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"Hello, I'm so pleased to meet you!"...:-)
First and foremost, yes...my real name is really Apple Grace. Born and raised in the Philippines, my family and I came to New York City when I was only 7 yrs. old. So little Apple landed in the BIG APPLE...and the rest is history. Well, not quite history yet. More like still striving to make history! And since my middle name is Grace, I intend on living up to it by doing it as "gracefully" as possible. ;-)
I've been a self-proclaimed artist since I can remember. As a little girl, I've always wanted to get my hands into everything. Well, I'm a big girl now and that's exactly what I've been doing ever since... From professional dance (studied and trained at the famous Broadway Dance Center, former dancer for MTV, performed on music videos and have worked with artists such as Ashanti, Mandy Moore, Wyclef Jean, Ja Rule, etc.) to professional writing (co-wrote a screenplay as a ghost writer for Hollywood director, now currently shopping my own screenplay... .I'm obsessed with words and it shows through my designs.) to designing jewelry....
Ahhh...jewelry! As a teenager, I always loved creating things with my bare hands which is what eventually lead me to jewelry designing. It was a natural gift and talent that I couldn't afford to take for granted. Fast forward to adult life, I have worked with a handful of jewelry companies as well as working free-lance with individual clients over the years. In 2003, I decided to start my own little company, Apple Grace Inc. during which, in those early days, I invented, designed, trademarked, and patented Chat Strap®--a wide collection of stylish "cellphone bracelets" (Read more here on my blog "The Crazy, Cooky, Relentless Mind of a Mad Inventor-Designer".) which catapulted my little business to new heights. Chat Strap® made it's little way to some press, celebrity gift baskets (32nd Annual Daytime Emmy Award and NYC Z100's Zootopia), music videos (Wyclef Jean/Missy Elliot), and the many wrists of fabulous everyday women, mothers, fashionistas, and teen aged girls (and some men) as well. Through the many fun years of jewelry and accessories designing, my designs have adorned an eclectic array of amazing individuals. From political figures such as the First Lady herself, Michelle Obama (one of my favorite proud moments, I must say!), news anchors such as CNN's Kyra Philips, to fashion icons such as Allegra Versace.
However, over time I have found it more fulfilling to work with individuals on a one-on-one basis. To design and create something exclusively for someone--catered to their own personal taste, passions, and interests summons up a special energy for that specific piece unto itself....an energy uniquely meant for whom it was created. Therefore, today I am more focused on continuing to create custom-made designed pieces for personal clients rather than selling to a mass market industry. Almost everything in my line can be customized and personalized with your own name. What's more personal than that, right? In addition, the writer in me gets to incorporate my love for words into creating jewelry. It's a match made in Apple Grace heaven!
I've been a self-proclaimed artist since I can remember. As a little girl, I've always wanted to get my hands into everything. Well, I'm a big girl now and that's exactly what I've been doing ever since... From professional dance (studied and trained at the famous Broadway Dance Center, former dancer for MTV, performed on music videos and have worked with artists such as Ashanti, Mandy Moore, Wyclef Jean, Ja Rule, etc.) to professional writing (co-wrote a screenplay as a ghost writer for Hollywood director, now currently shopping my own screenplay... .I'm obsessed with words and it shows through my designs.) to designing jewelry....
Ahhh...jewelry! As a teenager, I always loved creating things with my bare hands which is what eventually lead me to jewelry designing. It was a natural gift and talent that I couldn't afford to take for granted. Fast forward to adult life, I have worked with a handful of jewelry companies as well as working free-lance with individual clients over the years. In 2003, I decided to start my own little company, Apple Grace Inc. during which, in those early days, I invented, designed, trademarked, and patented Chat Strap®--a wide collection of stylish "cellphone bracelets" (Read more here on my blog "The Crazy, Cooky, Relentless Mind of a Mad Inventor-Designer".) which catapulted my little business to new heights. Chat Strap® made it's little way to some press, celebrity gift baskets (32nd Annual Daytime Emmy Award and NYC Z100's Zootopia), music videos (Wyclef Jean/Missy Elliot), and the many wrists of fabulous everyday women, mothers, fashionistas, and teen aged girls (and some men) as well. Through the many fun years of jewelry and accessories designing, my designs have adorned an eclectic array of amazing individuals. From political figures such as the First Lady herself, Michelle Obama (one of my favorite proud moments, I must say!), news anchors such as CNN's Kyra Philips, to fashion icons such as Allegra Versace.
However, over time I have found it more fulfilling to work with individuals on a one-on-one basis. To design and create something exclusively for someone--catered to their own personal taste, passions, and interests summons up a special energy for that specific piece unto itself....an energy uniquely meant for whom it was created. Therefore, today I am more focused on continuing to create custom-made designed pieces for personal clients rather than selling to a mass market industry. Almost everything in my line can be customized and personalized with your own name. What's more personal than that, right? In addition, the writer in me gets to incorporate my love for words into creating jewelry. It's a match made in Apple Grace heaven!
I love jewelry because...For me, jewelry is about self-expression as much as it is about adorning ourselves. So naturally, what attracts me to jewelry as a designer is the capacity it has to inspire a woman to truly connect with and feel the beauty from deep within that we, as women, sometimes fail to exude or express. I love to work with all materials as each source has their own way of bringing life to a specific piece. But I'm especially inspired by nature, so organically I'm drawn to natural stones and precious gems such as turquoise, garnet, carnelian, amethyst, shells, and wood as they have certain feels and textures to them that are quite unique to the designs that I work them into. I also love to work with wire because I love how malleable it is...each curve, loop and bend being gracefully influenced by way of my touch, my fingers, and the stroke of my hands. As an aspiring writer, I'm also in-love with words....hence all the words in my jewelry.
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Apple Grace at a CHARITY:WATER event, one of a few organizations that she continues to support and volunteers with whenever her schedule permits.
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I'm passionate about...We are all connected... Philanthropy is something I know I will fully delve into at some point in my life, especially the betterment of hungry, poverty stricken children across the world. My late mother worked for the United Nations and traveled/lived abroad to work on endless international peace missions. She also donated her r&r time to local orphanages in countries such as Kenya. and Somalia. I'd love to follow her footsteps somehow. And in my heart, I believe that the reason why I was given these natural talents (that I've been blessed enough to professionally hone all these years) is so I may utilize them as my sources of "transportation" to lead me to this very path. What gives me joy? Love in all forms--family, friends that have become family, Mother Nature in both her grandeur and simplicity, creativity, and helping as much as I can.
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