You know, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the difference between handmade and mass-produced jewelry. Don’t you find that a handmade piece just feels different? There’s this warmth to it, almost like it has a heartbeat. When someone makes jewelry by hand, they leave little traces of themselves in it—the care, the patience, the tiny decisions along the way. Mass-produced jewelry might be shiny and flawless, but sometimes it feels a little too perfect, like it’s missing that soul.
Take this ring I finished. It’s sterling and fine silver with a chrysocolla malachite stone set right in the middle. The colors in the stone reminded me of walking through a lush forest after the rain—the kind where the air feels fresh and the leaves are dripping with sunlight. I built a double shank band for it so it feels sturdy and comfortable, and framed the stone with little silver accents to give it balance. What I love most, though, is that no two chrysocolla malachite stones ever look the same. Even if I made another tomorrow, it would have a totally different personality. That’s the beauty of it—it becomes this little piece of wearable art, meant just for the person who ends up with it.
And maybe that’s what I love most about making jewelry. It isn’t about chasing perfection or trends—it’s about creating something real, something that feels like you. A handmade piece can hold a memory, remind you of a place, or just quietly reflect your personality without you ever having to say a word. I like to think of it as art you can carry with you, a way to tell your story every single day. And honestly, isn’t that the best kind of jewelry?