Jewelry by a Celtic belle

• Reprints

Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

Freelance artist and former Joliet resident Mary Lynn Maloney has created a line of jewelry from Irish postage stamps and coins, a tribute to her Irish heritage.

Maloney’s line, CelticBelle, is also inspired by her father and brother, who both worked at post offices, and childhood holiday memories.

“When I was little we’d do Christmas cards assembly-line style at our dining room table,” Maloney, of Washington, said. “Placing the Easter Seals on the envelope was part of the fun, and the Christmas stamps were always special and pretty. Postage stamps are like little works of art, so maybe that’s why I’ve collected them a long time. I’m not a serious collector. I just put them in an envelope and keep them in a box.”

Each time Maloney traveled, she accumulated even more cancelled postage stamps. One day, Maloney decided they would make really great jewelry. So she made a few pieces and put them in local galleries. They sold well, especially the Irish ones, which really pleased Maloney.

“I love Irish culture: the music, the folklore, the legends, the beer and the pubs,” Maloney said. “I’ve done Celtic festivals in the past and sold some of my paper crafts and collages. So then I thought the necklaces would do really well in Irish shops.”

Maloney’s pieces are also doing well on Etsy, an online store for handmade or vintage items. In addition to jewelry and key chains, Maloney is also selling “paper pretties” on that site. These are note cards, wine bottle gift tags and origami-style pouches for little gifts or trinkets. Most of her customers, she has learned through filling orders, are Irish, have visited Ireland or have Irish family and friends. One store in Massachusetts ordered three each of all 18 selections.

As a full-time freelance artist, Maloney balances her CelticBelle line against her other projects. These include her mixed media collage artwork and writing articles and designing projects for craft books and magazines. Maloney has authored several books, including “Decorated Boxes,” “Favors with Flair” and “Memory Art: 30 Ideas for shadowboxes and other keepsake displays.” Maloney’s books are available at www.amazon.com.

For more information, visit Maloney’s websites: www.topfloordesigns.net and www.celticbelle.etsy.com.

Maloney also assists her husband with his gift basket business. She designs ads, brochures and even the baskets themselves to display the handmade items — such as soaps, candles and even homemade cheeses — fabricated by local artists.

Since the CelticBelle line is doing so well, Maloney is considering adding a second heritage collection. “I’m also part Polish, so I thought about doing some jewelry that features Polish stamps,” Maloney said. “So far, I haven’t found many stamps for jewelry because they’re too big. I’m searching for smaller Polish stamps.”