Exploring Wood Cuts as a raw material for Jewelry Making at MTSIFA

Abstract

This research was about exploring wood cutoffs as a raw material for jewelry making. The study was carried out with the objectives to identify the kinds wood cutoffs that are raw materials in jewelry making, to classify the wood cutoffs used in jewelry according to function, to investigate why wood cutoffs are not largely used at MTSIFA and to find possible solutions to increase the use of wood cut offs at MTSIFA. The study adopted a descriptive study design which was both qualitative and quantitative in nature with a sample of size of 20 respondents selected using simple random sampling and purposive sampling and analysis was done using table generated using SPSS. The findings indicated that the researcher acknowledged that wood cutoffs can be used in the making of jewelry and that exotic wood type as a kind of wood most commonly used in jewelry making and the classification of wood cutoffs was based on the wood types they are derived and these included Bayong, Ebony, Graywood, Magkuno, Patikan and Palmwood, Robles and Rosewood, the changes in technology is the major reason why wood is not largely used today in jewelry making. Basing on these findings the research noticed that the biggest reason why wood is not largely used in jewelry making was advanced technology in methods used in jewelry making which are not applicable to wood. The study also suggested some solutions to increase wood use in jewelry making such as use of wood Design as inspirations to make more jewelry products from wood. Branding of jewelry from wood to as to create more market for jewelry from wood cutoffs to increase on demand and subsequent exploration of wood materials for jewelry. Encouraging uniqueness and innovativeness through deriving inspiration from the surrounding environment to create unique jewelry from the surrounding environment like through use of wood other than use of metals. Basing on the study findings, the researcher recommended addition to use of wood cutoffs, artists in this field should focus more on innovativeness and creativity in making of jewelry using wood pieces so as to come up with unique designs of jewelry so as to capture both local and international market. The field of jewelry making should adopt advanced technology used in jewelry making in order to compete with other international jewelry makers on the international market for jewelry. Students at Margaret Trowel School of Industrial and fine Art should put more emphasis on the use of wood as it presents cheap and affordable materials to be used in coming up with unique jewelry.