Leaf Collection, Sharon Bailey

Here is the oak leaf set from Sharon Bailey's Bakelite earrings in silver. She forms the leaves in a traditional cast and hand wraps each acorn in silver wire. Each piece is detailed by hand to an exacting finish. She then applies liver of sulphur to give them a slight patina, which brings out the depth of each set of Bakelite earrings.

Sharon has introduced this nature collection after being inspired by the plants near her home near the Blue Ridge Parkway in north Asheville. In addition to her Bakelite earrings in oak she has matching pendants, bracelets, and a variety of other plants found in the mountains near here. The acorns are a smokey looking mustard yellow and are available in silver as well as the vintage Bakelite.



Here is the silver version of oak leaf earrings. More of her Bakelite earrings in silver include Black-eyed Susan, Cherokee Rose, Sassafras, and Tulip Poplar.

Bakelite Heart Necklace

Heart jewelry never goes out of style. This silver Bakelite necklace by Sharon Bailey is one of her heart jewelry line that shows how vibrant Bakelite can be. I can't think of a better material to make a red heart then this one. Well, affordable material, that is. Its a deep, opaque red that shines next to the handmade patina silver.

Its interesting to note that Bakelite is not made any longer. All Bakelite used is from vintage stock that is getting harder to find. Jewelry like this Bakelite necklace are gaining in popularity while the material is diminishing. The first synthetic plastic, Bakelite was first made in the 20's and put into almost anything. Now, with cheaper production methods and materials it has disappeared from use, except for use as an art form, where its vibrancy and durability are still valued.

Sharon's red Bakelite necklace is an example of the beauty possible with this material. Below are more examples from her Bakelite heart collection.


"Pierced Heart" Bakelite neckace


"Key to My Heart" Bakelite bracelet

Sharon Bailey Fine Silver

Sharon Bailey helped us open the new store and has had her work on display here since the first day. A resident of Asheville since 2001, she learned her craft in Atlanta at an art center and then Georgia State. In 2003 she was excepted into the Southern Highland Craft Guild, which Chris is also a member of. She makes sterling silver jewelry with accents in gold and Bakelite.

Bakelite is the first synthetic plastic introduced in the 20's and used extensively in the 30's and 40's. It's extremely durable and rich in color. To quote Sharon, "It feels warm and heavy, inviting the touch and giving it a sex appeal not found in later plastics." This makes it ideal for handmade jewelry and since production virtually ceased in the 60's, a collectors item. Sharon collects the unused old stock for use in many of her pieces, from her "ball in a cage" series, the "chicklets", and the "Nature Collection."

The Nature Collection is a more recent addition to her work. Started in 2009, the collection features silver jewelry inspired by her nine acres in North Asheville next to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The collection started with oak and maple leaves and since then she has added other leaves common to the area, including tulip poplar and sassafras.

From her bio: "The leaves, branches, and blossoms are made using the lost-wax casting technique. I hand finish the castings, then combine them with other cast or fabricated elements to make the finished pieces of jewelry. As a final step, I oxidize and burnish each piece."

We love Sharon's jewelry here and are amazed at the detail that goes into each piece. From the hand carved Bakelite to the finely soldered gold accents, no two pieces are exactly alike. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.