Bosquejo Bauble: Amulet necklace 2

Here's another one. Apologies for the blurry photograph. Have to rush to the shows.

Completed this outfit with a black and white patterned scarf.


Tee, British India; Izzue jeans and cotton tie: both thrifted; filigree belt, Brave Beltworks; leather sneakers, Converse; necklace, DIY

Street photo by Patricia Suzara

Bosquejo Bauble: Amulet necklace

This necklace is part of what I wore today. I have been talking about men's accessories for quite some time. So this is my first DIY attempt to bring together my thoughts on the matter.

My first idea is to use amulets commonly sold in Manila for good luck or to bring specific fortunes to those who wield them. The amulets, or anting-anting in the vernacular, come in a mix of sacred and profane iconography typical of the country's folk Christianity.

I have opted to get rid of all religious and superstitious associations in order to focus on the design.


CX Prêt-à-porter shirt, wool tie, Structure leather belt: all thrifted; jeans, Calvin Klein Jeans; pullover, French Connection; laceups, Marlboro Classics; bag, Tyler; necklace, DIY

Though some may argue that the first necklace looks too feminine, it may either be that there are still some chinks in the design, or that it may only be a matter of interpretation. Nevertheless, I have created this second version that I expressly intend for use by women. My sister has already asked for it.

Hopefully, I'll be able to create more necklaces to expound on this first idea, before I move on to the next.


Bought the amulets from Quiapo

Bosquejo Bauble: Amulet medallions

This would probably be the last piece in Bosquejo Bauble's first series of accessories. Next, I hope to dabble with a mix of other unconventional materials. Something from the hardware store, perhaps? Pearls and precious stones? Buttons? The list doesn't end.

I paired this necklace with a wooden mask pendant from Camiguin. I think the combination does well to complement the neutral palette. The vest also came from my last thrift shop trip.

Tee, Armani Exchange; pants, Y-3; vest and Gucci leather sneakers: both thrifted; wooden necklace from Camiguin; amulet necklace, DIY; tiger's eye bracelet, 168; Omega Seamaster watch, heirloom

Wood and plastic necklace for new Sand line

As I was preparing my stuff for a two-night stay at the beach, I was thinking I wanted to make a necklace for the trip. Good thing I brought along my bare, wooden beads and some clear and opaque plastic trinkets.

I was off in less than fifteen minutes with my bag and my new lightweight accessory. Opted for Sand instead of Summer to make the collection title more tangent, but at the same time more encompassing. Plan to use more types of wood, plastic, and perhaps even coffee beans.

Writing this back from an island-hopping excursion, my tote is heavier with white shells and corals that have been damaged or cracked, but now all bear holes big enough for nylon string.

Onyx, obsidian, and meteorite necklace

I asked the saleslady if the cratered beads they were selling really came from space. She laughed, and I shrugged it off. Nobody was buying the "meteorite", so I wanted it.

This is the necklace I made for my mom as a gift especially for Christmas Eve, since she was looking for a necklace other than a long strand of pearls to go with her red dress. Coincidentally, the piece went well with what I was wearing yesterday morning.




Besides the leftover rosette onyx, I used medium-sized "meteorite" beads, obsidian, and some gray squarish stones. I decided to use gray with black to give my mom's red dress more character. She wore this double-stranded.




I hope you had a merry Christmas, because I did. Besides meeting relatives again, tasting my cousin's dishes, and the gifts, I was also able to sell both my "grotesque" steel necklaces and something new from my Sacre line (will post this by and by), plus a couple of orders for new hardware pieces.

It was likewise amazing how necklaces I conceived for men looked great on my aunts!



Again, I liked how this turned out. Different colors, textures, and shapes.




Tee, Rogan; thrifted skinny jeans, Dior Homme; belt, Brave Beltworks; sneakers, Generic Surplus; necklace, DIY




I was also able to make a necklace-gift for my grandmother, which she was happy to receive. It was shorter and was accentuated with shiny, metallic hematite beads. This afternoon I was also able to make a combination piece from black wooden beads and onyx for my cousin — much lighter than the earlier necklaces, but still looks interesting because of the new colors and textures.

As I write this post in the beach, I am wearing a new necklace made of unfinished wood and plastic, which I think is the start of a new line. Summer, perhaps?




I hope this venture blossoms. Watch this page — at least until I am able to put up my Bosquejo accessories site!

Happy holidays!

Parting is such sweet sorrow / My first sale

When Johanna told me that she was happily feeling the texture and shape of the rosette onyx beads and baroque pearls from the black necklace I just sold her, I knew it was in good hands.

This is how it looks up close — pearls and onyx with obsidian.




This was how I wore the very first version of this necklace, which was shorter and meant as a male accessory.




Jo is right by saying that from afar the piece looks just like any other bead necklace, and that it is only after closer inspection that one notices — from the colors and shapes of the reflected light — that the necklace is different.




Tee and skinny belt, A.P.C.; jeans, Two Percent; bonnet, 5cm; bracelet, three strands of ball-and-chain necklaces




It was Jo's suggestion to wear it double-stranded. Now the piece takes on a life of its own, just like any creation that exchanges hands.

Gray thrifting holiday

Spent the whole day last Friday in bed since I wasn't feeling well, as is a little evident in these pictures. Must have been the flu. Good thing I had taken meds starting Thursday night. By Friday afternoon I was feeling strong enough to join my friend on a return trip to the Japanese goods shop.

I broke in my new espadrilles and combined a fabric and wood pendant necklace with my current bauble favorite.



This was the gray striped pullover I found inside one of the boxes crowding the garage. It was up for only PhP10 (US$0.20). I adopted it like a poor unwanted puppy. But I didn't get the brown beanie I was holding in the first picture since it was already hopelessly mangy.



My next find was this gray jacket. The shoulders fit snuggly and I liked the lapels, but I was unsure about the sleeve length. I think they're even shorter than what Thom Browne prescribes. But I got it anyway, since I could wear it casually.

The tie was the third item of the day. Looking at this picture now, I'm wondering why I never thought of wearing ties untied, like scarves.



Believe it or not, after all the exertion rummaging through dusty clothes, I went home feeling more than a little better.


Outfit photos by Cecilia Aycocho

Grotesque hardware necklaces

If this one had to have a title, I would name it Empire, or maybe Dominion, since it looks like a throne or the huge beads remind me of planets and intergalactic space flight.




This can simply be called Guillotine, for obvious reasons. Must admit that I was a little disturbed when I finished it, but that is part of the reason why I like it. Laughed hard when my sister said I could use it to clip and wear my office ID. She's right, of course.

Now in the province. Tried to bring all my materials so I can make more necklaces, but sadly, airline luggage limits stopped me...

Amulet medallion necklace over henley

Remember the first amulet medallion necklace I made? Well this is very similar, except that I have used an extra amulet and more kinds of beads. Also a stainless steel necklace instead of nylon.




Wearing it this time with a henley, which I think works better with the piece. A friend has asked me to design a similar necklace for his close model/actress friend. Come to think of it, this would go very well with a light cotton or linen shirt dress.




I get giddy just thinking of the many variations possible! As I have mentioned, I want each and every accessory to be unique, if not as closely tailored to a personality as possible.




Feels like I'm back to high school craft class, which I was very fond of.

Henley, cK Calvin Klein; jeans, Jil Sander; belt, Brave Beltworks; scarf, thrifted; amulet medallion necklace, DIY; chain from Divisoria




I could have worn the necklace separately, but I felt there was one button too many above it. So I used this chain. Am also planning to sell simple, chain-and-pendant necklaces for those who want something simpler and a lot lighter.

Vertical clearance

I've done this before, but not quite the same. Here is my blue, horizontally-striped sheer sweater again, worn over a shirt with solid verticals.

Must make note to self to buy similarly lengthed shirts for the more casual look. I'm afraid I'm getting quite tired of my belts.




I found a red bike again! This time conveniently parked near the back of the office building. Wanted to ride it for this picture but I wasn't sure if the owner was watching.

Again this latest bauble necklace, but paired with a tie with crests.



Now here is an important lesson: if I must insist on wearing relatively baggy jeans, I shouldn't wear them with boots or I'll only look shorter than I already am. Otherwise just stick to skinnies — even if the trend is waning, they are always a refuge for the vertically challenged.


Sheer sweater, Zara; shirt, tie, and boots: all thrifted; necklace, DIY

Photos by Patricia Suzara

Necklaces: Variation on a theme

Here I am wearing the tiger's eye necklace with a simpler version of the baubles I've been doing — no amulets included.



You'd think all those beads would be overwhelming, but since they are made from different materials, have different colors and sheen, the combination can actually be interesting. Of course, it helps if you also wear a metal watch and somewhat repeat the ensemble on your wrist.


Tee, Tough Jeansmith; nylon pants, thrifted; watch, Omega Seamaster; cloth and wooden bracelet, gift

To REDD and Allan: I haven't forgotten your necklace and bracelet. Will make them once I finish my last article...

Gray gardens

So this is how I wore the hardware necklace I made yesterday: with a white tee and an additional bead necklace to set off the color theme.

No, the band I was wearing on my left wrist didn't have anything to do with sports.




It's made of plastic, instead of rubber, and comes in packs of six. Unlike the usual thick wooden bangles for women, this is thinner and I think can be used by men — singly, with other accessories like a watch, and at most in threes.




Trust me, it was just the heat.




This tee has a history.




Happy birthday to me. All in all I've been a good boy all my twenty eight years...


Tee, cK Calvin Klein; thrifted jeans, Dior Homme; skinny belt, APC; sneakers, Generic Surplus; necklace, DIY; leather bag, Rabeanco

Outfit photos by Patricia Suzara

Bosquejo Bauble: Hardware collection

I have just finished my latest piece for my DIY accessories, AKA Bosquejo Bauble, and I am still staring at it in awe. Never expected something created from cable connectors and random beads to look this exquisite.

Previous pieces were created using amulets.




Would you wear something that looks like this? Give it your brother, boyfriend, or best friend?




I will be wearing it today over a plain white tee, as I search again for unlikely items from the hardware, and even perhaps some junk shops and other unlikely places.

New logo for Bosquejo accessories

Four months and six collections after I started making accessories, I've decided to create a new logo. It is based on a personal favorite, the Frida necklace.

What do you think about it?


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