in the spirit of being more conscious about supporting local indie creators lately, i was browsing Instagram and came across the page of artistry.jo, a fellow Singapore-based Instagrammer who makes a huge variety of fun accessories like trays/coasters, keychains, phone cases, jewelry and other resin items by hand.
one thing that amazed me most about Jo is her entrepreneurial spirit, constantly innovating and finding ways to develop her skills and talent into a side business even as she continues to pursue her studies and juggle schoolwork with this hobby. i always have huge respect for determination and focus like this, especially in our youth nowadays, so i decided to pick up some pretty items and support her in the process.
at the time i ordered, Jo was starting out with some new moulds for her trays and coasters, and offered a 'sample discount' on a first-come-first-served basis for these - the idea being that for a couple of dollars saved, customers could be among the first to try out the new designs, and Jo would be able to use that opportunity to photograph the samples for her page.
i managed to snag two slots for samples with the new flower coaster and oval tray, and the colour schemes i chose were purple/white/green with silver flakes for the oval tray, and red/white/green with gold flakes for the flower coaster.
Jo was very communicative through the whole design process, sending me photos of my products along the way. in particular i liked that she sent me photos of how she was going to arrange the flowers before starting, and sharing her thoughts as we discussed alternatives - i loved the end product so much more, as a reflection both of Jo's creativity and also her collaboration with me to find a design that i really liked.
i think they turned out pretty well, and it was such a nice touch that Jo wrapped these securely in crepe paper with her wax seal on them as well. i've posted a couple of unwrapping videos of these over on my Instagram - check out the satisfying reveal if you're curious!
most of Jo's items are made to order with varying turnaround times of one to three weeks depending on the number and type of items ordered, though customers can also message her through Instagram to purchase premade items that she showcases as being in stock and ready to go. Jo also offers free local (Singapore) registered mail for purchases over S$50, and may also be able to ship internationally (depending on location) at prevailing postage rates.
apart from my resin trays, i could not resist ordering four dinosaur earrings (all in different designs, 'yin-yang' style for mixing and matching). i had originally selected these from the premade and ready in stock section, but as it turns out someone must have been quicker than me to grab two of these adorable critters. Jo was apologetic when she informed me that two of them had been taken, and offered to remake them if i didn't want to replace with a different design or colour. i took her up on the kind offer with thanks, since i wanted all my dinos in a similar style to make the mixing and matching easier. the colours didn't come out identical to the two from the premade stock, but as with handmade products, it did make the set more unique and special to receive in the end.
i think the resin dinosaur earrings are insanely adorable and they would have become a default everyday wear for me, if not for the unfortunate fact that the S925 earring hooks seem to be quite a bit more flexible than i'm used to. it was a pity because while the hooks could retain their structure to be worn, they tended to bend quite a bit when i was putting on or taking the earrings off, and it eventually became troublesome to have to constantly try to work the hook back into shape each time. i'll probably find some pliers and attempt to swap the hooks out with some of my other sturdier earrings that have become a bit more outdated style-wise, and would recommend picking these cute dinosaurs up as charms instead.
i also ordered two customised hair ties (one in blue and one in purple with my name on it). i do confess that when the blue one arrived it looked so pretty i couldn't bear to take it out of the wrapper, though i pounced straight on the customised purple one and it almost immediately became a permanent replacement for my usual simple black/brown hairtie. the hairtie has stood up well to prolonged use and i liked that the smooth resin decoration wasn't overly clunky or difficult to use when tying my hair.
as tends to be the case when purchasing indie, Jo was really nice to include a handwritten thank-you note in my package, as well as some cute unicorn stickers (which matched the blue and purple of my tray wrapping), an adorable cat sticker, and some freebies (a bunny pin and heart charm). everything was put together beautifully and it made my day to receive and unbox - not just as a purchase of more products but as a package with a personal touch, a testimony that everything in that parcel was handmade with love by someone passionate about her craft.
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this review is of products that i had purchased at regular price with my own money. i wasn’t asked to review this as a condition of receipt and didn’t receive any incentives for writing this. i’m not affiliated with artistry.jo and as always, all opinions remain my own.
all information correct at time of publishing.
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