MelodyODesigns Faux Bakelite Cherry Necklace Customer Appreciation Day Part 5, Nozomy

Valued Customer Nozomy looking vintage glamorous in her Faux Bakelite Cherry Necklace from MelodyODesigns at Etsy

Anita (the "Melody" in MelodyODesigns): I'm so blessed that I have the most special of customers and they are what drives my passion for my business. I recently found a wonderful and unexpected gift waiting for me when I happened to visit the blog of a lovely customer named Nozomy who had purchased my Short Stem Bakelite Cherry Reproduction Necklace a week earlier. She had enthusiastically written about her experience, complete with awesome photos. It was such a kind and thoughtful surprise that really made my day and still causes me to smile when I think about it. To read her "Cherry Story" in its entirety and see her photos of the experience, please clink Nozomy's tumblr blog.  I really love it when I have the opportunity to interact with customers. It fuels my creative juices and the Internet has made it possible to have contact with customers from all over the world.

The following is Nozomy's story in her own words of how her love affair with Bakelite jewelry began.

Nozomy:
"Essentially I love sparkly things as the many other girls do, but my only problem is that I have metal allergy. So I can never wear fashion jewelries, and had been wearing only silver, gold and platinum jewelries for decades. I am Japanese and I become obsessed with kimono which is Japanese traditional clothing 5 years ago, and then I moved to the US, next thing I fell in love was vintage fashion especially 40's and 50's is so fascinating. I started buying vintage dresses, purses, shoes, hats... but sadly never the fashion jewelries."

"One day, I found plastic-look fashion jewelries in a show case, and learned the word "Bakelite". I thought it was way pricey for the plastic, but now I've learned the value. Also I found out that there is Bakelite reproduction, they are more affordable and in perfect condition. I did a lot of research, and finally I found my dream cherry necklace on Etsy and that was made by Anita! I am looking forward to this coming summer to wear the cherry necklace and my summer cotton dresses!!"

Anita: As I read Nozomys blog I realized that she is a talented artisan, creating LOVELY, unique, and special crocheted and knitted fashions and accessories from her own designs that bring to mind vintage times gone by. I asked her about her pieces.

Nozomy:
"My grandma taught me how to crochet when I was 7 or 8 years old. Since then I have been keeping the hobby: I think I really like to knit and crochet! I came up with an idea to make crocheting accessories about 5 yeas ago, but I wasn't really serious and I made a couple of little flower earrings and I was done. I reconsidered to make them again 1 year ago, and then this time it came to real."

"I made earrings, hair combs of white flowers, strawberries and hollies for Christmas. All hand crocheted and starched. I made the pattern by myself. Everything is original and I don't think there'd be anything similar around the world."

"Also, these days I have been trying out vintage patterns, I especially love lace gloves because they are so pretty!!"

Nozomy: "I hope to own my shop selecting my original accessories and vintage pattern gloves/purses/hats in the future."

Anita: When Nozomy is ready to launch her shop, the info will be posted on her tumblr blog and I will also edit in the URL link here as well. I hope it happens soon, because I think her lovely, unique and special original design creations will attract many happy customers to her shop.

The seven pieces of my Faux Bakelite Red Cherry Jewelry Reproductions Collection are available at MelodyODesigns at Etsy

If you haven't already seen them you might also enjoy reading:

MelodyODesigns' Faux Bakelite  Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 1

MelodyODesigns' Faux Bakelite Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 2 

 MelodyODesigns' Faux Bakelite Cherry Jewelry Customer Apreciation Day Part 3

MelodyODesigns' Faux Bakelite Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 4

Happy Early Valentine's Day in Polymer Clay to Cat Lovers and a Tribute to Cats!

As an early Valentine's Day celebration today we are paying tribute to cats and their adoptive "parents". Many years ago when I designed the very first cat in my Cat Collection it was just a whimsical cat pendant necklace (no wings or halo) intended to pay tribute to all the cats and cat angels who were important members of our family over the years, especially the departed and much loved black cat named Stormy.

Stormy in mom's loving arms

Then, several years ago, I needed an angel for the top of a cat themed Christmas tree for our local animal shelter, so I embellished the existing at cat pendant necklace with wings and a halo and it become the prototype for the "Angel Cats" hanging ornaments that eventually became part of my Cat Collection. Since then I've been so gratified to find that Angel Cats have brought comfort to dozens of grieving "cat parents" who hang them as a remembrance of their beloved kitties who have passed over the Rainbow Bridge to Catnip Heaven. Customers have written that they have hung them on Christmas trees, on houseplants, in windows, suspended them over computers, hung them on special metal ornament stands on their desks and one was even included in a special "remembrance shrine", all in memory of their special feline friends and the love of their lives.

The following are three stories of my Angel Cats ornaments that I especially treasure; stories of REAL angel cats and their "people".

Bonnie shared her life with a VERY handsome gold tiger cat named Booboo who had been her best friend for almost 20 years. He talked to her non-stop all day, especially when Bonnie was talking on the phone trying to carry on a conversation.

He always had to sit on her desk whenever she was working on the computer and Booboo would hold Bonnie's thumb when she was using the mouse.

Bonnie adopted Booboo on Halloween and her Angel Cat ornament is symbolically black and orange. She handmade this lovely "remembrance shrine" for him from polymer clay, complete with his favorite rubber toy balls. If you look at the top right you'll see his Angel Cat.

Jay had a beloved cat and constant companion named Blackie. Jay was actually the person who bestowed the name of "Angel Cat" to the ornaments and he was the first person to request a custom made Angel Cat to honor his Blackie. His black and white Angel Cat is suspended over his desk where it grins at him constantly reminding him of his much loved departed companion who is now, "resting off the edge of the patio with a marker of an angel with a cat in her lap that says, "Always in our Hearts".

Of Blackie Jay writes, "Blackie would sleep beside me until he discovered my pillow. I had to buy king size pillows so he would be comfortable. Many times I would wake up with a paw on my face with him still sound asleep. If I was still sleeping when he got hungry in the morning(6AM), he would tap me on the cheek as if to say,"Wat cha gotta do to get some grub in this joint?Animal abuse. SPCA."After breakfast it was like, "Not bad if that was all you had." I still wake up sometimes and check the pillow to see where he is. He would sit behind my head on the recliner to watch TV. Many times he would put his paw on my shoulder or play with my ear. Got bored watching TV. I miss him so much. I'm glad he let me live with him. He's out of this life but still very much in my heart."

Sara designed and created this lovely Christmas tree decorated with different colors of Angel Cats for her sister who had recently lost two of her beloved cats. I was told that her sister liked it so much that, " She kept it on the whole time she was here." I can see why!

The Valentine Angel Cat hanging ornament and a Valentine Cat pendant necklace that converts to a brooch are both available for purchase at MelodyODesigns at Etsy

The angel cat ornament was featured at: Jillys Handmade Heaven

FYI: Our cat, Stormy, (pictured in my arms near the top of the blog post) wrote a book with assistance from my husband, Sy, called "Life Is a Hammock". All the profits from the book sales benefit the Kreutz Creek Library (PA) and the Adopt For Life Center for Animals in Cottonwood (AZ). It is illustrated with photo cartoons that make for delightful light reading and is the perfect gift for any animal lover. The book can be purchased at MelodyODesigns at Etsy


Sy has made the book available on consignment at cost to animal shelters around the country to use as a fundraiser. For information on the consignment program please click on Life is a Hammock and read the info down the right side of the home page.

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

Red Hot Chile Chili Pepper Necklace from Polymer Clay

Red Pepper Necklace available at MelodyODesigns at Etsy 

This necklace pays tribute to the Arizona red chile pepper and my love of chili and Southwestern cuisine. All the components were hand crafted from PREMO polymer clay. The veins on the leaves were made by imprinting real leaves onto the clay and were highlighted by antiquing with acrylic paint. The shine on the peppers was achieved by applying several coats of water-based varnish (indoor use Varathane) to the cured PC. Each bead was hand made and was textured by carefully rolling the raw bead on very coarse sandpaper. To create the subtle variety of color that appear in nature the beads are made in three slightly different tints of green. 18 gauge green wire was used to craft the wirework. The ladybugs were made using PC and acrylic paint.

Red Chili pepper necklace shown being worn. Perfect for both dancing the Salsa and eating it!

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Necklace from Polymer Clay

I remember the joy and  excitement of the fiestas that I experienced as a child and wanted to capture that feeling in a high gloss faux glazed pottery necklace.  Though difficult to capture the "glassy"shine in a photo, these beads are sometimes mistaken for Italian glass when I wear them. Actually, the beads and all the tiny, intricate designs are painstakingly handmade from artist-quality polymer clay.

The necklace features tiny appliqued butterflies, hearts,

bright flowers,

Dragonflies,

and Ladybugs.

To keep the weight of the necklace as light as possible the beads were constructed on a bead core base of Sculpey "Ultralight". Once cured,  a veneer of PREMO polymer clay run through an Atlas  Pasta Machine set on #3 (medium thickness setting) was applied using 2 circle cutter cutouts per bead and the bead was re-cured.

Various appliques of canes and tiny pieces of clay were added using "Kato Liquid Polyclay" as "glue" and the appliques were lightly cured to keep them in place with a crafter's heat gun. The entire bead and appliques was then coated with a thin layer of "Kato Liquid Polyclay" applied with a small paintbrush to mimic ceramic glaze and then cured. Six coats of Varathane polyacrylic varnish were applied with a slightly moist makeup sponge, each coat briefly heat set. Then a mixture of Varathane and Mona Lisa pale gold metal powder was applied with a "used up" ball  point pen refill to make the gold dots.

The spacer beads are PC tube beads formed around a narrow copper welding rod used as a mandrel, cured, sanded, buffed and varnished with Varathane, and cut apart using a heavy duty craft knife. My wonderful husband Sy, who has a great eye, is responsible for the eventual stringing design using the matching spacer beads. Feliz Cinco de Mayo! This necklace was featured at "Polymer Clay Daily".
http://polymerclaydaily.com/2010/05/21/brandons-faux-mexican-pottery/

Cinco de Mayo fiesta necklace shown being worn. 
 This Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Necklace is currently available for sale at: MelodyODesigns at Etsy

Faux Bakelite Cherry Bar Brooch #1

Vintage Bakelite inspired Modern Reproduction of the Cherry Bar Brooch 

This faux Bakelite bar brooch was inspired by the classic vintage Bakelite Cherry Bar Brooch from the late 1930's and early 1940's. I originally designed for a client who saw my Faux Bakelite Cherries Necklace and wanted a reproduction of the iconic brooch that was part of the original Bakelite cherry jewelry set.  It is constructed from artist-quality polymer clay, stereo wire and delicate1/2" plastic chain links. To read about the construction of the faux Bakelite cherry collection please click here.

This brooch was featured on Clay Play Cafe

EDITED 1/9/15 My expanded  faux vintage Bakelite inspired Red Cherry Jewelry Collection that now includes both a Long and Short Stem Necklace version and various color chain options, earrings, bracelet and Cherry Bar Brooch is available for sale at MelodyODesigns at Etsy

Valentine's Day Necklace from Polymer Clay

I wanted to capture the romanticism of the vintage Victorian Valentine’s Day cards I loved as a child. The white “collar” part was made from a very thin sheet of Kato Pearl poly clay and constructed in five individual pieces attached together with “articulated joints” so that it’s flexible and moves with the wearer rather than being stiff and bulky. It was impressed with a texture sheet made from a rubber stamped doily design. The leaves and roses were molded from PREMO poly clay and accented with gold “Rub ‘n Buff”. The edges of the doily were accented with a Krylon gold leafing pen. The collar was then loosely tacked (hand-sewn) to a backing made from sewn macramé cording to give it more strength. The ladybugs were made from PC and acrylic paint.