Art Jewelry Focus: Clarisse

I made the first version of the Clarisse Necklace back in 2012. I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to waste or throw away any of my art materials. At that time, someone gave me a set of semi-precious stones from a trip to Himalayan country Nepal. I used those stones by incorporating them in the original Clarisse necklace. I used the remaining ones to sew on felt cloth to make the necklace’s patterns.

Every now and again, someone will order this necklace from me. We even had the chance to sell them in the United States. I believe that this design should be categorized as one of our classic pieces.

Every year, I always aim to improve upon its design. This year Mariz and her then husband-to-be ordered 12 pieces as gifts for their primary sponsors for their wedding day. They loved the structure of the original Clarisse necklace. This was also a chance for me to improve on the design again, and play with color combinations.

The materials I used were similar. Though I wasn’t able to source more semi-precious stones directly from Nepal, I was able to find a suitable local substitute from the jewelry and accessory market here in the Philippines. I was able to combine them with seed beads, which were imported from Japan, China, or Korea.I also used this opportunity to improve on the necklace’s back cover; switching from mere felt cloth to synthetic leather.

To match their wedding motif, I added crystal attachments, with glass beads, to the necklace. This symbolized the Filipino devotion for the Rosary. As a final touch, an crystals to symbolize their union as one happy couple, ready to start their new life as husband and wife.  

More Artisan Jewelry at PALAMUTISHOP.COM

Photography: Carlo Cayabyab

Keeping it real. -PJV 

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

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.  

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 

Bead Jewelry Party Workshop

GET CRAFTY! A great addition to your daughter's birthday party is a mini workshop on making handmade bead jewelry! Amaya Accents, together with our Palamuti beaders, had a fun time teaching moms and daughters on how to make simple one-strand faux pearl necklaces. This mini-workshop is a great activity for hyperactive kids, since it challenges their creativity and sense of accomplishment, while being fun and interactive at the same time.

Mothers and daughters tap into their creative side

Surprisingly, we attracted guests from different age groups, and even some dads and big brothers too! Participants took home their faux pearl necklaces as a souvenir of bead jewelry mini-workshop.

Book a Bead Jewelry Party with Amaya Accents by emailing amayaaccents@gmail.com.

Here's a similar story on the benefits of crafting:

Creation Story: 10 Reasons to Craft with Kids by Jackie Ashton
http://www.remodelista.com/posts/10-reasons-to-craft-with-children-diy-project-with-kids-holiday-diy-projects-happier-at-home 
For inquiries please email amayaaccents@gmail.com.

Meet our Artisans

With mommy and the birthday girl

Make your own birthday souvenir!

Mini-workshop buzzing with moms and daughters

Goodie Bags!

Setting up before the big event

Big sisters and little sisters concentrating on their necklaces

Judy Ann teaching guests fun techniques on making accessories

Everyone had a great time at the party!

Casual Chic Outfits for Valentine

Valentine Casual Date Outfit by palamuti-storytelling-jewels

For your special Valentine's Day date, be comfortable and chic at the same time! Here are our handpicked outfits for a casual Valentine's Day. Add flair to your ensemble by  accessorizing with a statement necklace. Find inspiration from these sets. Simply tweak them to suit your personal style. Work your magic on your attires and leave the rest to Cupid.  

 Handmade accessories go well with class and comfortable Valentine's Day Attire.

Avoid fashion disasters by going simple and stunning. A customized, handmade statement necklace offers elegance, variety, and a true work of art.

Color of the Year 2014: Radiant Orchid

UTOPIA

"Radiant Orchid blooms with confidence and magical warmth that intrigues the eye and sparks the imagination. It is an expressive, creative and embracing purple—one that draws you in with its beguiling charm. A captivating harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid emanates great joy, love and health."- Pantone.Com

We are as ecstatic as the next designer when Pantone announced the "color of the year". Personally, we love the majesty of radiant orchid, and apparently, so do many of our clients.We believe one of the main reasons to like this color is that it's warm to the eyes.Radiant orchid is also said  to symbolize femininity and strength. 

Read more about radiant orchid here.

Here's a rundown of handmade jewelry and accessories inspired by the color of the year. 

You can purchase any of these pieces, on our website. Please note that some items are yet to be posted online, but you can send your inquiries on availabiliy, through our contact form. 

 CATALINA LAYERED NECKLACE 

$40.00 

ALLIGATOR GAR

$50.00

 CARNATION AMONG THE THORNS

$50.00

 DAILY PALAMUTI NECKLACE 

SALE PRICE: $8.00

 HIRAYA SCARF NECKLACE 

$25.00

PANGARAP NI ESPERANZA 

$33.00

 CONSUELO 

$33.00

 HIYAS

$31.00

 

ROSALINA

$20.00

ESTRELLA

$26.00

 BOHEMIAN EARRINGS

Custom Made

ESMERALDA

$36.00