Upcycled Domino Jazz Brooch

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!

Bakelite Jazz Series

I had the greatest fun making these!

Louis and Ella, are the first in my Jazz series of recycled pendants and brooches.

Louis is constructed from a painted wooden bead, vintage buttons, Bakelite beads and cabochons, and is holding a vintage sterling silver trumpet.

Ella too is made from a painted wooden bead, vintage plastic button, Bakelite beads and cabochons, fabric and she holds a sterling silver cocktail glass.

These two make beautiful music together – but can be worn separately. They hark back to the articulated plastic jewellery of the 40’s and 50’s which I love so much.

Other band members will be made from vintage Bakelite dominoes – once I’ve sourced some good ones.

Self Help for Plastic Addicts

How about some work in progress, it’s Spring and I’m dabbling in new projects. I’ve always had a fascination for decorative plastics, I loved to buy cheap gum ball charms and rings as a kid. I love threading plastic beads - there’s nothing too precious about plastic jewellery, you can lose a piece and it won’t break the bank - unless of course it’s a one off Vintage Bakelite creation.

There’s plenty of informative blogs about the birth of early plastics and their use in fashion. I have fond memories of the weight and clunky sound of Bakelite - it’s quite distinctive, as is the smell of the warmed plastic. We had quite a few bits and bobs of Bakelite in my family home as a kid - light fittings, my dad’s razor box, electrical plugs - all in that swirled slightly dour muddy brown colour.

I look out for early plastic pins or brooches on my vintage fair forages and I’ve had a few successes, but not many. I’ve taken to drooling over Bakelite crib toys and articulated pins online - it’s become quite an addiction, so in the time honoured tradition of self-help I’ve decided to make my own.

I’ve got quite a collection of vintage buttons and findings and I’m thinking of investing in a small hand ‘Rota-tool’ for drilling and cutting. I’ve got quite a chunky cordless Makita, which is just a bit too hefty - a relic of my scenery making days

I ordered some beautiful Bakelite beads from Etsy - you really have to see them up close to see how glorious the colours are - like highly polished jelly beans. 

The guy on the left is a prototype, the doodle if you will. The more rotund jazz guy on the right will be the finished model with painted face, complete with silver trumpet dangling from his hand. Most of his components are Vintage Plastic. I’m making a jazz gal too - a la Ms Baker, with banana skirt. Both come with a pin on the reverse so I can wear them on jackets and coats. 

Watch this space for the completed jazz duo - sometime soon I hope.