MelodyODesigns' Faux Bakelite Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 4 and the new Short Stemmed Cherry Necklace that Ann-Marie helped design

Chic Anne-Marie from Australia looking stylish and lovely wearing her new SHORT STEM version of the Faux Bakelite Cherry Necklace Reproduction from MelodyODesigns at Etsy that we designed together especially for her.

Many years ago I saw a segment of "Antiques Roadshow" on PBS television that featured a iconic vintage Bakelite Red Cherry Necklace from the 1940's. It was love at first sight, but the price of the necklace in good condition at the time was around $1,000, well outside my modest budget. Because I was already making jewelry from polymer clay I decided to see if I could make a reproduction. It was so successful that once people saw it and found out I had made it they wanted one of their own.

My seven piece Faux Bakelite Cherry Jewelry Collection grew from there. Each new piece in the collection was inspired by a customer who had seen a vintage piece of Cherry Bakelite jewelry and asked me to make a custom reproduction for them, because they either couldn't afford the vintage piece or couldn't find a piece in good enough condition to purchase (the stems are typically disintegrating).

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Anne-Marie from Australia who had previously purchased my Bold Faux Bakelite Cherry Earrings. She sent me a photo of a vintage Bakelite Cherry Necklace with very short stems and asked if I could reproduce it so she could wear it with her earrings. After corresponding back and forth the design came together and now a new short stem version has been added to the collection.

The short stem version of the necklace is also available with a green or black chain.

All seven pieces of the Faux Bakelite Cherry Reproduction Jewelry, including a longer stemmed version of the necklace (in various colors of chain), cherry bar brooch, bracelet,  and a dainty pair of earrings are available at  MelodyODesigns at Etsy

If you haven't already seen them you might also enjoy reading:
MelodyODesigns' Faux Bakelite 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 2

Fabulous and Flirty Pin Up girl Kirstin wearing my faux Bakelite vintage inspired cherry necklace from the faux vintage Bakelite inspired Red Cherry Jewelry Reproduction Collection at and MelodyODesigns at Etsy (photo courtesy of Studio Betties Pinup and Boudoir Photography, Minneapolis, MN)

I love it when I have the opportunity to get to know my customers a little bit. When they have questions or customization requests there are often a number of emails that go back and forth. So, sometime customers share how they intend to wear the jewelry piece and for what the special occasion they are planning on wearing it. I consider myself VERY LUCKY when I have the opportunity share their vision and actually end up seeing a photo of the customer wearing the jewelry. Kirstin contacted me because she was planning a Pin Up photo shoot around a cherry theme and says she loves dressing in retro/pin up/vintage. She is clearly a woman with a super sense of style and the presence to successfully pull off "THE LOOK" so beautifully....not to mention CHARMING the camera.

Celebrating"Antiquing Day" with galfriends Audrey, Susan, Jennie, Shari and Kirstin (wearing her Cherry Necklace and Cherry Bar Brooch that add the perfect touch to her awesome vintage Poodle Skirt Ensemble.)

In the ongoing saga of the "connections" that have been developing among my customer (see
Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Part 1)........Melanie of Lorelei's Vintage Shop at Etsy had spotted Kate wearing my cherry necklace at Disneyland, contacted me and purchased a customized cherry necklace. I wrote a customer appreciation blog article on that included Lorelei's Vintage and featured a super special cherry top Melanie had designed for her shop to compliment my necklace. I had already almost finished writing this blog article about Kirstin when she saw the article about Melanie and Lorelei's Vintage. She discovered she loves their clothing designs and purchased one of their "Va Va Voom" bustier tops in black to go with her capris and cherry necklace, so we HAD to ask for photos to share with readers.    

I was thrilled to receive the following fabulous split screen photo from SB illustrating her "take" on the Cherry Bar Brooch's listing description: "It commands equal attention whether paired with a corporate suit or modern blue jeans." She wrote, "I wore it all week long and it looked great with almost everything in my closet." What a fun photo and I'm so grateful that she shared it.

SB shown wearing her versatile faux Bakelite Cherry Bar Brooch from MelodyODesigns at Etsy

Kirstin showing her Cherry Bar Brooch and Necklace

I plan on sharing more favorite customer appreciation stories in the next few months. If you haven't already read them, you might enjoy reading
Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Part1, 

Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 3  

Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 4

and also heartwarming story about one of my favorite customers and Cubs fans Diane, her dad Bob and the baseball necklace.

MelodyODesigns' Faux Bakelite Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 1

Elegant customer Kate in her lovely cherry ensemble with cherry jewelry from the from the faux vintage Bakelite inspired Red Cherry Jewelry Reproduction Collection at
  MelodyODesigns at Etsy. She is escorted by debonair Terry at Disneyland's "Dapper Day".

Over the years I've been blessed with some very special customers, especially the fans of my faux Bakelite cherry jewelry. I thought it would be fun to share a bit of their stories, because they are such interesting people and I've enjoyed getting to know them just a little bit on a personal level. The customers I'd like to feature today have two thing in common.....they love vintage fashion and they know how to make "the look" work. 

My initial contact with Kate came via an unexpected telephone call. I don't know how she tracked me down, but I had a wonderful long chat with her as she explained that she was creating a cherry fashion ensemble to wear to Disneyland for "Dapper Day" and inquired about customizations she wanted. I was fascinated as she explained that Dapper Day is a fashionable gathering held a couple of times a year at Disneyland that seeks to turn back the clock to a time where people would only be seen out in public in their finest most dapper attire. I love the look she created and think this is such a wonderful photo! Kate was so enthusiastic about my jewelry that she actually handed out some of my business cards when she was at Disneyland........................

...........but I was still surprised when I was contacted by Melanie of "Lorelei's Vintage" asking about my cherry jewelry and inquiring if I could customize a necklace for her (black chain vs my usual red or green chain.....I easily could). It seems that she had seen Kate in her cherry finery at Disneyland, asked her about it and gotten my business card. I absolutely love the serendipity of life (and delightful customers)! Lorelei's Vintage at Etsy is a unique shop specializing in Vintage and Vintage Inspired clothing and accessories for Women and Girls that evoke the Classic Glamour of Old Hollywood. Her designs are so feminine in an elegant and glamorous way with a 40's and 50's old Hollywood bombshell kind of flavor. 

Since Melanie is a big fan of both vintage and cherries she combined the two into a fabulous new 1950's style Shaheen-inspired Cherry Bomb Glamor Top that's for sale at her shop. She designed it specifically to coordinate with my cherry jewelry. It also comes in Black and White. (S-XL) and the price is $44. In honor of the cherry lovers who are reading my blog she is graciously offering 10% off in her shop through July 25, 2014. The offer code is CHERRYLOVER 

I'm also a fan of her Va Va Voom Bustier top paired with the  Lorelei Skirt from Lorelei's Vintage shown here with my MelodyODesigns' Cherry Necklace.

If you haven't already read it you might also enjoy reading 
Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 2 
     
Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 3 

Cherry Jewelry Customer Appreciation Day Part 4

and also the heartwarming story about one of my favorite customers and Cubs fans Diane, her dad Bob and the baseball necklace.

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

Faux Bakelite Cherries Jubilee Necklace #1

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, 2 styles of earrings, bracelet and Cherry Bar Brooch is available for sale at MelodyODesigns at Etsy

Faux Bakelite Inspired Cherry Necklace made with  GREEN chain and......

tiny whimsical ladybugs (which can be omitted)

I love the way the dangling cherries move when the necklace is worn.

Today we are offering cherries in honor of George Washington and President’s Day which is fast approaching. My husband and I enjoy watching “Antiques Roadshow” on PBS where I was first introduced to vintage Bakelite jewelry, specifically the “Cherries Jubilee” series, a pricey collectible from circa 1940 with an asking price of $1000 for a mint condition necklace. I immediately fell in love with it and thought that the design could translate into an affordable poly clay version.  The cherries and leaves were made from PREMO poly clay, mega hand-sanded and hand-buffed. Six thin coats of Varathane varnish were then applied to both the cherries and leaves, each coat heat set.  The stems are made from green stereo wire. The delicate 1/2" plastic chain links are a modern reproduction of Bakelite-era chain. The ladybugs were made from PC and acrylic paint. 

This bracelet was made as a surprise gift for my “oh so talented” friend Jana who happens to like the “Cherries Jubilee” series of vintage Bakelite jewelry as much as I do. Photograph courtesy of Jana. The following link will take you to new UPDATE:
A post on a the birth of new cherry bracelet now available from my shops

EDITED: You might enjoy reading the following more recent  follow-up post on my mom's jewelry box and my cherry Bakelite-inspired jewelry reproductions:
"Dangling Red Cherry Bakelite Jewelry and Mom's Treasure Box"

UPDATE:........a Cherry Bar Brooch and an updated Cherry Bracelet have now joined my Faux Bakelite Cherry Necklace and Earring Collection in my shop:  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

Embroidered skirt with Necklace from Polymer Clay

I re-constructed a lovely vintage black embroidered circle skirt (probably  from the 50's) that I  had purchased and then set out to see if I could recreate the vintage embroidery design in a polymer clay necklace to wear with the skirt to complete the ensemble.

The necklace is constructed of various PREMO polymer clay floral components attached to a base of hand-sewn macramé cording. The ladybugs are made of PC and acrylic paint. By command performance after the fact (thanks Cat and Sue C) here's a photo of the ensemble together.

To read a post about a pink poppies floral necklace that was also inspired by vintage fabric please click.