Jan Cade pictured with some of her one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces created from vintage jewelry , old rosary beads and drawer pulls , and antique brooches .
Cade also makes Christmas ornaments . For three holidays from 2020 through 2022 , ornaments she created were selected to hang on Christmas trees at the Mississippi Governor ’ s Mansion in Jackson .
She currently is making ornaments that she calls fairy houses , made out of the handle of a silver flatware knife with a hole drilled into the end and topped with a tiny piece such as a crown or angel or fairy . She plans to have them available at markets before the holiday season .
Cade sells her jewelry at arts and crafts festivals and various markets around the state , including the local Threefoot Arts Festival , Prairie Arts Festival in West Point , Market Street Festival in Columbus and Loblolly Festival in Laurel . She also attends Night Market at the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Center , as well as travels to events in Alabama and New Orleans , where upcycled vintage jewelry is very popular .
Jan Cade ’ s tiny fairy house Christmas ornament evokes a vintage charm .
“ When you get invited to a drag queen convention you know you ’ re doing good ,” she said , jokingly . “ That ’ s okay , that ’ s a good thing .”
Her vendor booth is always an attraction that catches the eye of passersby . The tables are covered in linens she naturally dyed to look aged and are decorated with antique suitcases , vintage hats and old photographs . “ I enjoy doing the linens , too . I even make my own price tags . I stain them ,” she said . “ This is all stained with instant coffee .”
Cade hopes people enjoy her jewelry and appreciate the history behind the pieces . “ I want them to wear it and enjoy it and love it ,” she said . “ When you wear my jewelry , you are the only person in the whole wide world that ’ s got one like it and that ’ s the way it should be . Everybody should have their own , one piece .” M
16 • MERIDIAN LIFE