By Kat Fragoso

If you’re searching for handcrafted Japanese paper jewelry and accessories, look no further than Paper*Crane*Heart by creator and artistJueru (Jewel) Doi. Her lightweight and beautiful designs are made with hand-silkscreened traditional Japanese chiyogami paper which is sourced from small family-owned companies! Read on for more about Jewel and Paper*Crane*Heart!

NYHC: Tell us about what you make.

Jewel Doi: I make Japanese paper jewelry and accessories. The materials I use include resin, wood, and Japanese chiyogami paper.

NYHC: Where do you live?

JD: I live in Manhattan. I enjoy the fact that I can put "Handmade in NYC" on all of my earring cards.

NYHC: What is unique or different about your process and/or designs?

JD: The Japanese chiyogami paper I use for my jewelry is hand-silkscreened in Japan by small family-owned companies. There are few companies left, making chiyogami is an endangered art. I am very passionate about spreading the word of chiyogami and helping to keep it alive.

NYHC: Do you have any favorite pieces? What makes them special to you?

JD: Any of my pieces that look very obviously Japanese and traditional - such as the ones with cherry blossom or plum blossom patterns - are my favorite.

NYHC: What is your favorite tool or supply?

JD: My favorite material is Japanese chiyogami paper, which is hand-silkscreened in Japan. Chiyogami artisans are fighting against companies (both in and outside of Japan) that steal their designs and print them by machine, on cheap paper. I love the feel of real chiyogami - it is textured and fabric-like. The vivid colors (that include gold and silver) are unlike anything a machine can produce.

NYHC: Is there a new piece/opportunity/change that you're excited about?

JD: During the pandemic, I learned to teach myself how to make process videos, and set them to music. I'm excited to put those up online.

NYHC: What advice or tips can you share with other makers?

JD: Always work on making things you are passionate about. Whenever you feel like you're in a creative rut, take a step back, and find inspiration from other mediums.

NYHC: Share an important lesson you've learned from running your business.

JD: If you want to make a living from things you make, you have to juggle the mundane with the creative. Prioritizing money is part of the job. Making the same item over and over again because it sells well is part of the job. You might feel like your creativity is being stifled, so you have to constantly find other ways to keep creative and feel inspired.