Story-Telling Jewels

(“Palamuti Jewelry” Designer PJ Valenciano)

Words by Nikki Valenzuela

Rare is the designer who chooses to transform general craft into an art of its own. What makes a product stand out? What exactly sets it apart from its thousand other competitors?

- Soul. As cheesy as it sounds, it’s the creator’s genuine love for that certain hobby or craft (call it what you may) that is manifested in a final creation. Painting can be a craft, but what sets apart the true artists?

Palamuti is a unique brand of hand-crafted jewelry specially made by designer PJ Valenciano. Main ingredients to her creations include dreamlike whimsy and lots of imagination. Why say so?- because each line of jewelry created hopes to tell a story about a certain magical character who certainly exists in the designer’s fantasy land. Like Alice, she jumps into her very own rabbit-hole to find such inspiration; or is it her genuine love for animals and passion for surfing that never fails to add some sparkle into her very own magical world?

Being a proud Filipina, PJ decided to name her brand of jewelry “Palamuti,” a Tagalog word for decoration. Its pure fun when choosing to buy a piece from her sea of creations, because you choose to play a certain storybook character as well! Is it the sweet fairy Kaikala Danica that you relate to, or the feisty warrior princess Lady Apache? There’s nothing like one-of-a-kind products, and PJ’s wonderful creations certainly are! She only produces one piece per design; each piece certainly stands as a wearable work of art.

You may also vist http://kikayism.tumblr.com/ for other blogs by Nikki Valenzuela. For inquiries on our handmade costume jewelry, email palamutishop@gmail.com or kikayism@gmail.com.

Tale of a Future Jeweler

It all started a year go when our youngest sister took a bead jewelry-making workshop. I was so fond of the craft that I kept making and making earrings which I proudly showed and sold to my friends, relatives and even office mates.

Last September, I enrolled in a bead jewelry making class with Fundynamics in hopes to be enlightened with the basics (and I was). Ever since, I have been pining to create more and learn more.

Each piece has a story.

I base the designs on women which in my eyes-- has the "essence of a woman".

I don't duplicate my designs because as a person who value uniqueness and diversity, I want the wearer to feel the same. I want every woman to feel extra special when they wear my jewelry--- for each is not only a piece of adornment but a statement.

Right now, I only work with available materials bought from suppliers but my real goal is to mold the actual jewelry from metal. It's a long shot, but I'm willing to learn the craft.

Jewelry, I think, is ART--- pieces put together becoming visions of beauty.