Gift of Art

CEBU, Philippines - Gift Sarne-Regalado created her very first piece of jewellery on their kitchen table top, one ordinary day, when she figured that she was too cash-strapped to buy herself even a pair of decent stud earrings. Being the natural stylista that she is, Gift could not be caught without even a sliver of an accessory to match her clothes. It took only that event and hints of creativity to get her started in a career that would make her name a staple in every fab fashionista’s vocab—especially in Negros Oriental.

“I started as a self-taught designer, then I discovered the Michael Store, the largest specialty retailer store in the USA. There were rows and rows of different beads, ribbons, fabrics—I felt like I was a kid in a candy store when I was surrounded with all those beads! I just couldn’t get enough of them!,” the 42-year-old Speech and Theater Arts major from Silliman University gushed.

Since then, Gift has made it a point to immerse herself in different kinds of workshops to regularly hone her skill and enhance her craft now that she has considered what used to be a hobby as a full-time profession.

Ever since she was little, Gift already had that knack for creating. One can say that Gift was the type of little girl who used to hand-sew her own costumes so she could have something to wear during one of her dance group performances. 

Gift’s works of art range from statement necklaces to dangling earrings, bangles, bracelets, anklets, and bibs—all of which have been carefully crafted. Sometimes, it would take her only a few minutes to complete a design. For more complicated and intricate pieces, it could reach up to a few more days.

Gift’s claim to fame has been her collection of wire-wrapped stones strung together in the most unusual patterns. She has also been known for her keenness when it comes to playing with different types of stones coming from a spectrum of colors. Being a well-travelled woman, Gift draws inspiration from the world’s tapestry of cultures, from nature, and to put it simply, just about anything she feasts her eyes onto.

“I usually work on different kinds of materials but mostly touch on seaglass, seeds, coco, driftwood, semi precious stones, pearls, crystals, glass, and fibers,” said Gift. Gift’s signature touch in her accessories include the use of Philippine indigenous materials in key pieces like statement necklaces and bangles.

Gift’s jewelry pieces are mostly considered wearable art with designs ranging from simple coral clip-on earrings to capiz shells carefully cut and crafted to form an intricate bunch of flowerettes that will look simply stunning around the neck.

“The most important element that I consider when it comes to jewelry making is the level of comfort that my clients will have when they wear my pieces. No one should buy or wear something she isn’t comfortable to wear. The second one would probably be uniqueness. People want to wear something that they know is something special to them. People always want something fresh and different,” she said.

Gift’s treasure trove of masterpieces have already been showcased around the Philippines and in some parts of the work owing to the impressive concept and workmanship that she puts into these pieces.

Her pieces have gained the admiration of those who have caught a glimpse of them during the Jewelry Artisan’s Show 2007 at New York, Gift Expo 2008 at Moscow, Russia, at the Bijoux Cebu 2009 at Shangri-la Mactan, and many other International jewelry fairs.

A firm believer that style is more vital than fashion, Gift has made her personal advocacy to use jewelry making as a means for her to share the beauty of Negros Oriental and the Philippines to other parts of the world.

“Style to me is a matter of self expression,” she said. “It surrounds us all the time and influences every aspect of our lives from the place you live to the accessories you wear, your choices create a personal aesthetic. The things we wear or use everyday should look and feel beautiful an integral part of who we are.”

Accessories indeed, can make or break an entire outfit. For many of the women who have donned Gift’s tasteful and masterful creations, Gift’s pieces of jewelry not only completed even the simplest LBD. It has transformed them into a work art. (FREEMAN)