Teaching Beyond Walls

We believe in starting with something small so that we can make more meaningful changes along the way. Novie is our first in-house artisan and apprentice. Since coming to Manila from a rural community in the northern Philippines, she has already mastered most of our basic beading techniques. With every handmade piece of costume jewelry, she grows her skills in designing and beading. The best thing about teaching artisans such as her is that she is now capable of transferring the knowledge she gained by teaching other potential women artisans. For the past years, we have been invited to conduct small scale workshops, mostly for participants from poor communities, on how to make handmade accessories. As our chief apprentice she has played a significant role as an instructor for these workshops. The opportunity to teach others a skill in which they can use to help their livelihood, has helped her improve her skills as an artist. These workshops have also given us a sense of direction and fulfilment; that small scale efforts will someday amount to become relevant.

Our El Nido workshop for this year, was her most challenging livelihood training workshop. In this assignment, she was the main resource person who taught the participants. She was in charge of a group of women, ranging from teenage girls, mothers and grandmothers. After that, when we got back to Manila, our neighbour (who is also our current seamstress for our scarves) suggested that we teach her household help in beading, so that she can earn much needed extra income. Lyn-Lyn, who hails from Northern Samar, and has nine siblings she helps support financially, decided that her free time after household chores were best spent learning a new skill to help her earn money. Now, that we see Novie's maturity and equipped to handle an apprentice of her own, she started teaching Len-Len. She and Novie would spend entire afternoons, beading in our "kubo". On other days, Novie would be the one to go to Lyn's house and they would do their respective projects together there. The way Novie goes about to teach Len-Len is how I taught her all those years back. Teaching and learning should be a serious process, but without the absence of fun and positive reinforcement. In most of our blogs, we always reiterate that designing is more than being able to draw and sketch, it is to able to envision the process for the idea to take form. This however is not something that is done over a night or over a few courses. It is a lifetime commitment and devotion to your craft.  I continue to learn new techniques everyday, by allowing myself to work on several personal projects as part of my daily routine. 

We have always believed in the potential of communities to be able to help one another.  Caring for the people within  your immediate vicinity is always a good place to start, and we have tried to weave this into our advocacy. It is very hard to find women who will commit to a 6 month training of bead embroidery. In these hard times, opportunities to earn money are limited, especially to those who are experiencing life beneath the poverty line. I have always shared to my family and friends, even with our apprentice, Novie, that the end goal of what we are doing is not only to make money, but to empower and change the mindset of people when it comes to work. 

Beyond that, we want to place value in our craft, wherein our clients understand the process of making, creating and producing finished products. This ensures that hard work coupled with passion, are rewarded. 

Keeping it real.- PJV

Everyday Inspirations: Words, Style & Design

Deciding on the design is perhaps the most challenging aspect before embarking on actual bead embroidery. The outcome of a handmade piece starts with a process of selecting elements of design, and to actually make them,with the needle and thread. With so many creative individuals also into handmade accessories, the design and technique of each piece is a standard that sets artists apart. From the beginning, I've always put an emphasis on transcending mainstream trends pertaining costume jewelry.  My fascination with the world of art has led me to an inclination of using everyday life as an inspiration for designing and creating. My canvass is a felt cloth, and for paint, is a wide array of beads. Art, in my opinion, should go beyond any medium. The audience, through emotion and thought, must be able to share in the vision provided by the artist.   

Our newest statement necklace is called "Encatada".  This piece was inspired by a poem, composed and written for me by a ten year old girl named Lila, who was a participant in our bead embroidery workshop. She came up with this poem as she was working on her own handmade necklace. As an artist, she uses her love for reading books and using words to express herself to inspire her creations.

There was once a little fairy, no one knows her name,

but you won't believe it,

she has such fame. Every night when the moonlight shines,

she sits on little twisting vines.

Then she sews such pretty things, sewed from Miss Spider's silk,

and she use stars for beads, and she thanks the sky (she isn't rude).

But sometimes she really needs a rest,

so there's pixies too.

They will do all what's left

or the fairy will get a flu.

But when the fairy's well again, she sits on the vines some more,

so feel free to peep into her shop, open her cheerful door.

~Lila Sayajon

Designing, for me,  is a balance of having vision and skills to execute a concept using one's knowledge of techniques and materials. The artisans of Palamuti work as a team, in order for us to be able to produce handmade statement pieces that are up to standards. We want to be able to show to the world the artistic skills inherent to Filipino women artisans. As head designer,  I would conceptualise, sketch, and decide on materials. The task of beading is then passed on to Novie, our Palamuti Apprentice. The growth of our bead artisans comes paramount. Knowledge in materials and techniques, are cascaded from the most skilled artist, to those who are still in training. As experience is gained through the work done by hands, aesthetic abilities are enhanced by training our eyes. 

For this necklace, our goal was to give it texture and depth, primarily using seed beads and acrylic beads in golden brown as accent. We also used semi-precious stones to highlight the pistil of the flowers. In general we want to highlight our special attention given to detail, cautiously sewing each individually raised seed bead, by hand, to the "Encatada" statement necklace.  

Keeping it real.- PJV

BEAD JEWELRY NECKLACE: BRINGING THE DOLLS

When clients ask me to design specific pieces  it gets me excited, especially when they give me the freedom to do as I see fit. The “Bringing the Dolls for Anya” is a customized piece commissioned as a gift to Filipina Poet, Professor Merlie  Alunan. 

The idea behind this piece was to interpret her best known poetry as costumejewelry, in this case a necklace. I ended up making this piece wherein I personally hand stitched the beads and stones. The freedom to exercise my creativity in pieces such as this give me an opportunity to share a part of me with the wearer. -PJV

You may request  custom made designs through our website. Share and inspire with your own style. 

The Tulip and Dragonfly

We are very thrilled when we're asked to make customized accessories. Each individual project excites us because they pose different challenges, and a way for us to exercise our techniques in executing a design. As you may now very well know, our strength lies in bead embroidery, and we have been asked to make unique concepts. 

This piece was made for Gracie, a Filipina based in Singapore. A  colleague of hers was a past client who had her woodstock inspired bird customized by Palamuti. Gracie submitted  her sketch to us and described the colors for her necklace. Here's how it turned out after more than three days of continuous beadwork. 

Palamuti Artisan: Novi

We are very proud of our women artisans, who we trained in the art of accessory making. Our mission includes sending them to fashion schools to improve their skills and increase their knowledge in designing. Today, it's a dream come true for us, and for one of our in-house beaders, Novi. She just started taking classes on fashion accessories in one of the best fashion schools in the country. She'll also be enrolled in other curricula such, as fashion embellishment and bag making! Prior to taking classes, Novi has been designing for Palamuti, and specializes in making embellished scarves. 

Bead Jewelry Inspiration: Customized Set

PANGARAP NI ESPERANZA

 One of our past clients Charm, who once came to us for her own wedding accessories, will be attending an upcoming wedding as the Maid of Honor. The motif of the wedding is old rose, and she will be wearing a gown of the said color, with a flowing chiffon skirt. To complete her wardrobe, Charm decided to add costume jewelry for her entourage gown; choosing our most popular design, Pangarap ni Esperanza. This design became her inspiration for her set jewelry using gold and silver, with colors adjusted for the wedding motif, which she used as a perfect contrast for her old rose gown. 

Accessorizing Ideas For Collared Tops

We've listed the basic types of necklaces suitable for collared tops and blouses. When you are ready, you can experiment further using the following accessories: 

STYLE A COLLAR # 1: Wear a scarf by positioning it under your collar
STYLE A COLLAR # 2: Open your collar lower, then wear a matinee length necklace 

STYLE A COLLAR # 3: Wear a long necklace, to give an illusion of length 
STYLE A COLLAR # 4: Wear your princess necklace under your collar  

STYLE A COLLAR # 3: Wear an embellished necklace to add a bit of statement to your blouse

Travel with your Baubles and Other Summer Must Haves

Stillness of the Butterfly Necklace

Surely you've made plans for your perfect summer getaway this season. Where would your dream vacation be? For most people the obvious choice is to be at the beach. Take advantage of what the season has to offer: sun, color, dream escapes; with sundresses, maxis, shorts and sandals.It's time to bring out the summer earth goddess in you. Don't forget to bring along your baubles and fashion accessories, to complete your summer wardrobe. Be stylish in paradise, whichever part of the world you choose to end up in!

Our top accessory picks to pull off a summer earth goddess look: 

1. Wood  dominated accessories 

Pair this wood choker necklace with your tubes and off shoulders. They also look great, even in your bikini, and you don't have to worry about it getting wet.

Wood Pendant with wax thread

This matinee necklace will look great on your off shoulder cover-ups and strapless sun dresses. Wear it while strolling along the beach and enjoying the sunset.
THE LOOK

Miga Karina

2. Dangling Earrings 
Dangling earrings spell fun, freedom and glamor. Keep a few pieces with you, and make sure to stock on gold plated ones to wear for evening beach parties. Complete your ensemble with layered bangles. Make sure you choose the right design and shape appropriate for your face shape.

Feather Earrings

Dangling Earrings

Dangling Earrings with Ceramic Beads

Simple Drops

3. Earth-Colored Bracelets 
Flatter your wrists with charming bracelets in earth tone colors. Choose assorted beads that are well put together. You can also match them with dangling earrings. 

4. Fabric Headbands
They're light and stylish, and when you're done using it as a headband, you can use it to tie  your long locks into a pony tail. 

5. Tie Dye Scarves 
Use them as head scarves. Depending on the length, they make great cover ups. 

These scarves were hand dyed by Paul Estevanez.

6. Long Necklaces 
We love long necklaces. For us, they represent spontaneity. Depending on the materials used, they capture the essence of ideas such as 'BOHO' and 'EARTH GODDESS' perfectly. They're also use to pass off a gypsy look.  

Restyled necklace

Wanderlust

Child of the Sea Long Necklace and Mawu Multi-colored long necklace

10. Sea Inspired Bead Embroidery 
Wear them to candle-lit dinners by the beach, and let other guests stare at you in awe. Pair them with long dresses in summer colors. If you're the bold type, you can wear them to match your printed outfit.

Child of the Sea: Waves

Child of the Sea Summer Collection

11. Arm Cuffs
Because of the heat, you'll be forced to wear a lot of sleeveless and strapless outfits. A nice arm cuff is a neat little trick to set your outfit apart from everyone else. 

Amatullah Inspired Arm Cuff

12. Multicolored Necklaces 
You can never go wrong with this colorful necklace, especially if your summer wardrobe consists of mostly white ensembles. 

Mawu Necklace