Handmade Directory: Jewelry

People love jewelry! Here are some great handmade items to help you get your fix. Find more on Etsy and Artfire!

















































Want to be included in the directory? Email me!

October Featured Etsy Blogger: Made By Melissa

Madebymelissa, with the Etsy Bloggers Team since the beginning, makes hand crocheted items and jewelry. Check out all of her items at http://madebymelissa.etsy.com.

Here are some "beautimous" items from her shop :)

Halloween Charm Earrings


Camo Baby/Toddler Blanket

Face Cloths

Brown Scarf
Midnight Purple Mohair Scarf

Etsy Artist Feature: JustJaynes

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?

My shop is JustJaynes, and I sell sterling silver jewelry, mostly necklaces and earrings. There are a few fun things in there, too!

2. What is your shop URL? http://justjaynes.etsy.com is a spinoff off http://lydialayne.etsy.com LL is empty, but it is my original shop.

3. What is your blog URL? http://justjaynes.blogspot.com

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?

I signed up on April 19, 2006, under LydiaLayne. In June of 2006, I had my first sale! Etsy was just 1 year old at the time!

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?

My favorite thing about etsy…. the people I’ve met, online and in person. My favorite Etsy features are the Treasury, Time Machine 2, and Shop Local.

6. What is your favorite thing about what you create?

Being able to customize my items for customers. I currently have a custom word charm order and have a couple custom initial charm necklaces that I’m working on.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?

My favorite item is probably the Tree of Life necklace. It’s my best seller!

8. What teams do you belong to?

EtsyWMi (West Michigan) MICE, and Michigan Trolls. As a co-leader for the EtsyWMi team, I am most active with this group.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?

Fun things include craft shows, Facebook and Twitter. The MOST fun thing? Probably Facebook because I can interact on a personal level, too. It doesn’t move as fast as Twitter.

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?

There are so many! I have a leather watch by RADCOW in my favorites that I want sooo bad. It’ll be my reward someday. Lots of my favorites are flowery or bird-related. I also love to look at aprons, totes, clutches, anything knit or quilted.

I see lots of awesome items from EtsyWMi team members everyday. Just ordered chocolate marshmallows from Bonnie at FirstFruitsLLC, rag cloth coasters from DulcesCreations. Karin from AwindowIntoWhimsy makes adorable mixed media pictures. There are just too many to mention!

11. What do you do in your spare time?

What spare time? Outside of my day job and my etsy business, I make time to golf and spend with family, adult beverages included. I like read a bit before I go to bed.

12. What blogs do you follow?

Lots of blogs! Part of my morning routine is going through my blogger dashboard looking at the most recently updated blogs.

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?

Anyone who mentions this interview in the Message to Seller will get a shipping refund!

Featured Etsy Shop: Minoux Jewelry

Featured Etsy Shop: Minoux Jewelry

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell?
My shop is Minoux Jewelry, and I sell...Jewelry!

2. What is your shop URL?
http://www.minouxjewelry.etsy.com/
My website is: http://www.minouxjewelry.com/

3. What is your blog URL?
No blog as of yet, but seriously considering it.

4. When did you start selling on Etsy?
September 29th, 2008

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
I love that there is no end to things to discover. From checking out a person who hearted you, then checking out their hearts, and so on, to reading the forums and blog posts and uncovering new Etsy tricks, I feel like every time I log on, I'm seeing new things, learning new things, and being richly entertained. And I get to call it work!

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
My favorite thing is when I meet someone who's been a fan of my work for a long time, and they're wearing something I made, and they really love the piece. It gives more meaning to sitting in my studio all day.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
My favorite item is the Round Up necklace, because I wear it constantly! When I'm feeling fancy, it works with my girly outfit, and when I'm feeling grrr, it works with my tough black v-neck tshirt.

8. What teams do you belong to?
No teams as of yet, but I've been eyeballing the Portland team.

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
So far the most fun thing has been to check out all the opportunities for promotion that people post in the business section of the community forums.

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14056571
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=fp_seller_3&listing_id=17373030
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13778367
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14056571

11. What do you do in your spare time?
Birding, reading, volunteering. One of the cool things about Portland is that there's

always something unique and free happening. Tonight I'm going to a lecture on bats!

12. What blogs do you follow?
Carrot box, the sartorialist, filly designs, MOD Mercury on Design

13. Do you have anything else you would like to share?
I think that covers it!

Featured Etsy Bloggers Artist: Storybeader

Featured Etsy Bloggers Artist: Storybeader

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? My shop is called storybeader and I sell one-of-a-kind jewelry and other fun beaded items

2. What is your shop URL? http://storybeader.etsy.com/

3. What is your blog URL? http://storybeader.blogspot.com/

4. When did you start selling on Etsy? in Feb 2008

5. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? it's the community of Etsybloggers I've met. They're the best! Etsybloggers Rock!

6. What is your favorite thing about what you sell? are you talking about the jewelry as a whole? I enjoy working with beads and colors. I also like to be able to write stories to go with the necklaces.

7. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? I don't have one favorite item - sure you hear that a lot! It's more like a favorite technique: my treasure necklaces. They can tell such a sweet story and the colors and textures - you can go wild!

8. What teams do you belong to? My most active team is the Etsybloggers. I also joined the OKESTYs when I first came to selling on Etsy (I live in Oklahoma.) Recently I joined the BBEST (Boomers team), but there aren't enough hours in a day to be active everywhere. And I love my bloggers!

9. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? Write and direct people to my blog!

10. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy? I'm always on the lookout for turtles - can't list all of them. I found a great olive tray, by lurearts. I love ceramics. But my favorite favorites is the Storyteller, by wildeyedesign (I wrote about it on an early blog.) One day I'll buy it!

11. What do you do in your spare time? What spare time? LOL I love to read, and if I'm not working or taking care of my business (storybeader), I'm either spending time with DH, reading, or exercising. Not much cleaning going on in this girl's house!

12. What blogs do you follow? I follow all my fella etsybloggers, and try to comment on their blogs. And BlogTalkRadio is something new to me. I've been dropping cards through Entrecard, and follow some blogs through that.


13. Do you have anything else you would like to share? One thing I've found about starting your own business is to keep focused. Everyone knows that it is so easy to get sidetracked online. And don't forget your family - it's easy to do, especially if you don't have children.

Featured Etsy Shop: Rock and Gold

Featured Etsy Shop: Rock and Gold

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? My shop name is RockAndGold and I sell jewelry hand-crafted with semi-precious stones in sterling silver or gold filled wire. I sell earrings, necklaces, and bracelets.

2. What is your shop URL? My shop URL is http://rockandgold.etsy.com/

3. When did you start selling on Etsy? I opened up a shop about 5 weeks ago, but I didn't really start listing until about 3 weeks ago. I've had the most wonderful time setting up shop, improving my shop, and getting to know other etsians!

4. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? I really love the quality of work on Etsy. I am continually impressed by how talented the members are and the incredibly creative designs that they come up with. I also love how friendly and helpful they are as a community. Their advice has been invaluable to me as a burgeoning member.

5. What is your favorite thing about what you sell? I get great pleasure from watching a piece come to life using simple materials. My goal is to sell well-crafted affordable jewelry that can easily be versatile enough to go from day to evening.

6. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? My favorite item is probably these bright orange/red carnelian earrings: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14858593 They are bright enough to spruce up a simple jeans and tee shirt outfit and they are affordable too.

7. What teams do you belong to? I don't currently belong to any teams, but I'd love to beling to a southern California team soon!

8. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? Being picked to be in a treasury was hands down so fun and flattering! This is pretty darn fun too!

9. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?

Oh gosh where do I begin?

I adore these peacock hair pins by wildspirits: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15161216

I also love the color combination in this handbag by jenniferludd: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13945840

I love the nubbyness of this scarft from phydeaux as well: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14464718

This decorative cork ball ornament from makalewakan is so cute and clever. I might decorate my tree this year with earthy ornaments and homemade items.
10. What do you do in your spare time? I'm finishing up a Ph.D. program in Demography, so it doesn't leave a lot of spare time. When I do have a minute I like to spend it either running or with my husband. We try to explore one new ethnic restaurant in LA per week and so far our favorite is an Ethiopian restaurant. Since we are from the midwest, we enjoy beer ;) and we are hoping to plan a trip up the coast to hit micro breweries in Northern California, Oregon, and Washington later this fall.

Featured Etsy Shop: kittyd

Featured Etsy Shop: kittyd

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? My shop name is Kittyd, kept it simple-just my nickname and middle initial. If I had it to do over again I would mention jewelry in the title since I sell handcrafted jewelry.

2. What is your shop URL? http://www.kittyd.etsy.com/

3. When did you start selling on Etsy? Feb 18, 2006

4. What is your favorite thing about Etsy?
I love the low listing price, and the variety of handcrafted items-I've found so many things to drool over-and buy them when I can!

5. What is your favorite thing about what you sell?
I love wearing jewelry-and I love for my jewelry not to look like anyone else's...

6. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why?
My new purple polymer dragon pendant-because I just made it-my favorites tend to change.

7. What teams do you belong to?
BBEST (Booomers and Beyond Etsy Street Team)

8. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop?
I volunteer 1/2 day a month at my local art gallery where I also have some jewelry displayed, I mention my shop to anyone who is interested in seeing more of my jewelry.

9. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy?
Since I love jewelry, some of my favorite finds are unique jewelry pieces, oh yes, and bags! Can't have too many bags! Oh yeah, and body butter! Coupla of my favorites here:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14529410
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14834316

10. What do you do in your spare time?
Spare time? What's that? Kidding aside, I love to read sf/fantasy novels. And, I harass my two children-16 yr old boy and 21 year old girl-the lights of my life. :)

11. Do you have anything else you would like to share?I really enjoy the creative process, and have encouraged others to open shops on etsy. It's one of the most economical ways to exhibit your wares.

Racermann's Handmade Creations

Featured Etsy Shop: Racermann's Handmade Creations

One of the wonderful teams I am a member of is Etsy West Michigan. Over the next couple of weeks, I will be featuring these fantastic crafters and artists. Want to find more great finds from Etsy West Michigan? Search "etsywmi team" and you will find a wonderful array of items for yourself and the upcoming gift giving season!

Racermann's makes beautiful pendants, earrings, necklaces, charms, and miscellaneous craft items. Here is what they had to say about their shop:

1. What is your shop name and what do you sell? Racermann's Creations

2. What is your shop URL? http://racermann.etsy.com

3. When did you start selling on Etsy? July of 2007

4. What is your favorite thing about Etsy? Looking at all the talent from around the world

5. What is your favorite thing about what you sell? Making things with my hands.

6. What is your favorite item in your own shop and why? Sunset on mars Pendant, 1st item I made

7. What teams do you belong to? etsywmi (Etsy West Michigan)

8. What is the most fun thing you do to promote your shop? Chat with people

9. What are some of your favorite finds by other sellers on Etsy? Butt Freckles

10. What do you do in your spare time? I work on crafts, Estate Sales