Welcome to Fighting Words!

Mabuhay! Fighting Words is all about words and the power of words - its power to move, power to heal, power to change. This product line is all about the line form and function of words, special words, baybayin words, inspirational words, healing words.

Fighting Words Bracelets

Each bead is lovingly and painstaking applied (not on a loom) by hand to form an intricately woven design before it is attached to a beaded strap that stretches to fit comfortably over your wrist. Materials: #11 Japanese Delica Beads, Gold plated, nickel free findings, glass beads, stretch cord. Measures 7-1/4 inches on average. Multiple color combinations and words. Each one is $30. Personalization is available for additional $10 fee. Maximum 8 letters. Succulent not included.

Know Your Rights T Shirts

Each shirt is individually stenciled using original art. Some are printed on the front and back. Some are front only. Each one is $20. S, M, L, XL, XXL. Crew neck, men's sizing. Please allow for some shrinkage. White ink on dark background.

Know Your Rights Tees, $20

This is a sample of my message masks that I started making when Eric Garner was killed by the police. For this I tore up a white lab coat and remade it into a mask and stenciled with my own messages.

Available only as part of a community building or educational activity

Bree Newsmen is one of my she-roes. I was inspired to draw this piece with pencil and ink when she climbed up the flagpole and took off the confederate flag. Around her are 9 birds symbolizing the 9 Black people killed by a white terrorist during a prayer meeting in South Carolina.

Badass Bree, pen and pencil on paper NFS

This is a pen and ink drawing of a friend, Victor Duffy who was tasered to death by the Tukwila police in 2012. His death shocked and stunned me. I could not comprehend even to this day what happened. He needed professional help for his mental health episodes, not a taser.
I love you and will always remember you Victor Duffy!

Victor, pen on paper - NFS

This is an acrylic canvas painting of a Filipino woman dressed in the Philippine colors, holding the sun in her hand with the baybayin for Makibaka (Stand in solidarity).

Diwata, acrylic on canvas, 20" x 30" $500

This is an image of the fist in contrast to the baybayin on four corners for "Makibaka" which means "to stand in solidarity with someone..." This was the cry of the streets of Manila before the EDSA People Power revolution in 1986.

Makibaka, acrylic on canvas, 24"x30" $500

This painting shows a young man being stopped by police while he's studying for the SAT against a background of the U.S. basic civil rights.

Acrylic on canvas, 16" x 20" $200

This is a rendering of the baybayin letters for "human"

Acrylic on Canvas, 10" x 12"

Hemp Resin Accessories

These are just plain fun! Each piece has hemp leaves inside the resin so you can see the plant inside. Nickel free findings on leather or silver plated chains.
Each one is individually poured and hand finished. I also have resin hemp letters, from A to Z.
A set of letters is $10. (Photo to come.)

Pin $12

Earrings with vintage Czech crystals $20

Abalone and hemp $24

Swarovski crystal and hemp $20

Shells and Stones Can't Hurt These Bones

But words cannot describe the beauty of these stunning Sleeping Beauty Turquoise. I acquired the turquoise from the Tucson Gem Festival at least 10 years ago. I have held on to these turquoise for a very long time, holding out for the design these beads are meant to rest. The gold pearls are my homage to the Philippines where it is indigenous to the land, and my Aunt Perla, who died of breast cancer when she was only in her 30s.

Accessories made of sterling silver, crystals, shells, bone and other natural materials.
Everything is one of a kind.