Jabebo Earrings: Recycling cereal boxes into jewelry that celebrates nature
Centre County | I-80 Frontier of the Pennsylvania Wilds
In 1994, Kevin Abbott made his first pair of earrings — a sun and moon set — for his wife, Mary.
Since then, more than 300 designs have been developed by Kevin and the artisans employed at the couple’s earring company, Jabebo.
The staff at Jabebo Earrings celebrates nature, science and the animal kingdom in a special way.
All of the earrings are handmade with post-consumer paperboard from cereal box cartons. Flip the finished, laminated earrings over and the original box packaging is still visible.
“We source cereal boxes locally,” Kevin said. “In fact, people often visit the store just to drop them off.”
In addition to the earrings being made in an environmentally-friendly fashion, the designs themselves also nod to Mother Nature. The earrings depict bugs, planets, birds, mammals, reptiles, flora and more – all in an asymmetrical fashion.
One set of earrings might have a cat lying on a windowsill in two different ways, while another set depicts female and male cardinals. Another pair includes a bee for one earring and a honeycomb for its match. Yet another set includes an earring depicting a robin; the match is its egg.
Working together out of a studio in downtown Bellefonte to create the mix-matched earrings, the team’s process runs like a finely-tuned machine.
Many of their earrings can be found at unique gift shops and bookstores within at state and national parks, as well as preserves, gardens, museums, and bird centers across the United States.
Learn more about Jabebo or leave a review/recommendation on the company’s Wilds Cooperative of PA profile or shop their products on the PA Wilds Marketplace!
WTAJ showcased Mary and Kevin in a 2021 news segment.
Watch the video below to learn more.
Jabebo was photographed by Budget Artist Bill Crowell as part of the Creative Makers of the Pennsylvania Wilds – A Traveling Public Art Show. Many of the photos in this article are from that series.
RECENT WCO MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS
- Lumber Heritage Region: Uplifting the lumber industry’s history, impacts
Just what is the Lumber Heritage Region? The Lumber Heritage Region, established in 2001, is one of twelve designated Heritage Areas in Pennsylvania. It spans a 15-county region in north west and north central Pennsylvania that encompasses the entire PA Wilds region. - Endless Mountain Music Festival: Captivating sounds and scenery
The Endless Mountain Music Festival is a premier cultural event taking place across multiple counties in northern Pennsylvania and southern New York. - Artwork by Lynn Kibbe: Scratchboard artist intricately depicts animals, nature
After painting for 20 years, Lynn found her art in an online forum. She’s since been doing scratchboard art for about five years.
