Seeds of Hope: Handmade Accessories Training Workshop

The “Sampaguita” inspired mother and daughter necklaces was made by a collaborative effort between two participants from Barangay Masagana: Lila and RJ. 

Lila, aged 10, is home schooled by her parents. She wanted to join the workshop, together with her mother, because she was eager to learn our style of handcrafting. We allowed her to join the group because we saw the excitement in her eyes upon seeing an array of colorful beads right in front of her. The “Sampaguita” necklace is her first project, and  although it took her a week to finish, she accomplished it with pride. The seeds of a new found interest in creating handmade art was also able to bloom. According to her mother, Lila continues to design new pieces inspired by the local flora in El Nido. Her latest design concepts are: “Wildflower” and “Basil Leaves”.

 

"BASILIA- Basil Leaves"

"I want to try new experiences. I enjoy beading because it fascinates me to visualize and create a beautiful handmade design from simple beads, thread, and fabrics"- Buwan Lila

RJ on the other hand, was the only male participant in our bead embroidery training workshop. He is an 18 year old out-of-school youth.  He accomplished the daughter part of “Sampaguita” necklace, which is his second beadwork project. And although he joined the workshop to pass the time, while awaiting summons from his employers in Aborlan, Palawan, he shows the potential to grow as an handmade artisan, if he is willing to devote himself to it.

After the 3 week training, we were able to come up with a short list of participants who had the right attitude, and exhibited the skills needed to continue training as bead embroidery artisans. To date, they continue to practice techniques and concepts they've learned from the training. Those who wanted to continue to learn more about handmade bead embroidery, have made designing and beading a part of their daily routine. 

Part of our plan is to go back to El Nido to provide further training for women we've selected from our first batch of participants. We hope that by further increasing their skills and knowledge, they will be able to handle the responsibilities of passing on their knowledge to new participants and the next generations of Filipino women artisans.

We hope that we can be able to continue these workshops by forming partnerships with local businesses.  Several souvenir shops have already offered to carry products made by the mothers we've trained in El Nido. In addition, we will also be selling their handmade creations on our website. As fruits of their labors, six of their designs from the training seminar will be showcased in trade shows in Louisville, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio this coming July and August, through our US partner. 

Through these channels, Palamuti hopes to provide an additional source of livelihood for more Filipino women, namely unemployed mothers,and out of school youth.  

Statement Concept Piece: Requiron Necklace

"As a mother, I was never able to develop my artistic side because I had to take care of my family first. As a Palamuti artisan , I am now able to do both; designing and creating while earning income to support my family."- Tes

This necklace was made by Tes Dulce, a native of Bicol, Philippines. She is one of our trained mother- artisans who has been with us for four years.   

Our core technique, bead embroidery, is our greatest strength when it comes to handmade designs. It's best expressed in making concept pieces. As a designer translating concepts to reality is a challenge to creativity and knowledge of techniques and materials. My philosophy in crafting is being able to manage the client's expectations, and at the same time, making the final piece a reflection aesthetics for the client and myself. 

Throughout the years we have made quite a number of concept pieces. As a philosophy, we only make one of each design. This is primarily due to the difficult task of beading and hand stitching. Once these products are sold, we mark them for customization, and new clients can purchase these statement pieces on a made-to-order basis. 

The decision of making only a singular piece for each design concerns both the business aspect, and more importantly, the creative process for every artisan. Every handmade artisan should be bound into making quality pieces, rather than prioritizing quantity. We want our clients to respect and appreciate the process of making these wearable art pieces, so that every stitching of cut or seed beads into the felt cloth truly is a soulful experience both for the designer and the beader. 

The "Requiron" necklace was designed in 2012. We made two versions of this necklace, each time improving the techniques and use of materials. Thus no two pieces are ever the same. The core design of the original piece is there to influence, but fusing elements of techniques and material knowledge, changes the look of the design. 

After a year, we decided to make another one. By using new materials, we were able to improve the beauty of this necklace, whose story will continue to be passed on to the wearer of our ever-evolving handcrafted designs. 

Customized Pieces: Flowers & Butterflies

A client of ours, who loves to accessorize and collect original handmade jewellery, recently asked us to customize statement necklace for her. The design’s theme revolved around clustered flowers and butterflies. She also specified us to use, predominantly; the colors red, yellow, peach, and pink for the florwers while royal blue, magenta, fuchsia, yellow and apple green for the butterfly.  After several sketches, we were finally able to design two pieces:  

A challenge that we always face in bead embroidery design is how to give the piece texture. It’s an element of design that stops our creations from getting a “flat” look. Along with maintaining a proper balance between color combinations and texture; we always make sure that our pieces “come to life” in accordance with what our client wants.

To give the flower cluster piece texture, I decided to use flower brooches. First, I removed the pins from the original stock of brooches. I then used the flower part of the brooch to embellish the handmade statement necklace. This is a very tedious process, especially if you’re sewing the brooches, individually, by hand. However, we were very pleased with what came out:

For the butterfly-inspired statement pieces, we went back to the basics, in that we used simple craft beads as the main component for the necklace. The challenge in using craft beads meanwhile is how to make the piece glamorous, while using base materials. We achieved by subtly placing a few pieces of crystals to the entire piece. This slight addition greatly enhances the effect of the craft beads:

Lastly, we improved our finishing by using faux leather instead of the usual satin or suede/ felt cloth, to cover the back.

It’s a difficult task to envision and design a piece that’s supposed to adhere to another person’s aesthetics and style. It’s even more difficult to execute. Finding the right material, colors, and blending them together is a painful process in itself. Even with all that effort, at the end of the day, your client might even reject it. However, we view this entire process as a form of collaborating and learning. We believe that experience is life’s best teacher; and it’s always a soulful experience to see beauty through the eyes of another.

Keeping it real. - PJV 

Filipino Style Advocate: Cayetano Legacy Collection

Palamuti  is a proud supplier for Cayetano Legacy Collection. We hold similar views, in which the Filipino artist can proudly display their creations globally. We recently provided them with several handmade statement necklaces, designed and crafted by Filipino women artisans trained by Palamuti.

Cayetano Legacy Collection was founded by three first generation Filipino American sisters. After recognizing a need for women’s jewelry and handbags, showcasing beautifully sourced materials from the Philippines, they wanted to bring worldwide attention to the beautiful handcrafted creations coming from their native country, while also giving back to the nation that has given them their heritage.

As a bi-coastal fashion lifestyle company, providing classic designs of women's accessories in a modern setting, they actively support Filipino programs that train its citizens to source and manufacture these products.  They are very active in promoting and selling these products through their website, cayetanolegacy.com, and in trunk shows in various parts of the United States.

Among the designs they have chosen to include in their next collection are our Pangarap ni Esperanza, Bastet in Brown and Aurora. All of these necklaces show our artisans' command of beading, primarily using cut and seed beads.

                   


It is through companies, like Cayetano Legacy Collection Inc. who believe, not only in our products but the stories behind them, that keeps us doing what we love to do: creating stories of beauty and empowerment through handcrafted jewelry.

Here are some of Cayetano Legacy Collection’s upcoming events from July to September 2014:  

July

7/1 - 7/31

7/12

BEAUTIQUE DAY SPA & SALON

Beautique Day Spa & Salon - Rice Village , 

2507 Times Blvd , Houston, TX

August

8/1 - 8/30

MAGPIE NYC

Magpie NYC, 

488 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY

8/9

EXHALE SPA

Exhale Spa - Bridgehampton , 

2415 Main Street, Bridgehampton, NY

8/24

WILD RUFFLE POP-UP

Wild Ruffle Pop Up Market, 

Main Ave, Prior Lake, MN

September

9/13 - 9/14

BLOOMINGDALE’S

Bloomingdale's - SoHo, 

504 Broadway, New York, NY

9/13 - 9/14

BLOOMINGDALE’S

Bloomingdale's - Glendale Galleria, 

103 South Brand Blvd. , Glendale

Celebrating International Women's Month

We were given an opportunity to celebrate International Women's Month's with East Avenue Medical Center, with an exhibit organized by the hospital's Public Health Unit Team. The exhibit ran from March 20, 2013 until March 22, 2013, which featured some of our products and the designs made by some of our beaders: Tes, Novie, Kriz, and Pearlie. Here are some of the photos from the event. Feel free to check more photos on our Facebook fan page!

Palamuti's new signage

Exhibit area at EAMC's Main Lobby

Our beaders and their work

Meet our in house beaders

Prior to the exhibit, we had a short workshop on making accessories

Accessories on bottles

How to make Kanzashi

Novie assisting some of the participants in making their own Kanzashi flower

Everybody had fun and looked forward to more workshops

All of the participants took home their own Kanzashi flower accessory

All That Sparkles Gives Gold by Krizia Eleni Patrocinio

We met Kim during a two-day bazaar at the Asian Institute of Management, December of last year.  The very first items she bought from us were gifts for her cousins. Afterwards, she began purchasing our embellished necklaces, which she stylishly pair with her outfits! 

When you have no more time (or money) to shop, on a budget, with a wardrobe consisting of mostly blacks, greys and browns, and you suddenly find yourself receiving an invitation to attend a very special occasion with only 3 weeks to prepare, what do you do? You rely on your creativity, originality and pizzazz of course! 

" Everyone noticed my necklace and told me they liked it. No one even noticed that I repeated my outfit! It was a great and unforgettable fashion moment.  "

This happened to me in December, while in the thick of preparations for an office Christmas party, a family reunion, a block dinner, etc. I received a message from my high school friend informing everyone that she was getting married in three weeks! Because I already spent most of my money on gifts and I had no energy, or time, to go to the mall (or online) to look for the perfect wedding guest outfit, I resolved to recycle one of my dresses and wear it for her big day. Heck, if Kate (otherwise known as the Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge) can be photographed wearing the same dress twice, I can too!

Since wearing black was my personal faux pas when attending weddings, I decided to wear my beige dress. I was worried that it looked too plain, but I was running out of options. I figured that I can look for accessories at home that I can pair it with so I that I would look more interesting. Serendipitously, PJ of PalamutiStorytelling Jewels was at an AIM bazaar that week, selling her one-of-a-kind accessories! It was the perfect solution to my predicament! I immediately fell in love with her embellished necklaces, but I bought the clip-on earrings and the cocktail rings because I needed to give my cousins Christmas gifts. 

With 2 more weeks to go, I was getting more anxious. I didn’t want to spend more than PhP2,000 for a dress I will rarely wear, but I did not want to look plain at the wedding. As if fate was calling out to me, I saw a photo of Precious Lara Quigaman wearing an Amatullah necklace with her nude dress, on my Facebook news feed. It was Palamuti Storytelling Jewels posting her photo! It was exactly the look I was aiming for: classic yet sophisticated, subdued yet trendy, stand-out but conforming. The perfect look for a wedding guest. I took it as a sign and called PJ to ask for the availability of the embellished necklace. Thankfully, she can have one made in time for the wedding!

The rest, as they say, is history. I made my Amatullah embellished necklace the focal point of my entire ensemble. Everyone noticed my necklace and told me they liked it. No one even noticed that I repeated my outfit! It was a great and unforgettable fashion moment.

In the time of Facebook and Instagram, when photos are everywhere, and discerning people can tell if you repeated outfits or not, it is more practical to invest in accessories that redefine and recreate totally different looks. More than adding a bit more sparkle in a regular outfit, an embellished necklace provides added glamour and a lasting impression on the taste and style of its wearer.

Palamuti’s Muse: Woman by Zoe Alabanza

Zoe is a dear friend since childhood. I know her as a traveler and lover of all things great and small. Along with her older sister and cousin, they have been the first faces of Palamuti as well as being avid supporters. She shares with us her opinion of our storytelling jewels: 

When asked to guest write for PALAMUTISTORYTELLING JEWELS, I didn't think twice of doing it. Writing a piece for a jewelry that made me “Almost Famous" is the least I can do to acknowledge how grateful I am to be part of the wonderful creative journey of making every piece of earrings, bracelets and necklaces that makes a Woman BEAUTIFUL and SPECIAL. Truth be told , women are not really hard to please , give them green mangoes with tons of "bagoong" plus a blend of vanilla milk with peppermint and cupcakes on the side on a gloomy rainy day could really make wonders. 

 

Simple things like these big or small could really get the ball rolling, brighten their day and might get what you're asking for. Just imagine giving them jewelries! Kidding aside, PALAMUTI STORYTELLINGJEWELS as the name implies not only vividly creates original masterpieces, it also weaves imagination and inspiration produced by the creator and highly promotes individuality and uniqueness by the muse-- The Woman. So to PALAMUTI, thank you for making us feel special and beautiful and continue empowering us with such classic work of art that sums up who we really are in general: INDEPENDENT and ELEGANT!

Snowflakes in Summer

Our strength is customization. We understand the psychology of women's desire to wear one-of-a-kind pieces, and we are at their command.

One of our latest custom-made pieces is this enchanting  snowflake-inspired set.  The challenge for us in creating this set were:

- Sewing a pattern on a cut out white felt as large as coin

- Using mainly white and clear beads to create the feel of a snowflake

Though we are used to sewing patterns using seed and cut beads, the smaller space to sew the patterns on proved to be more challenging, and following the snowflake-edged felt was even more difficult. To add using white beads on hand-stitched bead embroidery tends to make patterns look flat.

Thanks, PJ for executing the design I have in mind. I love it! :)- Lei

With a lot of patience and dedication, we came out with this pattern, and upon approval of our client  turned them into a bracelet with snowflake metal charm and fresh water pearls paired with a set of dangling earrings.

Nothing makes us happier than being able to execute our client's preferences! 

Want us to execute a design for you, email us at info@palamutishop.com. Visit our designer's portfolio here. Feel free to browse our other designs on our Facebook Fan Page.

Untitled

My pieces come to life when worn by women who not only appreciate the final output but also the process the piece went through. 

Palamuti is not about mass production, it’s about translating individuality to well-crafted costume jewelries. Ever since I chose to make designing accessories a full time job, every day has been a moment of exploration, imagination and creativity. 

I create to live.- PJV

Palamuti of the Week: Mayumi Summer 2012

Mayumi Summer 2012 Collection

Heading to a coffee session with your girl friends? Keep it nice and classy with Mayumi Summer 2012!

Looking for something to top up your special occasion dress? Mayumi Summer will surely make you the The Top 1 in the Most Glamorous list of the evening.

Get Mayumi Summer now and add oomph to your corporate attire.

Sources

http://www.warehouse.co.uk/belted-crepe-shorts./Trousers-&-Leggings/warehouse/fcp-product/307597

http://www.aliceandolivia.com/strayla-drape-wing-top.html

http://www.calypsostbarth.com/Akan-Navy-Thong-p-19401.html

http://www.johnlewis.com/231476406/Product.aspx?source=54836

http://www.polyvore.com/badgley_mischka_lissa_sea_satin/thing?id=32219818

http://www.jcrew.com/womens_category/handbags/tote/PRDOVR~63665/63665.jsp http://www.stylebop.com/ph/product_details.php?menu1=clothing&menu2=16&id=284201 http://www.heels.com/womens-shoes/whistle-forest-patent.html

HG Studio: Your One-Stop Shop Glamour Hub

You haven't seen 'one-stop shop' until you've dropped by HG Studio. Where in the Metro will you find a studio that offers make-up artistry, photography services, and event-handling all together? HG Studio takes its name from the initials of its owner, Ms. Hazel Gonzales--a professional makeup artist who underwent studies at the Center of Aesthetic Studies, the Philippines' premier makeup school.

The glamour diva herself: professional makeup artist and HG Studio owner Hazel Gonzalez

HG Studio is an upscale service hub that will offer its customers a true experience of glamour. Nestled in the heart of Timog Avenue in Quezon City (at the ground floor of the newly constructed Torre Venezia Hotel), this modern-day atelier aims to collaborate with varied creative geniuses composed of makeup artists, stylists, photographers, videographers, event coordinators, and fashion designers. It functions mainly as a makeup artist's playground, but doubles as a photographer's haven and an event-coordinator's sit-down venue. The studio has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, treating clients to exclusive services through the use of its highly esteemed quality products.

Aside from taking on the role of traditional wedding studio, HG is also committed to keeping their specialty clients happy with creative concept shoots that are both unique and classy. Whether its an avant-garde, one for the kids, for the blooming woman carrying a baby, for the lovely debutante, or all about the quintessential nude, HG Studio promises to deliver excellent high-quality photographs that are aesthetically pleasing; and hey, no need to rummage through the Metro for that freelance makeup artist! HG takes away the hassle, leaving only the glamorous behind. In need of pretty accessories to spice up your photo-shoot? HG Studio is affiliated with Palamuti Storytelling Jewels, so 'down-to-the-details' is never a problem!

Palamuti Storytelling Jewels displayed at the HG glamour hub

HG Studio is open from Monday to Sunday: 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

For more questions and inquiries, contact: (02) 332 3577 / 0905 279 7187

View HG Studio's extensive portfolio: log on to their website.

The Day The Silk And Denim Unite

GMA NEWS 11, Good News with Vicky Morales Interview with the couple

Let’s admit it. One of our biggest worry whenever we attend weddings is what to actually wear on that special occasion. Many of us cringe at the thought of finding that perfect suit or that wonderful dress. That’s why the recently married couple, Jayvee and Laarni Valenciano, decided to just make it easier for their guests to be present on their wedding day. So they came up with a very unique idea – a “Silk and Denim” wedding theme – to make sure that everyone invited won't pass up the opportunity to witness their marriage.

“That desire of wanting all the people who are dear to us to be present on our big day, without the usual worries and excuse of having to go through the fussy, uncomfortable, and anxious circumstance over spending on an expensive outfit just to be able to attend to our wedding was the brainchild behind this,” says Laarni. “We assume each of them has a piece of denim in their wardrobe or if not, they probably own a piece or two that has silk in it.”

The couple said they wanted something unique and modern to be worn as formal attire. With denim in mind, they thought it would be best to incorporate it with something a bit traditional, like silk. “It’s like fusing two different things together, each complementing the other, without looking chaotic,” Laarni pointed out.

SDE: Florante & Laarni - 11/11/11 from Ariel Javelosa Photography on Vimeo.

All wedding symbols at the venue were adorned with silk and denim highlights. The female entourage had corsets made of silk while the male entourage wore denim ties. Both entourage sported their own black denim pants to go with the occasion’s theme.

For wardrobe accessories, Manila’s newest custom jewelry venture, Palamuti by PJ Valenciano, created stylish denim brooches that accentuated the ensembles for the female entourage. Moreover, adorable flower girls marched to the altar wearing blue gowns with embellished beads and had silk and denim belts to match, also made by Palamuti. And to top it all off, the bride and the groom walked down the center aisle in their favorite denim shoes.

“We are inspired by no less than our own personalities,” Laarni added. “We very much wanted to express our characters over two things, being two fabrics in harmony with one another – one that is simple and one that is fancy. Me being represented by denim, laid-back and free-spirited, as denims are worn comfortably in casual occasions, and silk, representing Jayvee as somewhat old school but sleek and pleasant.”

Surely, this type of wedding theme is very easy on the pocket for the attendees. No one needs to overspend in order to appear plush. This pleasingly deviates from the conventional wedding where most people have to shelve out money in order to be extravagant for the occasion. On the couples part though, they made sure that they’ll be able to buy the best denim they can have, even if it meant spending more than what they have originally set on their budget.

Their family and guest were also amazed on how everything turned out. Laarni said that at first, some of them were a bit cynical on the idea, as they are used to go in accordance to themes set on typical weddings. But they eventually loved it and realized that they all were able to pull it off without having to look stiff and uptight.

Creativity and inspiration will truly turn any wedding to a remarkable moment. It doesn’t have to be super posh and costly at all. When everyone is comfortable and unruffled, the joy of celebrating the occasion is certainly doubled.

We have a new blog focused solely on weddings and debuts. 

 Visit http://www.weddingsanddebutsbypjv.blogspot.com  

All Glitz And Glimmer On “Glamorosa”

Love and success are two of the most coveted things in our lives. See how two cosmetic surgeons struggle to overpower each other in an industry filled with intrigue and betrayal on TV5’s most recent offering, Glamorosa. This new miniserye that started last November 7 is led by veteran actresses Lorna Tolentino and Alice Dixson and supported by Zoren Legaspi, Gloria Diaz, Ronaldo Valdez and many more excellent artists in the local tv scene.

Lorna Tolentino plays the role of Dra. Natalia Herrera, a successful cosmetic surgeon who had experienced the loss of her child and the man she loves. While Natalia worked to maintain her popularity in the world of beauty and cosmetic surgery, her rival Dra. Paulina Valdez (Alice Dixson) pursues to sweep her over to become more successful. With an unfortunate twist of fate, both of them try to win the heart of Karl Marciano (Zoren Legaspi).

Catch it every night from Monday to Friday after Wil Time Bigtime and see glimpses of Palamuti by PJ Valenciano accessories being worn by some of the female casts. Meg Imperial, who played Adrianna Marciano already have worn the magnificent bib necklace from the Songs Of Autumn Collection. See more of these pieces on the upcoming episodes of Glamorosa.

Wedding Belles are Blinging

For the blushing bride, dreaming of the perfect ensemble for her big day would probably count as the most exciting part of planning a wedding; princess fantasies have never left the 'little girl' in her. Every girl dreams of looking like a queen, and that one special day certainly gives her the opportunity to fulfill that worldly fantasy.

Detail is key: from the dress, down to the jewelry, hair, and makeup; every little feature is crucial when orchestrating that final look. Add a little 'frosting' to your fashion-cake and you're good to go. Shopping for the appropriate jewelry can too be a challenge; one thing I want every bride to know is it need not break the bank! The fashion world has had its democratic transformation. Fashion no longer equates itself to labels; creativity has triggered the burgeoning of indie style and D.I.Y. Palamuti has attracted a wide range of admirers by using an assorted mix of mediums to craft its jewelry, as the brand ably caters to a variety of style personas- which includes the blushing bride.

Fashion awakens the artist in every woman, more so the dreamy belle.

Beach Wedding Al Fresco

Go 'au naturel' with your makeup

while you balance it off with a sweet and pretty statement necklace!

Bold and Beautiful

Paint a red lip

and dare to wear an art piece.

Whether you're a classic princess or a queen sophisticate,

you decide your fashion fate.

Palamuti Storytelling Jewels

There's something for everyone. :)

Both jewelry pieces are available at the Themes and Motifs Store located at the Makati Shangrila Hotel.

Photo Credits:

Photography and Make-up by Palamuti's very own fashion blogger- Nikki Valenzuela