I make realistic Red and Yellow Cherries from glass. Each cherry is individually made by melting Italian soda-lime glass rods in the 4000 degree flame of a torch using gravity, surface tension and a razor-blade tool.
Depending on the amount of sun they have received, ripe Yellow Cherries can range from entirely yellow, through shades of raspberry pink, to a dark reddish-pink in color. The lighter areas are where the cherry has been shaded by the leaves. I am sad to report that these pictures do not show the correct color. The areas on my glass cherries that appear to be from light to dark raspberry pink look much more orange or red in these pictures than in real life. The pink color shown on the Yellow Cherry Earrings and Necklaces is more accurate. The realistic rosy blush on the surface of each of my glass cherries is achieved by adding and melting in up to twenty separate layers of transparent red glass in the flame of a torch. No paint is used. As a result, the color will not rub, flake or chip off.
The color of Red cherries is more dependent on their ripeness than how much they were exposed to the sun. The variety of coloration on these cherries is achieved by mixing various shades of black and red to get the base color. Then up to five different colors of powdered glass enamel are melted onto the surface to give the "speckled" effect in just the right tones to go with the base cherry color.
Just like real cherries, each of my glass cherries has a slight dent down the side and a little "flower scar" on the bottom.
The cherry stem is made by melting glass onto a loop in 16 gauge copper wire so the wire cannot be pulled out. I cut off the wire at about 2 inches long and then melt the end in the flame to round it over so it will not catch on skin or clothing. If you want to use the cherries in jewelry you can make a loop and twist the stem as shown in the Bead pictures.
You can certainly find less expensive glass cherries on the market, but they are cartoon-style cherries that bear little resemblance to natural ones. Mine are lifelike enough that people often mistake them for real cherries. I hope you will find them to be worth the extra cost.
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