From Newsforge:

I got the idea for this project during a visit to a jewelry art exhibition. The artwork on display incorporated an amazing range of unconventional media, including rusted iron, precious stones and metals, wood, plastic, and the like. One of the most interesting creations among the "wearable art pieces" was a plastic object with a satin finish. I liked this satin effect so much that I decided to re-create it as a graphic material using the GIMP.

Read the full thing here