Looking for jewelry that’s anything but ordinary? Say hello to GeoGraphic Gems — the jewelry firm turning the pages of National Geographic into dazzling, one-of-a-kind treasures! (Yes, you read that correctly!) As a lifelong jewelry devotee, I’m always on the hunt for the most unusual, eye-catching pieces, and I can’t wait to share this exciting new discovery with you.
When jewelry shopping in challenging economic times, it’s essential to think beyond pricey gemstones (even semi-precious). The handcrafted creations from GeoGraphic Gems capture the adventure, color, and wonder of the world in a totally unexpected way. (And, from amongst the many beautiful offerings, including earring, pendants, bracelets, hair ties, bookmarks, pins and key chains, nothing is more than $45!)
Want to learn more? I was recently able to interview GeoGraphic Gems’ founder and designer Marcia Passos, who explained more about this unique technique. Read on!
How did the GeoGraphic Gems line come about?
I was at an artist’s house and saw some unusual works on her walls. Being a journalist for many years, I’m not afraid to ask questions! So I asked her how she created the pieces — were they watercolor? She smiled and said, “No, they are collages are made from marbleized National Geographic magazines.”
Amazed, I asked her how she did it, she asked me to follow her to her barn studio. There, she showed me the stacks of NatGeos from certain decades (1980s to early 2000s) and explained that there was something “magical” about these years — the paper was clay-coated and the ink was highly saturated. Add some citric acid to pages inside these magazines and they magically marbleize!
This got my entrepreneurial mind going. I happened to collect old NatGeo magazines and experimented… and started getting really beautiful results from the process. I originally used the paper as wrapping paper. Next, I made some origami. Finally, I started thinking about how to make “gems” from these colorful designs, since I used to make jewelry in high school.
I came upon Etsy sellers who created glass dome cabochons with stainless steel and sterling silver bezels. So, I created five pendants for my Book Club friends for Christmas in 2017. They loved them and people would ask them what kind of “stone” was in the pendant! The book group encouraged me to start selling these pendants to a local juried “buy local” boutique in town. I was accepted and started creating different styles of pendants, earrings, rings and more.
I soon was participating in craft/art shows in 2018 and applied to other small boutiques throughout New England. I’m now in 15 stores throughout New England and growing!
Can you walk us through your creative process from inspiration to finished piece? Does nature, geography, or culture influence your designs?
National Geographic magazine photos are so vibrant and beautiful that it is not hard to pick out images that I love and want to marbleize for jewelry. All the images I use are from positive stories and feature colorful ethnic clothing, jungles, maps, ocean life, etc. I pick out pages, spray citric acid on the pages, and wait 15 minutes for the process to “cook.”
Some colors are harder to marbleize than others. Red and orange, for instance, tend to muddy if left too long to marbleize, so I have to keep checking on the pages to make sure they are marbleizing correctly. I sometimes place the papers under bricks or hang them out to dry outside; I also crinkle the paper or add sponge tapping. These techniques create different marbleizing designs.
What challenges have you faced in perfecting your technique? Has your design process evolved since you first started creating jewelry? Do the pieces require any special care?
I initially had some challenges with the adhesive I used to adhere the glass cabochons to the paper, and then the dried paper/cabochons to the metal. (When I used one water-based adhesives on both processes the colors changed in unpredictable ways.) I soon discovered that I needed to use a water-based adhesive for the paper to glass process and a metal jewelry adhesive to attach the glass/paper to the metal. This process keeps the original paper color intact and securely adheres everything together.
While I hesitate to say the pieces are “waterproof” (although I test-drive the pieces in the shower and swimming with good results), I do say that the pieces are water resistant. The stainless steel pieces require very little care. The sterling silver earrings, however,do require occasional buffing with sterling silver cleaning cloths.
Do you have a favorite piece that you’ve created? And if so, what makes it special to you?
My favorite pieces are the silver plated pendants (with stainless steel chains). They are colorful and happy designs that go fast in my retail locations.
In a world of mass production, why do you think handcrafted, unique jewelry matters now more than ever?
Well, in this world where you are never sure if what you are viewing/reading is real or AI created, I think people are craving things that are handcrafted and unique. There are always people who are OK with getting mass-produced items, like jewelry. But when they want to pamper themselves (or others in gift-giving) they want jewelry with a story behind it. GeoGraphic Gems is unique in many ways, in that I offer gems without the mining, I am upcycling unwanted NatGeos (from decades that are not necessarily collectible), each “gem” is unique in color and design, and I’m working entirely by myself at my home studio.
Where can people purchase GeoGraphic Gems pieces?
For anyone who would like to purchase one of my pieces, there are multiple boutiques listed on my website. They can also purchase directly online. Plus, you can subscribe and get 20% off your first purchase.
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Named one of the Top 50 Beauty Blogs in the World by RebateZone, Susan Said… WHAT?! is your guide to a life filled with style. From must-have fashion and accessories, to gorgeous gardens, stunning interiors, plus the latest products and ideas for chic parties, you’ll find it here. Editor Susan Conforte McNeill is an author, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the literacy organization Success Won’t Wait.