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.........

AestheticsAndOldLace at ArtFire

VintageTreasuresFound at ArtFire

SOLD

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

SOLD

and butterscotch hoop earrings.

VintageTreasuresFound at ArtFire

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

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

Cat Angel Christmas Tree Ornaments from Polymer Clay and Animal Shelter Benefit

Red Angel Cat Christmas ornament

My husband, Sy Brandon, recently held a book reading and book signing to benefit our local humane society (more on that later on in the blog post.) At the book reading I set up my table beside Sy and sold pieces from my Cat Collection with the profits also benefiting the Humane Society. The day before the book reading I had the Christmas tree display already decorated and waiting to be transported when I realized  that the top of the tree really needed a special ornament...... something like an angel. That's the story of how the new Cat Angel ornaments came to be added to my Cat Collection.

Green Cat Angel Christmas tree ornament

Below is a photo of the Christmas tree displaying the Cat Ornaments just before the Humane Society sale began. Both Christmas Cats and Angel Cat are available for "adoption" in a variety of hanging ornament and jewelry versions along with cats of other colors at: MelodyODesigns at Etsy

Our family's Christmas tree decorated with holiday cat ornaments and a cat angel at the top.

My husband's book is called 'Life Is a Hammock'. It's an enjoyable tale of two cats that travel around the country on camping adventures with their adopted parents. It combines adventure and humor with photo cartoons to keep the reader smiling as they read. It is told through the voice of Stormy, a black cat with a small white patch on his chest and a deep Siamese voice who emigrated from Mexico to Tucson, Arizona to find his new home in the early 1970’s. All the profits from book sales benefit the Kreutz Creek Valley Library (PA) and the Adopt For Life Center for Animals in Cottonwood, Arizona.  

It makes for delightful light reading and is the perfect gift for any animal lover. A  Stormy's blog can be accessed at http://lifeisahammock.blogspot.com/

 
The book can be purchased at my  online shop MelodyODesigns at Etsy. Sy has made the book available on consignment at cost to Humane Societies around the country to use as a fund raiser. For information on this program please click on:  Life is a Hammock  and read down the right side of the home page.

Life is a Hammock by Sy Brandon

Sy recently had a book reading/signing to benefit the Verde Valley Adopt For Life Center (aka the Verde Valley Humane Society) held at Hooked On Books.  Hooked On Books is a terrific used book store that includes a large selection of books for children and also houses an extensive and AMAZING collection of vintage jewelry dating from the late 1800's to the present, all of which is for sale.  The proprietor, Larry Wolfe, really supports the local author and artist community. Hooked On Books is located at 148 S. Main St. in Cottonwood, AZ. Stop by the next time you're on your way to Sedona, say hi and check out his cool and unique shop.

Christmas Cat Jewelry and Ornaments from Polymer Clay and Studio Photos

Here in Arizona the temperature was over 100 F. until just a few days ago, but holiday merchandizing and gift buying have already started. So lately, being a cat lover,  I've been spending many hours in my own version of Santa's Workshop surrounded by hues of bright red and green as I designed the prototype pendants, brooches and tree ornaments for the our holiday Cat Collection. I thought it would be fun to show photos of my workshop as I unveil the photos of Mr. Christmas Cat, himself.

First I conditioned a whole lot of artist-quality polymer clay with a dead blow hammer and kept two pasta machines busy as I made a large selection of canes using different colors, and color combinations. Then the canes were then reduced to of variety of different diameters and shapes. Caning is a labor-intensive construction technique borrowed from glass making similar to making jellyrolls, where colored rods of clay are laid horizontally forming a complex pattern from which a thin slice is cut allowing the pattern to be seen.

The next step was slicing up a whole passel of thin cane slices cut with a tissue blade.

(My favorite tissue blades are those sold by Carolyn Stearns  at Carolyn's Clay Creations)

 

Then the body and head pieces were cut out of sheets of various clay thicknesses using an oak tag template and a craft knife. The body is 2 dimensional, but the head which is eventually attached to the body is gently coaxed into 3 dimensional features by the addition of tiny logs and balls of clay on the back side of the head. Then the contours of the face are gently sculpted with rubber shaping tools and fingers encased in rubber gloves.

I also use one of my favorite tools made from ball bearings glued to a piece of bamboo to help with the sculpting process. I use the 1/4" end to help with the eye sockets.

And now for the moment you've all been waiting for.........Drum roll please............ta da........here's Mr Christmas Cat. The version below is that of a pendant style necklace that easily converts to a brooch by removing the satin cord. He and his friends come with either a red or green body in various jewelry and Hanging Ornaments in several styles and  colors are now available for "adoption" and gift giving at MelodyODesigns at Etsy 

To read more about the making of the ornaments please click Ornament Blog Post

Mr. Green Christmas Cat

Worn as Brooch

Clever jewelry  finding that converts from pendant to brooch

Halloween Black Cat Necklace to Brooch Jewelry from Polymer Clay

Of Halloween ghosts and goblins........ black and orange cats. Halloween merchandise in already in stores so I thought it was the perfect time to create an orange and black  Halloween cat pendant necklace that converts to a brooch. He's crafted from artist-quality polymer clay and decorated with *canes. His "cat like" eyes are made from a "brain cane" and he has brush bristle whiskers.  There is a innovative finding on the back that allows it to be worn as either a brooch or a pendant. His devilish smile reminds me a lot of one of our beloved black cats who used to take great delight in welcoming Trick or Treaters. The piece  was a featured item September 16, 2011 at CraftGossip.com 

*Caning is a labor-intensive construction technique borrowed from glass making similar to making jellyrolls where colored rods of clay are laid horizontally forming a complex pattern from which a thin slice is cut allowing the pattern to be seen.

Halloween Cat shown worn as a necklace pendant

Halloween Cat shown worn as a brooch

This Halloween Cat comes with clever finding that allows the piece to be converted from pendant necklace to brooch.

This versatile feline is also available as a magnet

                                  All the Halloween goodies are for sale at MelodyODesigns at Etsy

Hamsa with Monarch Butterfly + Sunshine theme from Polymer Clay

I designed this new Hamsa wall hanging for our new home. If you'd  like one for your home, one last copy is available for sale at MelodyODesigns at Etsy

This Monarch Butterfly and Sunshine themed mosaic hamsa wall hanging was made as a belated housewarming gift for OUR house. It is 5 1/4" long and was created entirely from artist-quality polymer clay, glass seed beads, and "aquamarine", "topaz" and  "ruby" antique glass jewels that were so generously shared with me by polymer clay artist and clay pal, Scott Mizevitz, who got them from his grandfather's new old stock.

The hamsa or hamesh is an ancient Middle Eastern amulet symbolizing the Hand of God. In both Jewish and Islamic traditions the hamsa hand is thought to be a powerful talisman believed to bring it's owner happiness, peace, luck, health, good fortune and prosperity. In the Jewish faith many people believe the hamsa pendant symbolizes the "Hand of Miriam", the sister of Moses and Aaron. In the Islamic faith, the hamsa hand can symbolize The "Hand of Fatima", daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. Hamsa hands frequently contain the symbol of an eye which is seen as powerful protection against the "evil eye". It is often hung at the entry way of a home.

Click here to see my blog post about another Hamsa I made as a house warming gift for a friend whose house burned down that incorporates antique nails found in the ashes :Jeweled Mosaic Hamsa 

Jeweled Mosaic Hamsa Polymer clay + beading from Polymer Clay

A Housewarming Hamsa made for my friend utilizing antique nails found in the ashes of her burned out  house.

I created this jeweled and beaded mosaic hamsa as a housewarming present for a dear friend whose home burned down 20 months ago. I wanted to replace her hamsa/"Hand of Fatima" that was lost in the fire. She was finally able to rebuild and her new home is almost ready. I incorporated three antique hand-forged nails that were found in the ashes of the burned out home site into the design. Her new house is as unique and special as my friend. She designed it so there are almost no 90% angles. Each room is painted a different saturated vibrant color making for a virtual "Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors" visual experience.  The outside of the house is painted a slightly grayed purple that is vibrant in the sun with a bright red door and burgundy trim and roof.

To celebrate her new home I created this hamsa which utilizes the colors scheme of her home and reminds me of her; spiritual, vibrant and VERY much alive. If one looks closely they can see symbols of things that are important to her: musical notes, a sunflower, butterflies, the paw print of a dog, hearts, the words "Peace" and "Love", and ivy leaves (to symbolize friendship).

This 5 1/4" hamsa was created entirely from artist-quality polymer clay, glass beads, and "aquamarine", "topaz" and  "ruby" antique glass jewels that were so generously shared with me by polymer clay artist and clay pal, Scott Mizevitz.

Click here to see my blog post about the Hamsa I made for our own home which is available for sale: Monarch Butterfly and Sunshine Hamsa

I was indirectly inspired to make this hamsa by the work of 4 polymer clay artists and I wish to thank them for sharing their lovely work:
Rev Byrd at Byrd's Words angel-rising small shrine
Marie Young at Creative Sprinkle Office Desk Shrine
Naama Zamir Mosaic Hamsa
Iris Mishly's Hamsa Pages

The hamsa or hamesh is an ancient Middle Eastern amulet symbolizing the Hand of God. In both Jewish and Islamic traditions the hamsa hand is thought to be a powerful talisman believed to bring it's owner happiness, peace, luck, health, good fortune and prosperity. In the Jewish faith many people believe the hamsa pendant symbolizes the Hand of Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron. In the Islamic faith, the hamsa hand can symbolize The Hand of Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. Hamsa hands frequently contain the symbol of an eye which is seen as powerful protection against the "evil eye". It is often hung on the front door of a home.

My friend hopes to post pictures of her new home once it is completed later this summer:
http://hartsongnotes.wordpress.com/

Orange Cat Polymer Clay Pin Pendant Necklaces

 Orange Cat convertible pin pendant is my new ArtFire avatar.

 Introducing our colorful, cheerful, charming, polymer clay Mr. Orange  Cat who is proud to have been chosen as the avatar for our new ArtFire studio shop.  He and the other bright and cheerful cats in our Cat Collection  were created to celebrate the joys of being owned by a cat. Except for the realistic whiskers, all the components of the pieces were made using PREMO polymer clay. Cane slices were applied to the raw PC body before it was cured using Liquid PC. The whisker are from a "faux natural bristle" hair brush and were made by curing the face  with small wires in place (the relative diameter of the hair brush bristle). After curing, the wires were  removed and the bristle was glued in the tiny hole with a tiny dap of "Zap-A-Gap" cyanoacrylic glue. The cats eyes are made from a "brain cane" reduced to a very small size. They are made entirely from artist-quality polymer clay and have a clever finding on their backs that allows them to be converted from a pendant to a brooch by simply removing the silky rayon cord. Mr. Orange Cat will be hanging out  at ArtFire along with a bevy of other colorful feline sidekicks waiting to be adopted and is for Cat Collection. (EDITED: Mr Orange Cat and some of his friends now hang out at MelodyODesigns at Etsy)

Convertible pin to pendant shown from the back.