The elegance of a star-shaped sampaguita blossom. The spectacle of a burnt-orange sky. For Philippines-based artist Ruby Thursday More, each intricate piece in her hand-embroidered line of floral necklaces and abstract earrings is inspired by a mood, a color, or a memory from island life. The jeweler and owner of Thursday Craft Love first took up crafting her exquisitely detailed embroidered pendants in part as a means of capturing the beauty and history of her home country. “I created a collection based off Philippine flowers and traditions that I remember from my childhood,” Ruby explains. For many Filipino expats, these pieces would become touching reminders of their roots and the families they’ve left behind. “I feel so happy knowing that my necklaces allow them to feel connected with where they came from,” Ruby says. READ THE FEATURE
A Dabawenya has become the first Philippine-based artist featured by Etsy, “a global marketplace for unique and creative goods” and “home to a universe of special, extraordinary items, from unique handcrafted pieces to vintage treasures.” Etsy’s weekly Featured Shop Series, posted on August 5 in the company’s website, www.etsy.com, focused on the work of Ruby Thursday More, a Communication Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines in Mindanao. READ THE FEATURE