Friday, November 25, 2011

Dangling Red Cherry Bakelite Jewelry and Mom's Treasure Box


My faux vintage Bakelite inspired Red Cherry Necklace and other faux Bakelite cherry jewelry pieces including a Short Stem Necklace version and various color chain options, earrings, bracelet and Cherry Bar Brooch are available for sale at MelodyODesigns at Etsy

Mom had a jewelry box on her dresser. It wasn't fancy. Given that she grew up during the depression I think it might have been handmade by one of her brothers from simple stained pine wood. However, to me as a young child, that simple treasure box and it's contents were every bit as exciting as playing with the crown jewels might have been for some other child. It opened up a world of interesting shapes, textures and marvelous bright colors. I remember playing with the treasures in her box whenever I could manage to sneak a peek and dreaming of wearing them someday. I'd quietly clamber up on a chair to reach the dresser, open the lid on the jewelry box, and retreat into my own world. Ah, the colors! She liked the color blue a lot, but it was her collection of bright cherry red Bakelite pieces of the 1940's that totally captured my attention and imagination. I remember big chunky red earrings, awesome buttons, a red bangle bracelet, and.........






SOLD

a dangling yellow disc necklace, oh how I loved the many DANGLING pieces in her collection............


SOLD

and butterscotch hoop earrings.



At the end of my mom's life things were in chaos and I never found out what happened to her jewelry box and the contents. I can only hope that they ended up in the hands of someone who appreciated it as much as I did.

I had forgotten about the jewelry box and my love affair with red Bakelite jewelry until I saw two episodes of "Antiques Roadshow" on PBS. One featured the well-known vintage Cherry Jubilee necklace of bright red dangling Bakelite cherries and the other the classic Cherry Bar Brooch with suspended cherries. They made my heart sing. I desperately wanted to own them, however, they are in scarce supply, usually have extremely damaged stems and sell for a great deal of money ($500-$1,000+).............so...........I made my own reproductions using artist-quality polymer clay with sturdy green stereo wire stems, antique brass wire, and modern PVC chain. People noticed when I wore them and wanted their own, so...........

Nowadays I handcraft and sell reproductions of classic vintage Bakelite cherry jewelry at my shop. The reproductions remain true to the spirit of the originals and I'm proud to say that I discovered an uncredited photograph of my recent work (2009) in a gallery of online photos featuring the "best of the vintage Bakelite jewelry from the the 1940's"!

Red Cherry faux Bakelite necklace reproduction with green chain and whimsical tiny Ladybugs


Red Cherry faux Bakelite reproduction necklace in the Short Stem version

Red Cherry faux Bakelite Bar Brooch reproduction

Red Cherry faux Bakelite Earring reproduction Bold version

Red Cherry faux Bakelite Earring reproduction Dainty version

Red Cherry faux Bakelite Bracelet reproduction

Friday, November 11, 2011

Anita's ArtFire Blow Out Sale Everything 25-50% off

EDITED: sale price will return to normal January 1, 2012

I'd like to invite you to a Holiday Blowout Sale at my online shop with prices now slashed 25-50% off EVERYTHING in the shop (except my husband's cat book). I will probably not be re-stocking some items, so if there's something you've been wanting, please hurry on over. Many items will now be OOAK (one of a kind), and once sold, will be gone forever. Below is only a small sample of some of the delightful items you will find on sale at
MelodyODesigns at Etsy



 Red Christmas Cat Angel Holiday Ornament

Vintage Bakelite inspired Red Cherry Necklace

Sedona Faux Red Rock Road Runner Pendant Necklace


Monarch Butterfly Autumn Leaf Necklace
 
Sedona Faux Red Rock Necklace with horse, kokopelli, coyote and roadrunner


Sedona Faux Red Rock Earrings with Dragonfly and Cactus
 
Smiling Cat in Garden Necklace with ladybugs

Dangling Hot Chili Peppers with Ladybugs Necklace

Smiling Cat Black and White pendant Necklace 

 Cinco de Mayo Yellow Fiesta Bead with dragonfly, butterfly and ladybug 

 Monarch Butterfly Blue Morning Glory with ladybugs Necklace
 Smiling Blue and Lavender Cat Convertible Pin to Pendant Necklace

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Bead Necklace with butterflies, dragonflies and ladybugs