Research: Materials

 The main assumption of my jewelry project was to create jewelry inspired by Native Americans. When choosing materials, I ensured they were as close to natural products as possible, such as natural stones, gemstones, and crystals. According to their beliefs, turquoise was a stone that brought healing and protected against diseases. It was considered a prayer stone (Oyasin, 2015).

Turquise

My next idea was to connect natural stones with another material. I started my search for resin, but it turned out that harmful chemicals were extracted during its production, which does not fit the assumption of purity and nature (Team Craft Resin, 2022). To implement my vision, I needed a material that was plastic and as least toxic as possible. I thought about clay as a product strongly associated with nature, but this material, in turn, seemed to me to be too heavy for jewelry. following the clay trail, I read about a material called polymer clay. It is a plastic mass that, after baking in the oven, becomes hard and durable (polymerclaysuperstore). Many creators use this version of clay to create jewelry. It turned out to be the perfect solution for my ethnic jewelry design. 

Once I have chosen which material I will combine the natural stones with. I did a quick research on the companies that are the best at making jewelry. It turns out that three companies on the market are recommended for this type of work. these are Sculpey Premo, Fimo Professional, and Kato Polyclay (Stearns,2022). Then, check the availability of these companies on the UK market. Most online stores such as Amazon have them available. Unfortunately, I couldn't find them locally, but if you have an Amazon premium account, they can deliver it the next day.

The last choice was the material for the chain. For a moment I was thinking about combining it with silver or gold, but I decided that I wanted to keep these materials to a minimum, or maybe just use small additions. While browsing through Google galleries with chains, I came across leather, straps, and waxed cords. I was the first to take a closer look was: leather. However, it turned out that you can't be sure of its water resistance (mahileather.com/2018), and I assume (from my own experience) that hardly anyone takes off jewelry to, for example, shower or bath. The next material I used for my research was: waxed strings. While looking for information about waxed cords, I managed to find a company whose cords are waterproof and do not lose their color due to climatic conditions. The fact that they are vegan-friendly mineral wax is also a big plus (www.spoiltrottenbeads.co.uk).  A lot of people, especially from the millennials generation and Gen Z, identify with a vege/vegan lifestyle. The only downside is the fact that they are of Brazilian origin, which makes their delivery difficult. I found a few sellers on the English website Etsy who have this company's stock. Unfortunately, their supply is limited. However, I decided that quality is an important aspect and I will base my jewelry project on these cords. 

References:

Woman, R.E.C.M. (2021) Turquoise: The medicine stone of the indigenous Native Americans, Turquoise Skies. Available at: https://tskies.com/blogs/news/turquoise-the-medicine-stone-of-the-indigenous-native-americans#:~:text=Lastly%2C%20turquoise%20is%20also%20considered,to%20protect%20themselves%20from%20illness. (Accessed: 25 November 2023).

Craft Resin (2023) Do you have to wear a respirator when working with craft resin? Craft Resin. Available at: https://www.craft-resin.com/blogs/news/do-you-have-to-wear-a-respirator-when-working-with-craft-resin (Accessed: 25 November 2023).

Polymer Clay Superstore (no date) Polymer clay information for beginners, Polymer Clay Superstore. Available at: https://polymerclaysuperstore.com/pages/polymer-clay-for-beginners#:~:text=need%20to%20begin%3F-,What%20is%20Polymer%20Clay%3F,resins%2C%20coloring%20agents%20and%20fillers. (Accessed: 25 November 2023).

Sarah Stearns Founder and Editor Sarah Stearns has helped millions of makers find their next craft project with free patterns and step-by-step tutorials on her blog (2022) Best polymer clay for earrings and jewelry, Sarah Maker. Available at: https://sarahmaker.com/best-polymer-clay-for-earrings-and-jewelry/ (Accessed: 25 November 2023).

Is leather waterproof? or water-resistant? (2017) MAHI Leather. Available at: https://mahileather.com/blogs/news/is-leather-waterproof-or-water-resistant#:~:text=If%20the%20leather%20doesn’t,older%20and%20is%20left%20untreated. (Accessed: 25 November 2023).

Brazilian linhasita waxed cord 1mm – 5 meters – grass green (1045) (2023) Spoilt Rotten Beads. Available at: https://www.spoiltrottenbeads.co.uk/product/brazilian-waxed-cord-1mm-5-meters-grass-green/ (Accessed: 25 November 2023).

Brazilian linhasita waxed cord archives (no date) Spoilt Rotten Beads. Available at: https://www.spoiltrottenbeads.co.uk/product-category/brazilian-linhasita-waxed-cord/#:~:text=Perfect%20for%20jewellery%2C%20macrame%2C%20friendship,colorfast%20and%20will%20not%20fray. (Accessed: 25 November 2023).

Research : Philippe Wolfers

Philippe Wolfers (1852-1929)

Phillipe Wolfers was born into a family of jewelry studio owners. The jewelry created there was delivered to several royal courts in Europe. Phillipe was an independent, outstanding creator. His main style in jewelry was the French style of Art Nouveau jewelry at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Libellule (1903)

The pendant is considered to be an iconic work of Philippe. The accuracy of the details makes it impossible to take your eyes off it, it is phenomenal in every detail. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information about specific materials used in this project anywhere. However, since Wolfers's one of his  favorite stone in jewelry was opal, I assume that the insect's head and probably tail are made of this material.The necklace, however, looks as if it were made of bronze. A wonderful selection of colors, the gentleness with which the colors penetrate each other is enchanting.

This is an amazing inspiration for my jewelry designs. Colors and natural stones combined with other materials, like, probably, a bronze necklace. The whole gives a very strong feeling of connection with nature and devotion to worship. These are the feelings I would like to arouse with my designs.

References: 

Wolfers, Philippe (no date) Hancocks London. Available at: https://www.hancocks-london.com/maker/wolfers-philippe/ (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

Philippe and Marcel Wolfers collection (no date) Philippe and Marcel Wolfers Collection | Heritage KBF. Available at: https://www.heritage-kbf.be/collection/philippe-and-marcel-wolfers-collection (Accessed: 22 November 2023).

Vintage et al. Treasurert Nouveau Treasure by Philippe Wolfers coming to America: The jewelry loupe, the jewelry loupe | a celebration of human ornament. Available at: https://thejewelryloupe.com/art-nouveau-master-philippe-wolfers/ (Accessed: 25 November 2023).

The website: changing the home page

 

I decide to change the logo to that one I use privately when working on my crafts. I also change the photo from the home section. Then I added a private Instagram - The Galgankowo- where I post my works from before the DMU. 

I changed the photo in the about me  section to one that we had taken during a session with one of our teachers. My next step will be to make the description more professional. I need to that, because my actual section" about me" sound not really professionally. 

Project Sign Off: Roots Of The Jewellery

Project Sign Off

Roots of the Jewellery - Earrings

For the last design project I choose earrings. 

I want them to be a reflection of delicacy. The way the cord wrap around the stone and stainless steel accessories is very smooth, like the side of a river. 

At the same time the color I chose for them are very expressive: smoky red and green. Shades of red are associated with the colors that native people chose to pain their faces, Green symbolizes their strong bond with nature.  

Face paint

Another important element is the addition of natural stone. In this case, I chose moss agate. The reason why i do that is because moss agate looks like the green from every place from the whole word was enclosed in it. Like the all the flora was locked in this stone.

References: 

Holmes, J. (2022) Native american face paint: War face paint, PowWows.com. Available at: https://www.powwows.com/native-american-face-paint-war-face-paint/ (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

Sedawie, R. (2023) Black labradorite: Meaning, properties and info, Chroma Gems & Co. Available at: https://chromagems.com/blog/gemstone-information/black-labradorite/ (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

Roots of the Jewellery - Necklace No.3

 In this necklace project, my inspiration was nature. 

The motifs of leaves, vines and toots used are the main outline. 

The idea behind this project was to place a natural stone in the middle of the leaves and vines, as if the stone was coming out from nature. The goal was to show the connection of natural stones with Mother Nature. 

I wanted my works to look the same visually. That's why the next sketch was also transformed in Photoshop into a papyrus background

In this case, I had to use Illustrator to separate the drawings and arrange them on the paper. In this way, I waned to make the design more transparent.

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Here is what this project looks like in the end. 

I used green color stone- because I associate green with nature. And brown color for the leaves and roots as a symbol of the earth. 

Te first stone that come to my mind was labradorite. Personally, it looks to me as if someone closed a forest in it, along with rivers and mountains, The whole nature in one stone. That is why it couldn't be missing in my project about ethnic jewellery. 

Labradorite

References: 

Sedawie, R. (2023) Black labradorite: Meaning, properties and info, Chroma Gems & Co. Available at: https://chromagems.com/blog/gemstone-information/black-labradorite/ (Accessed: 21 November 2023). 

Roots of the Jewellery - Necklace No.2

 This project was inspired by "Princess Mononoke" by Ghibli Studio. 

My inspiration was the mask of the title character- Princess Mononoke. Her mask was combined with animal whitish fur. In my project, I combined the mask pattern with a leaf motif in he color of white-gray animal fur. Whit this treatment, I wanted to combine the fur color, i.e. the original motif from the animation, with the motif of nature- the shape of leaves.  

The sketch was made using the ink pen drawing method. 

Then I edited the sketch using Photoshop. Also in this case I use a ready-made images that resemble papyrus. Then I added my sketch and marge them into one image.

 

As I mentioned above, my motivation was the title character, or more precisely, her face mask. That's why in this project I used the same colors as originally.

"Princess Mononoke" by Ghibli Studio 

The main addition in this pedant is Raw Clear Crystal. According to beliefs, it has a properties cleaning  effect on our mind, body, soul as well as objects and rooms.  Also called a neutralizer due to its ability to store energy.  ( Houston, 2020)

 The Raw Clear Crystal 

In this design, the necklace will be made of high-quality waxed cord and tied using macrame technique to give it an ethnic natural look. 

The final look of the project inspired by Studio Ghibli animation. 

References: 

Houston, D. (2020) Clear crystals: Meanings, properties and powers - the complete guide, CrystalsandJewelry.com. Available at: https://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/clear-crystals/ (Accessed: 21 November 2023).

Roots of the Jewellery - Necklace No.1 Part2

 Here is my design for ethnic necklace no.1

I used Photoshop again to apply my watercolor work to the background. 

Multiply

Linear burn

I use two different overlays: Multiply and Linear Burn. The difference may not be very visible, but 

the Linear Burn made the color more expressive and strong. Multiply, on the other hand, gives the work a more delicate color effects. I saved both version so that I could easily decide which one I will available on my website in the Portfolio section.  

Roots of the Jewellery- Necklace No.1

 Here is my first project for the portfolio from an ethnic jewelry store called - Roots Of The Jewelery -

This is a sketch made using the ink pen drawing method. First, I scanned my sketch without filling it in, just in case something went wrong with the paints. When drawing by hand, I do not have a convenient undo option, so I had to protect my work.

I wanted the necklace pendant to resemble something between a totem pole and Native American clothing style. There are feathers/leaves around the face, which are supposed to symbolize the Indian plume.

The face on the pendant has delicate facial decorations, which are also taken from the native American face painting culture (Holmes, October 2022) .

My goal was to give this jewelry the most ethnic look as possible, without exaggerating the form over the content.

The color choice fell on blue and warm brown/caramel. The blue was intended to resemble the color of turquoise howlite. This stone, in turn, was supposed to symbolize the shades of waters and rivers with its color. 

I used a brown caramel color because of the ethnic pattern I found during my research. It was shared in my earlier posts. Also because it reminds me of sand mixed with earth. Such a combination of water and land.

Patern

Due to the fact that it is supposed to be ethnic jewelry also inspired by Native American beliefs, I think it is worth mentioning the current beliefs associated with the stone. For example, turquoise howlite is considered to be a stone that supports the throat chakra and is helpful in stressful situations. According to beliefs, it can calm down tension and help relieve it (navitascentre.co.uk).

Turquoise Howlite

In the next classes, I plan to edit my works in Photoshop to give them a papyrus background similar to the last one. We'll see how it goes for me

References: 

The demographic segment focused by art of jewelry in planderful (no date a) Planderful Shop. Available at: https://www.planderful.com/en-gb/blogs/timeless-art/the-demographic-segment-focused-by-art-of-jewelry-in-planderful (Accessed: 20 November 2023).

Holmes, J. (2022) Native american face paint: War face paint, PowWows.com. Available at: https://www.powwows.com/native-american-face-paint-war-face-paint/#:~:text=It%20was%20believed%20that%20Indians,holy%20person%20or%20medicine%20man. (Accessed: 20 November 2023).

The first portfolio project preparation

 

I started my project with quick sketches of the first pendant for the necklace. I wanted it to look like a totem pole. However, I wasn't sure what it would look like in the end, so I made three versions, of which I will choose one. I also made a sketch of the different looks for the necklace, using the macrame technique knots. My intention is to give it a more ethnic look, closer to the vision of what jewelry used to look like, so I will use waxed string. In the next step, I'm going to check out the color options for my project. However, before I start doing it, I wanted to show you a rough sketch. 

During the classes, the teacher showed us how to use the basic tools in Photoshop and Illustration. So I decided to practice on what I currently had to make my sketch clearer. I used a scanner to get the best quality possible for my sketch.

First, I opened my sketch in Illustrator and using the Copy option, I created 2 additional copies. Then I used the Crop Image tool to cut out one sketch from each version. I placed them next to each other to make them similar in size and then spaced them across the entire page to make them more legible.

Then I open Photoshop to change the background to one that looked like old papyrus. For this purpose, I searched for images resembling such an effect in the graphic and added it as another Layers.

I dragged the image under my sketch, which made it appear on the background. However, it was in its original white background.

From the blending mode option, I chose a shade of black to make my work look like it was sketched on old papyrus. It seems to me that I managed to achieve my intended goal. I did the same for the necklace weave option. It was an interesting experience, using two editing programs that produce really interesting effects. The next step will be to add colors to my work 

Target Audience

From the sources I managed to find, it appears that the main target for my jewelry, due to the materials used in the project, are young people. "The first group comprises younger shoppers, who are more likely to be drawn to modern and trendy options like stainless steel and titanium. " (Planderful,2022). People from the older age group mainly choose silver or gold, which are assumed to be more durable and expensive products.

Material Type Analysis Chart

"Gold holds most of the market share at 70%, Platinum at 17%, Diamond at 8%, and other materials share the remaining 5%." (Planderful,2022). From the diagram presented, it is evident that most customers choose gold as a jewelry material. 

The source also points out the attention to factors such as the most frequently chosen type of jewelry - necklaces, gender division - ladies are definitely the ones who take this analysis seriously.

Coming back to the group that interests me in my project. Further research shows that younger recipients are my potential recipients. Young people focus on trends, and natural stones are very popular now. They (young people) are looking for the meaning of life and significance, and often this is what is attributed to natural stones. For each of them, we can find special properties or purposes.

The store's Planderful (2022) research shows that young people buy jewelry much more often than older people. One of the reasons may be the desire to express oneself, style and origin through the world of fashion, including jewelry. 

Due to the ethnic character of my jewelry project, my next group of recipients will be people who feel a strong need to express their origins through jewelry.

Millennials and Generation Z will be my main type of audience. Gen-Z generation is the age range of young people. People who spend their free time mainly on their phones and that's where they look for inspiration through various types of applications.(Ghidotti). It is mainly in the virtual world that trends and news are communicated. This also applies to natural stones, which can often be found on Instagram or TkikTok now. Either through sellers' accounts or through influencers. 

References: 

The demographic segment focused by art of jewelry in planderful (no date a) Planderful Shop. Available at: https://www.planderful.com/en-gb/blogs/timeless-art/the-demographic-segment-focused-by-art-of-jewelry-in-planderful (Accessed: 20 November 2023).

Federighi, R. (2022) Millennials vs. gen Z - the importance of generational marketing, Ghidotti Communications. Available at: https://ghidotti.com/blog/millennials-vs-gen-z-the-importance-of-generational-marketing/#:~:text=Millennials%20are%20classified%20as%20those,the%2024%20and%20younger%20crowd. (Accessed: 20 November 2023).

Artist Research

One of my inspiration in my ethnic jewellery project was "Princess Mononoke" from Studio Ghibli. The reason I chose this adaptation is because of the many references to spiritual beliefs and connections between people and nature. 

Forest Spirit from "Princess Mononoke", Ghibli Studio

For example, it is there a Forest Spirit who is known as a god of life and death. This is shown by a scene in which walking causes flowers to come to life, only to then wither and die. This shows that this spirit keeps the balance in nature. (Little White Lies, 2017). These types of beliefs refer to a noticeable extent to the beliefs of native Americans. The very idea of having gods dealing with different aspects of life is deeply interconnected. The animation's color scheme has a dark vibe and a lot of contrast.

The forest animal 

The common fact is that native Americans had their gods not in human form (Rhodes, 1991), but mainly in animal form. In the Studio Ghibli animation I chose, the example god of the forest is also an animal, in a sense, because it is a mix of several animals combined together: the horns and torso are a deer, the face is a monkey and the legs are chickens.

I feel a strong connection with nature in this animation, so it is a very inspiring item for my ethnic jewelry project. 

Princess Mononke from "Princess Mononoke",Studio Ghibli

Another aspect that inspires me is the fact that the title character wears a mask with animal fur as part of her outfit. Her face is decorated with ethnic paintings and she has jewelry around her neck, which is also probably of animal origin. One of the necklaces resembles a crystal/natural stone that comes from mother nature. All this has a strong connection with my vision of ethnic jewelry. Combining the element of a mask and ethnic patterns on faces is one of several aspects that I consider in my designs. The use of crystals/natural stones is an integral element in my projects.

References:

Footprints of a god – in praise of princess mononoke (2022) Little White Lies. Available at: https://lwlies.com/articles/princess-mononoke-studio-ghibli-hayao-miyazaki/ (Accessed: 14 November 2023).

Rhodes, John (January 1991) "An American Tradition: The Religious Persecution Of Native Americans." p.15. Montana Law Review Volume 52, Issue 1, Winter 1991

Creating a website: Logo

I stared creating the logo in Canva. From the available templates , I choose the one that would best suit my ethnic jewellery project- Roots Of The Jewellery. I chose the visible pattern because of the image, which looks like a plat growing from a root

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Next, I slightly changed the color of the image changed the already existing text to the name of my project for which the logo is made. 
 

After these general aesthetic treatments, this is what the effect of my work looks like. I tried to change the inscription font, but none of the available fonts suited me. That's why I decided to use another program. 

Then I makes some changes in Illustrator. Like I changed font of the text and make it more in ethnic vibes. I use for that text editor in Illustrator. Then I choose to make the text in the same color as the picture icon so I use eyedropper tool. 

I decided to use the Image Trace option, then Make and Expand. This gave me the ability to separate the background from the images.  It also made everything lose its colors, making the image completely black.

I 

Next, I use Direct Selection tool and deleted white background to separate to selected images. With his type of procedure, the font usually does not look good. In my case, I wanted to change it anyway, so it doesn't matter. 

Then I added the original logo image to the program so that I could copy the colors using the Eyedropper Tool.  This is reason why I decide to use this program and all these function- to be able to use the same colors as in the image and in the text. 

Finally, I could choose a matching font for my logo. I decided to use font named Chiller. 

Then, I make a little experimental thing with strokes on the images but it didn't work for me. It wasn't the look I was looking for. 

The final effect.