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Paper2pearls is an environmentally friendly range of jewellery and gifts made using paper from old books and sheet music. I make all my jewellery by hand using paper taken from old books and sheet music combined with origami to create something truly unique. With the selection of much loved classic novels and the range of genres available in my book jewellery collection I make it easy for book lovers to be able to wear something made from a book that resonates with them. Paper2pearls has sustainability at it's heart and you can find out more about this in my sustainability audit. Photo credit www.ruthtowell.co.uk Shop now Book jewellery Earrings, pendants, chokers, bracelets and rings mad e using paper from the book of your choice from my range of over 15 titles. Sheet music Choose earrings, pendants and more all made using genuine vintage sheet music. Bridal and hair accessories Headbands, clips and bridal rose tiaras all made to order in your choice of book from my range or sheet music. About me At Paper2Pearls I make my very original range of jewellery using paper instead of gemstones. I've always been a naturally creative person and after an early retirement from teaching due to health and disability, I had to say goodbye to my beloved patchwork and quilting. However, I discovered a new creative outlet through origami and a lightbulb went on - why not apply my new skills to create unique and beautiful paper jewellery? And so, Paper2Pearls was born in 20I6. Although I began by using origami paper over time I became drawn to the idea of using paper from old copies of classic books. I am proud to offer a range of handmade, sustainable paper jewellery and gifts that are unlike anything else on the market. The nature of what I make means that every piece is truly one-of-a-kind. I sell my creations online as well as at markets, and you can also find them stocked at Unity (in the Queensgate Shopping Mall in Peterborough). Whether you're looking for a gift for someone special or a unique accessory for yourself, Paper2Pearls has something for everyone. Gilli Photo credit: www.ruthtowell.co.uk Awards SBS award In 2017 I won a Small Business Sunday award from Theo Paphitis. The photo shows me receiving my certificate in 2018. Plastic Free Champion This is my Plastic Free Champion trophy - appropriately enough made from wood. This was awarded by Surfers Against Sewage after I completed an audit to show how my business was taking steps to avoid using plastics. Blue Patch I am a member of Blue Patch, the top business directory in the UK for sustainable businesses. Earlier this year I entered their 2024 Sustainability Awards and was thrilled to be a finalist and to come second in the Heritage Section for my jewellery which celebrates our literary heritage and the importance of books and reading. Ecologie As part of my commitment to making my business a more sustainable one I joined Ecologi at the start of 2022. This year Paper2pearls recieved their Bronze Award for my contribution to climate action and the Paper2pearlss wood now has over 1,000 trees in it. To visit the Paper2Pearls wood please use this link. https://ecologi.com/paper2pearls Reviews Read my Trustpilot reviews here Trustpilot reviews Read my Etsy reviews here Etsy reviews

Green glossary This is just a brief glossary of the most popular terms used. I’m including it here as I strongly believe that having an understanding of what they mean helps when making choices and makes it harder for companies to use greenwashing (don’t worry, that one will be included) to bamboozle us. Eco-friendly This is not the best term to use as it isn’t very specific. It refers to things that don't harm the environment but is open to interpretation and does not mean the same to everyone. Environmentally friendly This refers to minimising harm to the environment by aiming to help improve it and making as little impact on it as possible. Ethical An ethical business demonstrates integrity and fairness. They are transparent about their business practices and policies. Businesses with these qualities have loyal workers and customers. Green A green business is one whose products do not cause significant harm to the environment and in fact may even improve it and the health of humans. It is a very wide term and its meaning is similar to that of sustainability. Greenwashing This refers to businesses that deliberately aim to make it appear that their products are environmentally sound when this is not the case. This is often done through how packaging is designed to project a "green" image and making misleading environmental claims. Recycled This refers to a material that is collected and then processed back into the original material or a new one e.g. plastic bottles recycled into polyester filling. Repurposed Repurposing turns an item into something completely unrelated to its original purpose, for example turning DVDs into jewellery. Reusable Self-explanatory, an item that can be used for the same purpose many times as opposed to a single use version, e g. A metal water bottle rather than a single use plastic one. Sustainability This refers to a business that causes none or minimal damage to the environment. This means it also seeks to maintain or improve the environment in the longer term and so importantly will not have an adverse effect on future generations. It has three aspects to it, as well as not harming the environment a sustainable business should also have a commitment to social and economic benefits. Upcycled This refers to something having value added to it while keeping it in its original form. One of the most popular uses for this term is with old or vintage furniture which has been painted or has had other decorative effects added to it. Vintage An item such as furniture, clothing or home decor that is at least 30 (or sometimes 20) years old.

Here you can find the answers to questions I am often asked about my jewellery as well as my shop policies for on-line purchases. If you can't find the answer to your question please contact me by sending an email to paper2pearls@gmail.com 1:ORDERS FAQ about my book jewellery Do you make it all yourself? Yes, I hand fold all the pieces from a range of different books. Is it waterproof? Unfortunately much as I would love to say yes, the answer is no. The only varnishes which are guaranteed waterproof are yacht varnishes which are not suitable for small items such as these, or for paper. Pieces are water-resistant. I have researched on-line to find the most suitable varnishes and apply an initial thin coat before starting to fold and then several coats after folding. This makes the pieces stronger as well as making them water- resistant. How long does it last? Treated with respect and in a dry place, e.g. kept in a jewellery box or earring rack these pieces should last for several years.They are not suitable for babies or young children. General questions Payment I accept payment by PayPal Postage and packing UK p&p is free on most items. I only sell within the UK on here, for international sales please visit my Etsy shop www.paper2pearls.etsy.com 4:RETURNS Returns I will accept returns for most items as long as they are returned undamaged and in suitable packaging to ensure they do not get damaged in the post. I do not accept returns on custom items unless they arrive damaged. I will not refund the cost of return postage but will refund your payment once I have recieved the item back in good condition. For hygiene reasons I cannot accept returns on earrings or hair accessories. Unwanted items should be returned within 15 working days of the original order. If items are collected in person I will deduct the cost of postage from the price charged. Cookies This site uses cookies. But then you probably guessed that anyway.

Brand values Brand values At Paper2pearls I design and make jewellery and gifts by re-purposing and recycling materials that would otherwise likely be destined for landfill, or to put it another way I make jewellery from rubbish, specialising in reusing old paper from old books and sheet music. Below I have gone into more details about how I source materials, what I use and how I pack and ship items. It is a statement of where I am now and so I regularly review it.. I am proud to have been awarded plastic free champion status for my business and i am all a member of Blue Planet I have teamed up with Ecologi so that a tree is planted for each order I receive. Suppliers I source my supplies in a number of ways including the following: Charity shops eBay, Etsy Swapping items with other jewellery makers. Family and friends who save items for me. The precious metals I use are from a British company with clear ethical policies in place and the sterling silver wire I use to make my earring hooks is made from recycled silver. Materials and making Materials: Most of my jewellery will be made using repurposed, vintage or natural materials. This may include the following: Old books (ones that have come, or are close to to the end of their life as being suitable for reading). I also recycle old plastic bottles, dvds, HDPE plastic e.g. bottle tops and can tabs. Vintage and recycled beads and embroidery threads. Natural materials including flowers, and beetle wings. I use wings from Elytra beetles which are a traditional food in Thailand and for hundreds of years the wings have been used for embroidery and jewellery making. As other foods became available and farming practices changed they became less wide spread and it became clear that they played a key role in the eco-structure of the native environment. Today farmers are encouraged to "farm" them and after they die at the end of their life cycle the wings are collected and sold thus helping the environment and the farmers. I buy my wings direct from Thailand so the money goes into their economy. I aim to use the minimum of synthetic products as these are byproducts of the petrochemical industry. Unfortunately I have been unable to find suitable environmentally friendly varnish and glues but the search for these continues! I work from home in my own jewellery studio at the bottom of my garden. My electricity supplier supplies hundred percent renewable energy. I drive a hybrid car which means that my petrol use is much reduced. Packaging and delivery Paper envelopes made from recycled paper. Business cards made from plain card so they can be recycled and the use of QR codes to replace business cards at craft markets. Biodegradable stickers supplied by a small UK based business. Ensuring any paper used for gift wrapping is recycled and unbleached. Cardboard boxes for posting items in. I also recycle boxes and padded envelopes that I receive. I use natural raffia, jute and brown paper tape to secure and seal packaging and parcels. Mail-order items are sent via Royal Mail.

My links On this page you will find all my links as well as my contact form. Just scroll down. Website and online shop: www.paper2pearls.co.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/paper2pearlsbyGilli Instagram: www.instagram.com/paper2pearlsbygillisflowers Email: Gilli@paper2pearls.co.uk Newsletter sign up, subscriber form

Privacy policy As visitors to this website, customers and fans of Paper2pearls, I may hold some information about you (your name, email address, and in some cases, your postal address and telephone number). This is a short note setting out everything you could ever wish to know about how I collect, use and store this information. But if you still have any questions after reading this, please contact me and I will endeavour to answer them for you. • IMPORTANT NOTE: When I talk about "information", I am purely referring to your contact details. I never have access to your financial information when you make payments using PayPal or card. All sensitive financial information is held securely by the processing companies, and they never share this with me, or anyone else. What information I collect I receive, collect and store any information you enter on our website or provide us in any other way. I may use software tools to measure and collect session information, including page response times, length of visits to certain pages, page interaction information, and methods used to browse away from the page. When you contact me, commission me to make something for you or make a purchase from me I will collect personally identifiable information (such as your name and email); payment details (when payment is made through method other than PayPal information), comments, feedback, product reviews etc. How I collect information Whenever you order an item from me or commission me to provide a piece for you, you give me sufficient information about you to enable me to process the order. I will also collect information (such as your name) when you message me directly. I am the only one who ever has direct access to your information, and I never pass this on to anyone else. If you pay me using PayPal, they will also hold information about you. You can read their Privacy Policy here. https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-prev My business company is hosted on the Wix.com platform. Wix.com provides me with the online platform that allows me to sell my products to you. Your data may be stored through Wix.com’s data storage, databases and the general Wix.com applications. They store your data on secure servers behind a firewall. All direct payment gateways offered by Wix.com and used by my company adhere to the standards set by PCI-DSS as managed by the PCI Security Standards Council, which is a joint effort of brands like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. PCI-DSS requirements help ensure the secure handling of credit card information by our store and its service providers. How I use your information If you have requested a commission, placed an order or signed up for my newsletter you can expect to hear from me using the contact information you've provided. For these purposes we may contact you via email, telephone, text messages, or postal mail. Your personal information will be used for these reasons only. If you make a purchase from me then your email address will be added to my email list as you have shown interest in my products. At any time you can unscribe either by using the unsubscribe button on any marketing emails you are sent or by contacting me directly at Gilli@paper2pearls.co.uk I use two factor sign up to my email list so you will not be added until you confirm that you wish to subscribe and you can unsubscribe at anytime. How I store information I keep an electronic list of customers and subscribers including commission requests and customers in search of specific items. This is held on my password protected laptop and on my fingerprint protected tablet and smart phone. I carry either one with me at all times and neither one is ever accessible to third parties. In addition a separate password is needed to access my website and social media accounts. I keep this list solely for accounting and tax purposes (I need to keep all sales records for at least 5 years according to HMRC regulations. Your rights You can ask me at any time what information I hold about you, and I will give you full details free of charge. You also have the right to ask that your details be deleted, amended or transferred. If you ever change your mind about what information, if any, you want me to hold on your behalf, just contact me. Right to modify policy I reserve the right to modify this privacy policy at any time, so please review it frequently. Changes and clarifications will take effect immediately upon their posting on the website. If I make material changes to this policy, I will notify you here that it has been updated, so that you are aware of what information I collect, how I use it, and under what circumstances, if any, I use and/or disclose it. Questions and contact information If you have any questions about this policy then please contact me via email Gilli@paper2pearls.co.uk

Shop Policies Online orders Processing times vary but typically range between 1-5 working days depending on the item and the time of year e.g. processing times in November and December are more likely to be around 5 working days as m ost of my designs are made to order. Customs and import taxes: buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I have not responsible for delays due to customs. Payment: I accept PayPal for on line sales as well as credit and debit cards. I accept returns. Please contact me within 14 days of delivery and post items back to me within 30 days of delivery. Items should be sent back in good condition and appropriately packaged. Buyers are responsible for paying the cost of return delivery and should obtain proof of postage. Conditions of return: buyers are responsible for return postage costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value. If items arrive damaged please send me photographs which clearly show the damage. I can then either offer a refund, replacement item or a repair. I don't accept exchanges or cancellations of orders. The following items cannot be returned or exchanged: custom, bespoke or personalised orders, earrings for hygiene reasons unless they arrive damaged. Delivery I use Royal Mail for my deliveries as it is the greenest UK delivery service and use their parcel collection service which gives me a proof of postage. Orders are sent by second class post unless first class is selected at checkout and paid for. For other options please contact me so I can give you a price. Items are sent untracked unless this is requested and paid for. Before placing your order please check that the address you are using is correct. I cannot be held responsible for items that do not arrive where an incorrect address has been used. My address 51 Blenheim Way, PE7 3YB

Quick View Small rose stud earrings made from an old copy of To Kill a Mockingbird Price £15.00 Quick View Handmade origami cufflinks from an old Dickens novel Price £18.00 Quick View Dickens recycled paper rose stud earrings Price £15.00 Quick View Recycled David Copperfield book page choker Price £16.00 Quick View David Copperfield recycled book page fan earings Price £15.00 Quick View David Copperfield recycled book paper origami drop earrings Price £15.00 Quick View Tales of Mystery and Imagination book paper leaf earrings Price £15.00 Quick View Small rose stud earrings made from an old copy of Dracula Price £15.00 Quick View Dainty rose drop earrings made from an old copy of Dracula Price £15.00 Quick View Dracula book paper fan earrings Vampire Price £15.00 Quick View Dracula by Bram Stoker book small origami bird earrings Price £15.00 Quick View Dracula repurposed book paper origami leaf earrings Price £15.00 Quick View copy of Small rose stud earrings, Dracula, Poe, Hobbit, Narnia, time Machine Price £15.00 Quick View Origami crane earrings made from an old copy of The Picture of Dorian Gr Price £15.00 Quick View Edgar Allan Poe recycled book paper rose choker Price £16.00 Quick View Dracula by Bram Stoker recycled book rose choker Price £16.00 Quick View The Picture of Dorian Grey recycled book rose choker Price £16.00 Quick View The Hobbit or LOTR recycled book paper rose choker Price £16.00 Quick View The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe recycled book paper rose choker Price £16.00 Quick View Small rose stud earrings made from an old copy of The Secret Garden Price £15.00 Load More

Sustainability audit (12/2023) Sustainability This refers to a business that causes none or minimal damage to the environment. This means it also seeks to maintain or improve the environment in the longer term and so importantly will not have an adverse effect on future generations. It has three aspects to it, as well as not harming the environment a sustainable business should also have a commitment to social and economic benefits. This year I am making a start on looking at my Corporate Carbon Footprint as well as my Product Carbon Emissions. My business is tiny so I am not going to attempt to put a figure to my Corporate Carbon Footprint at this moment in time. Corporate Carbon Footprint. I am focussing on scope 1 and 2 emissions as these are the ones I have most control over. Scope 2 My electricity is supplied by a company that uses renewables to provide it's electricity. At times there is a surplus in the system which means the power is free for a set period and I try to make use of this and reduce my use at the times the system is likely to be under pressure. I use electricity to heat and light my studio as well as for using tools such as my heat gun or power my Dremel multi-tool. Scope 1 I have a butane powered Dremel multi-purpose tool which I use occasionally, My car is a full hybrid and has an average MPG of 63. I use it to travel to markets and other places where I sell my products and also to post orders. To reduce my travel emissions as far as possible I combine trips to post items with trips to the shops, family etc and also make use of having orders collected by my postman when this is being offered free of charge. I use the Royal Mail as my delivery service as they have the lowest carbon footprint. Product Carbon Emissions This is the first time I have attempted this so it will not be perfect. Product Life Cycle I am using the cradle to customer model. Phase 1 Material Acquisition and pre-processing I buy recycled Sterling silver wire and recycled sterling clasps for stud earrings from a UK company along with premade sterling silver stud blanks. The company I use is UK based and use recyclable, plastic free packaging. However some items are made in China. I buy other findings from Etsy or Ebay. Although I buy from small UK shops these items are typically made in China. I reuse packaging materials when possible but products I buy are recyclable and plastic free. Where I can I buy ones that have also been made from recycled paper or card. Although I source these from UK sellers I am not aware of where they are made. My varnishes including the natural one I am mainly using now are all made in the USA though I buy from UK sellers. The natural varnish I use comes in a glass bottle. I also use a range of glues which are made in a number of places. The books I use can be donated to me, be bought from charity shops or from Ebay and are always pre-owned ones that are coming to the end of their life or have been annotated. Other materials are donated to me. By reusing items such as books I am lowering my emissions. Phase 2 Production The lighting and heat to my studio along with some tools is from renewable sources I produce all my pieces by hand. I reduce waste as much as possible and apart from pieces made using DVDs and bubble wrap all waste is collected and recycled. Phase 3 Distribute and store I store all materials and completed items in my studio and there are no emissions caused by this. I drive a full hybrid and combine trips to post orders with other trips to reduce additional emissions. When available I make use of the free collection service offered by Royal Mail. I use Royal Mail as they have the lowest CO2 footprint. Phase 4 Product Use With the exception of my battery operated lights and clocks my products do not create any emissions in use. Other A tree is panted for every purchase through my link with Ecologie and can be viewed here https://ecologi.com/paper2pearls I am also looking for ways of getting a "green" accreditation but many are out of my reach financially or aimed at larger small businesses. I have my Plastic Free Champion award from Surfers Against Sewage. Does Paper2pearls have any social and economic benefits? It is a valuable support for my mental health, not just the crafting and creative aspects but also in meeting people at markets and developing friendships with other makers and sellers both in the real world and online. I pay tax on my income and I support local shops and businesses, other designer makers and UK based businesses from whom I buy any supplies that I need. Although what I use is a minute fraction of all the waste that is produced, Paper2pearlsis also a way of making buyers more aware of waste.

BLOG Trying to catch butterflies All my life I’ve had a mind that periodically flits from thing to thing, stopping me from anything productive that takes longer than five... Tightrope walking If you follow me on Instagram (and if not, why not?), you may have read a recent post in which I described my life with chronic disease... So much to catch up with I must be honest I hadn't realised how long it was I actually posted a blog here. I knew I hadn't done one this year but not that it was... What "wellness" means to me If you follow my Instagram feed you might remember a post I made a few days ago on the theme of “wellness” and what it means to me. As... What a difference a year makes This time last year I started the long process, (it took nearly 7 months) of applying for early retirement on ill-health grounds. It was... Putting on my armour When I had a "proper job" I had to dress a particular way for work so one thing I am doing now is reviewing my wardrobe as I need fewer... Thinking about snowdrops Today is a grey cold miserable January day, a rain mixed with snow day. I don't know about you, but January has to be the worst month of... Let's have a positive 2018 So, it’s all change for me this year as I am now officially retired. However, as I don’t like using those words to describe myself, and... I have a small business! Today has been one of those days that feels like a real milestone and It was made even better by the fact I was able to share the major... Endings and beginnings It's being too long since I posted a blog but that honestly doesn't mean that I haven't been busy. As you may know from reading some of... 1 2 3 4 Recent Posts Trying to catch butterflies Tightrope walking So much to catch up with What "wellness" means to me What a difference a year makes Putting on my armour Thinking about snowdrops Let's have a positive 2018 I have a small business! Endings and beginnings Follow Us