Vintage Inspired Jewelry

Oh, Hi There!

I am the lady behind the scenes - Melinda Ledbetter, owner and operator of Ledbelly Vintage with a great passion for vintage goods and I am excited to share my latest Ledbelly designs!

As some of you know, I have been repurposing vintage jewelry for several years but through practice, I found that some pieces are just too delicate or I felt they needed to keep their charm and originality. 

Taking all this into account, I have been spending countless hours, days, and nights thinking about how I could create strong and one of a kind vintage pieces.  If you have been following Ledbelly, you might have seen this deranged transition over time as I am constantly beating my head about what to do next and how.  ​

What keeps inspiring me? 

The love and support from my family and friends.  I am a full-time Director of Personal Finance and everyone's reaction toward working in finance vs. Ledbelly is pronounced.  Everyone knows that I find much joy in designing and making jewelry.  With your guidance, I will continue to take the time and opportunity to do exactly what I love. 

What are the new Ledbelly designs?

As mentioned, I don't always feel comfortable altering what was once someone's precious jewel.  I wanted to create something completely original.  I evaluated each vintage era and what intrigues me the most are the roaring twenties through the sixties.  The designs I love best are Art Deco, simple, and clean; such as, the products shown below.  Each of these pieces are 1920's-1940's dress clips or belt buckles that have been converted into pendant necklaces.

While I love rhinestones and pearls, quality is of utmost importance and I found that pieces from the 1950's-1970's eventually lost a rhinestone or two and older jewelry is either hard to find or typically delayed to deliver.  I have tried all sorts of materials, starting with epoxy resin which appears closest to bakelite or celluloid and have learned to work with various mediums including glass, porcelain, and ceramic.  By eliminating rhinestones, I no longer have issues with mid-century pieces and I couldn't be happier with how these Ledbelly pendant necklaces have transpired.  These are just a few examples of what I have created. 

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What else inspires me? 

In conjunction with Art Deco vintage jewelry, I tend to get a lot of inspiration and ideas from architecture - Art Deco buildings and interior design.  Below are just a few that I adore.  See Pinterest Inspiration Board for more.   

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What other designs will I make? 

With the right supplies, I will begin creating brooches, earrings, bracelets, and also, considering stained glass home decor.  Like the necklaces, they will all be sleek conversational pieces.  Stay tuned as we shape our Etsy shop into this new conception.

Where can you find Ledbelly products?  

At this time, Ledbelly products are only sold online at Etsy and I welcome you to touch base with me if you would like to make an appointment.

With all this reported, I can't thank you enough.  I very much appreciate your admiration and appreciation for Ledbelly and everything I do.  I couldn't be where I am at without my family, friends, and fans.  If ever you have a question regarding any of the products, please don't hesitate to contact me.  I am always happy to provide as much details as possible.  Thank you for all the love and support throughout these years! 

Love,
Melinda Ledbetter
Owner and Operator
​Ledbelly Vintage  

SHOP NOW

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