of cap found on the road, old jewellery, lock tumbler bits, and part of a sign frame from a farm.

Key 2690 is made from a bicycle spoke, a collection of enamel coated rings, chains, a brooch, part of an earring, a fillagree piece, and bits of gold decoration and other very small pieces of detritus.

Key 2691 is made from a washer, a fancy gold piece of cutlery, a ring from a necklace, various rhinestone jewellery bits, and a very nice letter R pin.

Key 2692 is made with a sentimental bracelet (inscribed with “Some people come into our lives, leave footprints … …on our hearts, and we are never the same.”), a slot screwdriver, a guitar tuning key, a dragonfly pendant, chains, and jewellery bits.