About the Jewelry

What kind of paper is the jewelry made with?
What other materials do you use?
How do you make paper beads?
Are the earrings lightweight?
Is all of the jewelry one-of-a-kind?
Where do the jewelry names come from?
How do I care for my paper jewelry?
What if my jewelry gets wet?



What kind of paper is the jewelry made with?
The papers we use are all about color, pizzazz, print, and pattern. Our jewelry is created with fabulous decorative papers from around the world: Silk-screened and stencil-dyed Japanese papers; handmade papers from Nepal, India, Italy and more. We use handmade and machine-made papers that contain natural fibers such as bamboo, Lokta bark, kozo, gampi, cotton and silk.

What other materials do you use?
We use high quality .925 sterling silver in our jewelry. All clasps, findings, chains, ear-wires, wire, and components are sterling silver. We also use a variety of sterling silver beads. Some of our jewelry is accented with semi-precious gemstones, Swarovski crystals and pearls, freshwater pearls, coral, and wooden beads.

How do you make paper beads?
We craft our beads by hand, one at a time. Every glazed paper bead goes through a series of up to fifteen steps before it is ready to join other beads and components. The core is formed with anywhere from 1-5 layers of illustration board, a very thick paper comprised of thinner layers of paper. This gives the bead a firm interior for sturdiness. Some beads are constructed with channeled grooves.

Each bead is then covered, one surface at a time, with decorative paper. Top side, underside, and edges - from super-slim to ultra-thick - are meticulously covered with beautiful patterned paper. We seal the paper beads with a non-toxic, acid-free glaze for gloss and dimensionality. The sealant protects the decorative paper underneath.

Are the earrings lightweight?
Our jewelry is incredibly lightweight! Even the long and thick earrings won't pull on your earlobes. If you like to wear jewelry that won’t weigh you down, our glazed paper jewelry is fantastic! Each pair of earrings comes with clear ear-wire backings to help keep your earrings in place.

Is all of the jewelry one-of-a-kind?
It sure is! You'll be wearing something that no one else has! We want you to have a truly original piece of jewelry, so we make only one of each item. And if someone is in love with something in the sold gallery, we can make something similar, but not identical.

Where do the jewelry names come from?
Our jewelry is bursting with color and pattern. Every piece has a personality - so it’s got to have a name too! We love choosing a unique name for each piece of jewelry we create. You’ll see familiar song titles, lyrics, and phrases or names from French, Spanish, Italian, and other languages. The names are also drawn from mythology, nature, dance, and anything else that sparks inspiration.


How do I care for my paper jewelry?
Treat it with care, the way you would any fine jewelry, and you’ll enjoy it for years to come. Your jewelry is handmade and consists mainly of paper, so it’s not indestructible. Here are some tips:

Avoid leaving your jewelry in extreme-heat situations like direct hot sun, near a radiator, extended periods of sunbathing, or in a sauna or steam room. Intense heat will fade and damage the paper and glaze.

Put your jewelry on after you’ve applied your perfumes, lotions, and hair products. This helps prevent the chemicals in the products from tarnishing the glaze.

The glaze on paper beads can chip and scratch if banged or mishandled. Remove your jewelry before bed to avoid snagging or breaking it.

Use a silver polishing cloth to gently shine your silver and remove tarnish from earwires, clasps, and chains.

What if my jewelry gets wet?
If water or perspiration comes in contact with the surface of your glazed paper jewelry, you can gently blot it dry with a soft cloth. The sealer makes the jewelry water-resistant, so a little water will roll right off, but it's not water-proof.

To keep your jewelry happy, remove it before showering, swimming, or washing dishes. It’s a good idea to avoid exposure to water.