Little Steps: The Process of an Eco Friendly Packaging
Sustainability has been the ongoing thrust of @artinjewels. As part of our efforts for sustainable enterprise, we produce one-of-a-kind designs at an artisanal scale, employing local Filipino talents to uplift the livelihood and skills of our craftsmen. Gems are ethically sourced and cut overseas through our friends at Safir Gems who have extensive connections with small-scale mining families from Brazil, Sri Lanka, and other localities.
With social and economic factors considered, a third factor is often overlooked in the pursuit of sustainability. That factor is the environment. As producers and consumers, each one of us leaves a "footprint" on the earth. Our carbon, water, and plastic footprints have lasting effects on our quality of life, thus we are actively reducing waste in our operations. Just to give an example, we have not purchased any new plastics and bubble wrappings for six years now. We have been reusing plastics we receive from normal deliveries (e.g. online shopping and groceries) and we haven't run out of packaging material. That's just how much plastic is already going around without us adding much more to it.
For our packaging, we reached out to @jacintoandlirio, a Filipino company that specializes in handmade vegan leathergoods. Jacinto & Lirio utilizes water hyacinth, a pest plant that has been clogging Philippine waterways, to produce plant-based leather that is both sturdy and nature-degradable. Each @artinjewels box and pouch is made by hand. And we are happy to report that vegan leather boxes produced longer than 3 years ago are still being used by clients to this day. This means they are staying out of our landfills for much longer than lower-quality plastic boxes and pouches.
Mindful practices that consider social, economic, and environmental impact are the ways in which we enrich the meaning of our wearable art pieces. Luxuries you love; luxuries that love back--small steps are the beginnings of larger ripples of change.
This vast expanse of green may look lovely, but the truth is that this is an overgrowth of the notorious water hyacinth in Taytay, Rizal. It is an aquatic plant whose burgeoning growth has been choking the natural movement that supplements oxygen into freshwater.
When freshwater becomes stagnant, it not only starts to produce putrid gasses, it also kills fish and other lifeforms that depend on freshwater to survive. This becomes a perfect breeding ground for harmful insects and bacteria.
Process of creating vegan leather, from harvesting, to drying, to leatherization.
Beyond Real
On Transparency
We are extremely saddened to hear of recent events, about a certain jeweler who sold plastics and glass as natural, earth-mined gemstones. The buying public deserves to know what they are spending their hard-earned money on. As a practice, we in @artinjewels seek to be transparent in the components we use in every piece we make. As much as possible, we disclose any treatments we observe even in the tiniest of accent stones. We take our own photos—in plain old daylight—to give customers the most accurate representation of our products.
Old school but still useful.
As a little side note, though the Presidium Gem Tester is great for doing a quick check on whether or not your stones are plastic or glass, we believe a jeweler mustn’t stop there. Gem identification can be tricky even for trained gemologists. Thus, aside from the advice of our partner GIA Graduate gemologists, in the office we also employ tools like loupes, a refractometer, and a dichroscope just to be sure.
So… Is it Real?
Real is just the bare minimum. Years before we started @artinjewels, we searched for the right people to work with; met with them, observed how they source their gems, how they do their cutting, and how they treat their people. When it comes to building trust as an online business, we believe that being part of the process from end-to-end ensures that nothing slips through the cracks. Aside from partnering with experts who are also graduate gemologists, having a bird's-eye view of our gems' journey from rough to cut gives us full knowledge of their natural origin. But that's just the beginning. Determining and disclosing gemstone treatments (e.g. heat, irradiation, oiling, etc.) is the next step to providing full transparency so you know exactly what you're getting.
Future Forward
It is our hope that these recent unfortunate events dissuade other sellers from being negligent in curating their wares. Customers deserve better. We in @artinjewels acknowledge the importance of protecting our customers from buying something they never asked for, and so we promise to continue holding ourselves to a high standard, and to be humble enough to accept mistakes if they should ever arise.
Classic Tools Like a Refractometer and a Polariscope can help remove the guesswork in gem identification.
Anna K. uses several gemological tools to determine not just the type of stone but also the treatment/s, if any
Electryone and Icarus
Modern Mythos
Hours spent in planning and discussing everything from the concept to the approach to the materials, colors, and textures is a vital part of the bespoke process. The client's and the artist's perspectives need to find synchrony. And then afterwards, the vision needs to find harmony with the precious metals and gemstones to be used in the execution of the piece. These earrings are a continuation of a previous study of the Icarus mythology that we rendered in a golden necklace.
Electryone and Icarus
Electryone, goddess of the sun, stood in wait. The mortals slept, and she would rouse them at the appointed time, for people must rise with the sun. She would wait like this each night. And she would wait again for the rest of the day after her duty was done.
The horizon brightening with the dawn, she went to the edge of the precipice which overlooked the world below. She would miss her task today. Today the world continued to sleep. A strange man was ascending the heavens. But his wings were crude and precarious; wax and feathers would melt in the face of her father's flames. Helios granted mercy to no one.
Stop, she warned him. But her odd language could only appear as further invitation to keep flying. The man approached, and the wax on his wings softened until the feathers could no longer hold.
The world slept as amber-hued tears fell that day. Only the sound of seawaves remained of the man who almost touched the sun.
Love as Promise
The Icarus series explores a love story between a mortal man and a sun goddess. When it comes to romance, the real myth may be the hope of a passion that burns forever. After the first sparks fly, what's next? Is a love that has turned lukewarm a failed love, or is it a nest of untapped potential?
Perhaps rather than an ever-burning flame, the real challenge of love is a commitment to find it everyday. Electryone searches the seas day and night, hoping to find the winged man once more. As mere mortals, what flames do we hope to kindle in our own relationships?
The Flight of Icarus: 18K hand-carved necklace mounted with custom cut light yellow citrine and gray spinels
Electryone and Icarus: Ear cuff mounted with diamonds, spinels, and citrine
Ear Climber mismatched with the Electryone and Icarus ear cuff
Re(Collection)
When I think about the sameness of the days, how it's the same room, the same place, the same time I wake up everyday, I can't help but wonder how 'normal' once was. It's hard to remember what things were like.
Was it the freedom of visiting loved ones whenever I felt like it? Or strolling in the mall, or eating out, or travelling?
Then again, once I sit down in my office and look out the window, I realise there's nothing the same about yesterday and today. The sun shines a little differently this season. The dragonflies are out. Perhaps it will rain. Or perhaps not. It's a bit humid.
Tomorrow the air might feel drier. I might go out for a walk where there aren't many people. A might see the birds that sneak around the vines and the wild fig trees, sipping nectar from little flowes. They aren't always there. I have to cross my fingers to see them.
Before I knew it, my notebook has filled up with new and exciting ideas. There is beauty in routine, in small spaces, in hidden corners, and unexpected visitors. There is beauty in simply being alive and breathing things in.
View From the Window
"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?" (月が綺麗ですね)
There is a story that tells of how novelist Soseki Natsume once taught his students that one mustn't translate expressions of love word-for-word. While one culture might say “I love you” a certain way, another culture might find direct expressions of love intimidating. Love, as one of the most beautiful things about being human, may be expressed as a form of reverence and respect. Sighing about the breathtaking beauty of the moon has, for some time now, been understood to mean "I love you” in countries like Japan and South Korea. Beyond romance, love is treated with a reverential distance that elevates the experience above mere emotions.
This person, this place, this view, has touched my soul in ways nearly impossible to express… thus, here it is, my approximation of love.
In J's case, love is family. Love is togetherness. And most of all, love is home.
She shared photos of Roxas City; its unmatched sunsets, sky red and blazing over the bay, and at the edge of the horizon, the moon rising in silver splendor.
J's specific words: "Whimsical and sentimental this time ❤️ water, sunset, home." Her earrings feature moonstones, indicolite tourmalines, padparadscha sapphires, rubies, blue sapphires, and tanzanite, to recreate her beloved view.
Debut Poetry Collection: We've Been Here Before
I am pleased to announce that my debut poetry collection, "We've Been Here Before", is forthcoming with Aqueduct Press. My book is a collection of poems I've written in the last 15 years, exploring themes of identity, transformation, and oppression in the eyes of a woman navigating her male-dominated family and society. Borrowing the voice of objects, animals, insects, and even robots, each poem tackles a salient experience of the silently oppressed.
Estimated launch date: February 2022
"We've Been Here Before" is my first book of poetry, but it is also the third published book in my writing career. Previously published work include my science fiction novel, The Light Bringer's Kingdom (2015, The Zharmae Publishing Press, now defunct), and Exis: Gods, Ghosts, and Battered Cellphones (May 1, 2010 by eTreasures Publishing).
Art and Jewelry: A Sustainability Journey
@artinjewels has always acknowledged the need for sustainability when doing business. Sustainability is the ability to exist constantly. Rather than being a promise, it is a journey that involves building three pillars: economic, environmental, and societal. Jewelry as a product relies on finite resources of the earth, namely precious metals and gemstones. Thus, we have made it a point to honor these gifts from the land by creating only the most beautiful art pieces that will live on with you.
Rough Selection
Our partner gemologists manage the gemstone production, which follows an end-to-end process of sourcing the rough to cutting and faceting. Most of our gems are cut from rough that is sourced straight from LOCAL families who have been in the mining industry for several generations. Getting the rough gems straight from the local families benefits the communities from which the gems originate (e.g. Sri Lanka, Brazil, Tanzania, etc.). It ensures not only quality but also that we know whose hands guided the gems out of the earth.
Gemstone Cutting
Our cutter is a father-and-son team who work together to design the cuts and execute them on fitting gemstones. They use the latest in cutting techniques and high quality diamond dust to ensure the best polish that can be achieved. A lot of our clients tell us that our gems are different, more lustrous and beautiful even in dim lighting. That's because our process is different. We cut what is best for a small batch of rough rather than applying a single design for mass production. This minimises wastage while allowing each gemstone's unique personality to shine.
Jewelry Production and Packaging
Anne designs each and every piece herself. You can read more about her creative process in The Conservatory section of our website. Several artisans are involved in the production of every jewel we make. In order for our team to keep doing what they do so well, we ensure that they are paid fairly for their work. Thus, we employ a Downpayment-First policy before rendering any form of labor. We appreciate your support in enabling us to take good care of our artisans.
Aside from building its economic and societal pillars, @artinjewels is doing its part for the environment by actively reducing plastic usage. We have partnered with @jacintoandlirio for our packaging. Our boxes are handmade locally with plant leather obtained from water hyacinth. Harvesting this pest plant from our waterways helps to unclog the rivers and allows more oxygen for other aquatic life like fish.
Creating your wearable art pieces is both a passion and a source of livelihood for us. By ensuring sustainability and mindfulness in every step of the production process, we believe we can leave behind a most beautiful legacy.
The Art of Love
Local jewel artist brings a little extra sparkle and shine to Katipunan
Fresh from her New York exhibit, founder and jewel artisan Anne Carly Abad of Art in Jewels is back in the Philippines for a cozy little show for Valentine’s at The Arton Strip by Rockwell this February 13-16.
There’s nothing quite as exciting or as personal as customized jewelry. Whether you want to mark a milestone or use it as a form of self-expression, fine jewelry is an investment. From stone selection, consultation, design sketching, and finally, the finished product— Art in Jewels delivers flawlessly on all fronts.
Being a writer at heart, Anne’s aesthetic revolves around her poetics and the organic inspiration she draws from nature and the gems themselves. Precious and semi-precious gemstones like sapphires, spinels, garnets, and diamonds feature in much of her creations. She works closely with her partner gemologists and gem cutters to source exceptional gems from all over the world, enthroning them in flowing pieces of finely-crafted gold.
Anne has a unique background as an artist, fictionist, and poet, and has garnered multiple award nominations in international poetry awarding bodies, and was ultimately awarded the Poet of the Year in the 2017 Nick Joaquin Literary Awards. She came back to her first love, the visual arts, by using gemstones and metal as her medium with the help of skilled FIlipino jewelry artisans.
Philippine Jewel Artist Makes a New York Dazzle - New York, NY
Founder and jewel artisan Anne Carly Abad of Art in Jewels, is among 40 other exhibitors at the Metal + Smith Winter Edit, which takes place February 3 - 4, 2020 at 518 W, 38th Street. Anne brings to the exhibit table wearable art pieces inspired by her fiction and poetics. Natural gemstones like sapphires, spinels, aquamarines, and garnets are native inhabitants of her world of brilliance and color.
Anne works closely with her partner gemologists and gem cutters to source exceptional gems from all over the world, enthroning them in exquisite designs that are crafted into gold by master artisans in the Philippines.
You may follow Art in Jewels on Instagram, @artinjewels.