Tuesday, July 3, 2012

THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM in New Orleans had a fashion photo shoot this week featuring The VICTORYBELLES and MY JEWELRY!.... which will be in their upcoming catalogues both online and mail order.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Book Signing Very Successful

On June 15th I was the guest of gallery owner Marlene Vitanza at her beautiful shop in a suburb of Santa Barbara: Montecito. The event went off with out a hitch and we were flooded with Paparazzi. Santa Barbara magazine as well as '805' and The Montecito News were there to cover the unveiling of a spectacular Bakelite Collection being offered by my hostess. Not to name drop but Julia Roberts snuck in to pick up a few bangles. The theme of course was Patriotic to celebrate my book: WWII Bakelite Jewelry: Love and Victory", which documents my collection of Patriotic Vintage Bakelite Jewelry. The collection will be displayed at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans as well as other venues in the future. I am very happy with the positive response the book has recieved. Among them: "The most beautiful Bakelite Book Yet!" Thank you I had so much fun designing it. I also want to thank my photographer Nijme Rinaldi-Nunn and photographer/Artist/Model Leslie Collum for their contributions as well as great friend Maija Beeton for her expertise in special effects and graphic art. Anyway, you can buy a signed copy at TheNational WWII Museum in New Orleans or their online bookstore. LOVE! Bambi, Bakelite Lady of New Orleans...come visit!

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Bambi: Bakelite Lady of New Orleans Book signing.

Bambi...thats me! ... will be at Perregrine Galleries in Mendocito...thats near Santa Barbara...the weekend of June 15th for a book signing and HUGE Bakelite Event!!!

Buying on EBAY....do not do it!

I just want to share this with you all. I have been collecting for well over 30 years and consider myself an expert with Bakelite Jewelry. As an experiment, I purchased several pieces of jewelry described as vintage 'tested+' Bakelite. Yes, maybe I knew better, but for the sake of my clients and friends I gave it a shot. FOUR items I recieved were NOT BAKELITE at all!!! I know whern I am holding bakelite, these were not even galalith or vintage. There are many people trying to get on the Bakelite Bandwagon....stay away! Protect yourself. Do your research. There is a SHOP, WELL, SEVERAL HERE IN MY HOME TOWN OF NEW ORLEANs WHO ARE CARRYING WHAT THEY CALL BAKELITE. Thney do not knoe the age, how to test it.....nothing and they are selling it it for a lot of money. Just a word to those of you who are new to this: ask us for help, there are many Bakelite Dealers who will advise you.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Bakelite in New Orleans

BAMBI DEVILLE ENGERAN is THE BAKELITE LADY OF NEW ORLEANS, 818 Royal street one block off jackson Square ....!!! Come by the shop and buy the newest Bakelite Jewelry Book signed by the author or get it from her web site. WWII Bakelite Jewelry Love and Victory is the book, and it is a wonderful documentation of Bambi's collection. The story begins with her grandmothers and moves on from there. A wonderful accounting of how this collector began as well as many interesting facts about not only Bakelite as an American Craft Movement in Jewelry, but several of the designers. The setting is WW2 and the historical significance is huge. This is a book for many people whether Patriotic of Collectors, but especially both.