August Arts and Crafts Workshop

I used to teach pre-school and I'd say that it was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. Since I have, and will always, love the idea of creating I incorporated arts and crafts in every subject; whether it's science, math or english. I handled a class of 4-5 year olds who had so much energy and curiosity, which I channeled to creative activities. Being with children reacquaints my adult self with the child inside me. Participating in art projects can be a form of self reflection; a way for a person to pause and be in the moment.  Even as an adult, I recommend that you still participate in arts and crafts activities. Here are some interesting Arts and Crafts Activities organized by  CRAFT MNL, TWEED AND TWINE  and SOUL FLOWER this August. 

CRAFT MNL ARTS AND CRAFTS WORKSHOPS 

Please check their website for the full list. 

TWEED AND TWINE WORKSHOPS 

Please check their website for the full list. 

SOUL FLOWER WORKSHOPS 

Please check their website for the full list. 

Keeping it real. -PJV 

Sister Dragonfly Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky

Some of our handmade pieces have made it to Louisville, Kentucky (USA) thanks to the eclectic Sister Dragonfly Gallery. Located on 2021 Frankfort Avenue, their store carries a variety of women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories (to which we have proudly contributed some!). They also have Mexican, African and local Kentucky folk art for those who are looking for a something to decorate with.  Their selections are curated with the utmost taste, with items not available anywhere else in the state.

Art Bag by Paola Germar

Recently they held a trunkshow for artists based in New York who recycled semi-precious stones in making her rings, necklaces, and pendants. They also exhibited an artist whose medium is wire and leather wrapping with rarified stones mined from Thailand, China, and Peru.

Spring Necklace by PJ Valenciano

So if you’re looking for something to wear, give as a gift, or ornaments, be sure to drop by their store. Look for great bargains when they run some of their discount promos as a way of giving back to their loyal customers. They are also generous when it comes to supporting meaningful causes. From time-to-time, they will be donating a percentage of their sales to non-profit organizations such as the Kentucky Humane Society. Sister Dragonfly Gallery is proud to be an independent, small, and local store that cares and gives back to their community!

Wire Art Necklace by Stephanie Lopez

Photos by Sister Dragonfly  
Keeping it real.- PJV 

Palamuti Style Advocate: Ariane Alingog

Off to a wedding in La Union
Necklace by PJ Valenciano
Bangle by Stephanie Lopez 
Bag by Paola Germar

We are so proud to have Ms. Ariane Alingog as a Palamuti Style advocate. We are always on the lookout for women of substance, style and taste! She was featured in this week’s (July 21, 2015) edition of The Daily Tribune. Read her feature here:

Read about the family business here: The Lady Boss by Bam Santiago- Olivares

Photo from The Daily Tribune

WHO ARE OUR STYLE ADVOCATES? 

Ear Cuff and Ring by Stephanie Lopez

Ear Cuff and Ring by Stephanie Lopez 
Bag by Paola Germar

“Each handmade piece created by Palamuti was inspired by the uniqueness of the modern, empowered woman. Who better to represent us than real women in the real world? The objective of Palamuti’s Style Advocates is to find women with different personalities; women who exude confidence through their personal style. We want their stories to be shared with people with a love for art, beauty, hope and change."

Keeping it real.- PJV

Draw to Experience

Lotus Inspired Necklace 

It was not until a client asked me to show sketches of her entourage jewelry did I start drawing again. I do remember, however that I once regularly did sketching, and enjoyed charcoal drawing in primary school. But I stopped when one of my peers unkindly commented that what I drew was not my work. After that incident, I never really went back to drawing or sketching. In that moment, I doubted myself and thought that I was never good enough. Childhood experiences really do play a part in who and what you think of yourself. For some reason I grew up having very low esteem, with the need to please people. It was hard for me to make friends and much harder to communicate what I really felt. A part of that is still there; the insecurities of not being worthy still haunt in some days. Today, I try hard to be in control and achieve perfection, but at the same time trying to rebel from expectations. 

Larkspur and the Lotus

Somehow my art and the chance to wake up everyday and do my thing helps in the process. I sketch and draw regularly now. This process helps me conceptualize and put a structure to my ideas, which most of the time are rambles and circuits of images in my mind. It calms me. Its a form of meditation and most importantly a form of gratitude. 

Larkspur Inspired Necklace

Nowadays cameras make it so easy to feel that we've captured what's important in the world. But to really appreciate what's around us, we might need to learn a weirder, less technologically-advanced skill: drawing. To the modern-day person, when something looks interesting or beautiful, it's a natural impulse to take a picture in order to preserve it. This means that we're likely to reach for our phones or cameras. But this becomes a problem when we fail to truly look at the world and its true beauty, and get lost in the act of "capturing" the moment. The act of drawing forces us to study the world in a way that we would never consider when we take a photograph. 

Roses and Thorns

Say for example that two people take a walk together, one is a sketcher and the other one with no interest of the kind. There will surely be a great difference in how the two individuals perceive the things that they are both seeing. The one who has no interest in sketching will look at a tree and surmise that it's a tree, and will think no more about it. However, the sketcher will be able to view the sunlight and how it bounces of the tree, and the feeling of experiencing that will remain in memory as well. The sketcher will remember how the sunshine makes the leaves glimmer and the shadows that are cast, in other words, the minute details of beauty. The sketcher will see the emerald glow of the leaves and the contrast of the  bow and branches emerging from the veil of leaves. Then come the patterns of the bark and the twisting roots, which the sketcher will notice as all the colors blend themselves in perfect harmony. We draw not because we want to be great artist, but we should draw to be able to see, think, and feel, beyond what our gadgets cannot provide. Is this not worth seeing? Yet if you're not a sketcher, you will let pass the beauty of the world around us, and be reminded of it simply in photographs, not knowing, and feeling, what you've truly missed . All you'll remember is that you went such-and-such into the world and simply took photos of it, post it somewhere and think nothing more of it. 

So anyway, I am planning to take up some basic drawing, maybe painting but most definitely a workshop on sculpture. I enjoy theory but I prefer theory in practice more. I have been eyeing on joining art classes at ARTALYER Workshops and Studio. I will keep you updated on this! Most of all, I would love to draw beside Nikki Ocean in her Art by Sea  Workshops. Lastly, since we are in the subject of drawing, here's another interesting read from William Kemp. 

Keeping it real.-PJV

Hello France with Lady Noree

Embellished Clutch Bag by Paola Germar
Art Jewelry by PJ Valenciano

Our accessories made it to France thanks to fashion photographer Oana Celina. Also known as “Noree” she is a young photographer specializing in fashion portraiture and advertising photography. She works mainly in UK, France and Romania. Oana is a multi-talented individual who’s also a singer, a fashion model and a stylist. She is originally from Arad, Romania, who now lives in Tours, France.

Photo from Lady Noree's Website

We got to know of Noree through the Fashion Bloggers group page in Facebook. It turns out that she also has a blog of her own, named Lady Noree’s blog. In her blog, she talks about fashion, travel, and she even does giveaways for her readers!

Art Jewelry Sketch of Red and Black Cherry Blossoms

Photo from Lady Noree's Website

So check out her blog, Facebook page, and website and followLady Noree if you’re into fashion, photography and music.

Jewelry and Bags at PALAMUTISHOP.COM

Keeping it real.- PJV

Tribute to the Masters: Gustav Klimt

The Kiss

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was a great master who definitely was not popular during his era. In fact, citizens of Vienna, the place of his birth, took great exception to his works such as “Danae” and “The Kiss” for its sensual portrayal of eroticism and sexuality.  On top of that, several pieces that he commissioned for the university were also widely met with disdain due to his vast use of symbolism. Despite heading one of the most popular art movements in Vienna, known as the Secession Movement, and winning the grand prize for the 1900 Paris World Fair, Gustav Klimt believed that his popularity was going on a downward spiral, and as a result travels to Florence and Rome.

Tree of Life

It is in these places that Gustav Klimt created several of his masterpieces. Though his work remained in the realm of symbolism and non-traditional approach, his pieces were widely popular outside Vienna. “Death and Life”, “The Virgin” and “The Bride”, were all creations made outside his country.

Expectation

His style and techniques were well ahead of his time. And though conservatives despised his work for scandalous reasons, his creations serve as an inspiration for artists who wish follow their own path and to experiment with non-traditional methods and materials. During the latter part of his artistic career (and life) he was totally dedicated to art. GustavKlimt’s “Golden Phase” is named as such for his use real gold with his oil paintings. He also collaborated with other artists, and on one such endeavor for a wealth patron, remarked that he has reached his peak in ornamental design. Known for a very deliberate and painstaking method, Klimt once changed the background color of a prize winning work “Death and Life” in 1911, from gold to blue.

Virgin

GustavKlimt died in 1918, plagued by a stroke and subsequent pneumonia. An artist to the very end, Klimt left many paintings unfinished upon his death. Gustav Klimt had an eclectic range of influences that contributed to his style. His works are characterized by his propensity to use gold, spirals and swirls, as well as phallic symbols the feminine nature. Klimt’s works are best known for rejecting past styles, eschewing them for symbols and symbolic elements. This places an emphasis on what most of us look towards art, which is the freedom to create apart from culture and tradition.

Gustav Klimt Mother and Child inspired Art Jewelry

Gustav Klimt Sea Serpents inspired Art Jewelry

As part of my practice and exercise, I take inspiration from visual artists like Klimt. What I love about his works the symbolisms and his use of patterns. At times they're playful and rich colors; but mostly his use of gold, yellow and orange to either give accent or be the main palette of his paintings. As part of improving my designs and art, I made these art jewelry pieces inspired by two of his works, "Mother and Child" and "Sea Serpent".  Here are the pieces that I've made inspired by his works. 

Gustav Klimt Sea Serpents inspired Art Jewelry

Photography by Carlo Cayabyab 
Email: insight713@gmail.com 
Keeping it real. -PJV 

P.S. Here's another one I made with Novie, which we didn't get to photograph professionally as one of our loyal clients bought it once we had it posted on Instagram.