All finished - my Domino Jazz brooches, Louis and Ella part of the Bakelite Jazz series. Upcycled from wooden beads, thrifted buttons, bakelite beads, brass fixings and plastic dominos.
I had hoped the dominoes were Bakelite, there were listed as such when I bought them - but you just *know* by the feel. Bakelite clunks, these dominoes didn't clunk.
The ultimate test was drill into the domino and sniff ... the drilling and heat would release the tell tale formaldehyde type smell if it was bakelite.
It wasn't. These dominoes are an early plastic.
Still - I don't love these two any less because of it.
I have fond memories of the warm bakelite smell from when I was a kid - there were enough bakelite electrical plugs and and fixtures around the house. We played a fair amount of dominoes too and still do once a year at the annual family gathering in the log cabin in Derbyshire (I won the tournament this year)!
If I can gather more old dominoes I'd love to create a whole jazz orchestra, my earlier brooch here had a vintage silver trumpet charm which I really love. One of the nicest things about this project is sourcing all the bits and pieces.
My daughter is wearing Louis on her lapel in this last shot and you can see the Guinness necklace she made in honour of St Patrick's Day today. Slainte!
