What Qualifies as "Handcrafted" Jewelry?

by Holly
(Louisville, KY)

If jewelry is made from purchased components - is it

If jewelry is made from purchased components - is it "handcrafted"?

Jewelry artists can purchase bails, crimps, earring posts and other findings to create their jewelry pieces.

They can buy beads and string the artwork.

But, what is the level at which an art fair committee decides that the art pieces aren't 'handcrafted'?

For instance, if I buy a lampwork cabochon, glue a bail on it, and sell it as a pendant on a purchased leather or silver choker, would this be considered 'handcrafted'?

Are the cabochons and bails considered 'findings' that are allowable to be thought of as handcrafted when put together?

That is a very simplistic example, but I think you get the picture.

There are many artists who sell their jewelry online using the description of 'handcrafted', yet you can tell that all the components are purchased and reassembled.

The question of what qualifies for the term 'handcrafted' is one that is important for me to have addressed since many art shows want pieces to be handcrafted by an artist, but I'm not sure if what I just described qualifies.

Thanks.
Holly

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What Qualifies as "Handcrafted" Jewelry?

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Handcrafted vs. Assembled
by: Rena

Holly, that's a good question - and to my knowledge, there's no single correct answer.

(In my personal opinion, if you use your creativity / artistry to design something out of an assortment of components, it's handcrafted - regardless of where the components came from.)

However, if you're wondering what qualifies as "handmade" or "handcrafted" jewelry in order to be accepted into certain shows and galleries - it's really up to the show's jury or the gallery's owner to define that.

Many venues are perfectly fine with jewelry artists using all manufactured components to create unique jewelry designs.

Other venues are more particular and specify that the artist must have made all components as well as the jewelry.

It really depends on the show or gallery.

The ones that are very particular about what's acceptable as "handcrafted" usually make a point of defining their requirements specifically. So be sure to always read the venue's available paperwork or literature carefully.

Unfortunately, I think handmade jewelry tends to fall under scrutiny for this issue more than most other forms of art do.

For example, I've never heard of oil painters being expected to mix all their paints from scratch and weave their own canvases! :o)

Or woodworkers being expected to chop down their own trees and mill their own boards.

But it is true that some venues don't consider "strung jewelry" (and other jewelry that's created from already-made components) to be "legitimately handmade" unless all of the components were also handmade.

If you decide you want to sell your work through those particular venues, you have to follow their rules.

However, there are also plenty of places to sell your jewelry where "handmade vs. assembled" is a non-issue.

As far as selling your jewelry online, I think it's up to the individual artist to decide what level of "I made it myself" constitutes handmade.

The exception would be if you were selling through an online marketplace that had specific requirements for what qualifies as "handcrafted" items.

And what do jewelry customers think about this issue?

To be honest, I don't think most jewelry customers care whether handmade jewelry was crafted from purchased components.

They buy pieces they fall in love with.

Overthinking?
by: Anonymous

Then I suppose you should mine for your own silver? Pan for your gold? If you want to carry this idea through.

When you bake a cake from scratch, do you grown your own wheat, or buy the flour from the store?

"Strung" jewelry is hardly just blindly throwing a bead on a wire. I can spend many hours, or even days, determining the correct design and combination for a piece. Finding and purchasing all the pieces again takes hours, days, or weeks. "Assembling" would be what the hourly workers do for a larger jewelry designer, when given all the components with precise directions on how to put them together. It is hardly the same thing.

Of course, a jury can come up with any rules that they like.

I totally agree
by: Rena

Anonymous, I quite agree.

I believe that creating a new whole out of a collection of parts qualifies as "handmade".

Also, I wonder whether those juries would approve of...

* Jewelry made from repurposed items?
* Mixed media jewelry?
* Steampunk jewelry?

They aren't made from handmade components.

Just as with creating strung designs, these types of jewelry involve artistry in choosing, sourcing and using components! :o)

handcrafted
by: Mardi

I was surprised to come across this same limiting view of "handcrafted" jewelry-making at a local gift/art jewelry store. I had always felt there was something austere and sterile about the jewelry, although I often buy gifts in other mediums there. Although they have a roster of three dozen jewelrymakers from across the country, I was always puzzled at how I would go in with money burning a hole in my pocket, yet not find any jewelry that seemed magical, distinctive, colorful and lively enough to inspire me to make a purchase. What I recently discovered is that the store does not consider strung gemstone jewelry to be "handcrafted," so consequently there is a lack of evocative, earthy, colorful, rich jewelry pieces. The jewelry has very little richness of color and pattern; mostly one-trick pieces with a cabochon and bezel, or variations on that. Boring!!

I love what is possible with strung gemstones and pearls. I've seen necklaces that take my breath away, and are far more creative and inspiring than a bit of gemstone wrapped in a sheet of metal!

I've seen humdrum jewelry of both kinds; creativity and style is what makes the difference.

overused?
by: Zoe

I think that perhaps the terms 'handcrafted' and 'handmade' have become a little overused. I often see them applied to items made by large companies using some pretty heavy duty machinery, or to items which have some hand finishing applied by foriegn workers who are underpaid for their work.
Your work is lovely, and I would call it 'handmade', but perhaps it is better to describe in more detail what it is that makes your work special, 'individually designed' or 'expertly strung' maybe, as these descriptions will stand out in a sea of people describing their jewellery as 'handcrafted'. I describe my jewellery as 'made using hand tools', which is a bit clunky. Anyone got a better idea?
Zoe
glance
www.zoemarsh.co.uk

Per the FTC
by: Debra

Hey there,

I'm going to jump in and say there is a very definitive definition for what constitutes "hand-made" - which has been set by the FTC. How well do they enforce this definition with we small time crafters? This I don't know, but I do try to follow these guidelines as they are there for a reason.

"It is unfair or deceptive to represent, directly or by implication, that any industry product is hand-made or hand-wrought unless the entire shaping and forming of such product from raw materials and its finishing and decoration were accomplished by hand labor and manually-controlled methods which permit the maker to control and vary the construction, shape, design, and finish of each part of each individual product."

To my understanding, we do not have to be so silly as to mine and draw our own wire - but we also cannot buy a machine-made clasp, either. Things like flex shafts are okay as they are hand-controlled. GIA is an excellent source of additional information as well.

For more information: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/jewel-gd.shtm

Thank you, Debra!
by: Rena

I greatly appreciate your adding that information!

Handcrafted or Handmade?
by: Patti

I agree with Anonymous.

I put a lot of time into picking out the right gemstone beads in my wire jewerly, and I fashion most of my components out of silver wire.

There are times when I'll purchase jumprings, earposts, or leverbacks.

If I'm only makeing one or two pieces that call for jumprings, I make them myself, but I keep several different sizes and shapes of purchased jump rings if I need them.

Earwires, jumprings, and clasps are fairly inexpensive and easy to make.

I don't see why "strung" jewelry wouldn't be considered handmade. While I prefer working with wire, I've seen so many beautiful pieces of handstrung jewelry. My first attemps at making jewerly were with a loom. I also used to string beads, and was proud of the pieces I gave away as gifts.

When I take hours picking out the right stones and matching them up, I know I've put my time and passion into what I made.

my experience
by: Tina

Here's my experience with art show juries, & I'm still learning:-)! There tends to be a bias against beaded jewelry. If something is made totally from purchased findings & beads THEY(not me!)look at it as a craft (costume jewelry) not art (fine jewelry), with the only exception being seed bead weaving. You have to make some of your own beads (lapidary, pmc, glass), do wireworking, or metalsmithing to be competitive to get into the juried shows. Even then, most of the "big" shows only let in taditional metalsmithing with set stones. My frustration is that there is a bias if we didn't cut our own gemstone beads, but it's perfectly OK for a "fine jewelry" artist to set a cut gemstone that they purchased into something they made, and then offer a purchased chain/leather & clasp to hang it on. Somehow the hole in the bead makes a difference. Or the other bias I see is in PMC not being recognized as true art. The bias is against using purchased texture stamps that we press our clay into, but again is OK for the metalsmith to use a purchased texture that they stamp/hammer or roll into their metal. I think the issue boils down to perception - beaded jewelry (even if it is made with precious components) is perceived as being less valuable than jewelry that is soldered with set stones. It tends to fall in the middle ground between "costume" & "fine". Does anyone have a good word to decribe this middle ground? We need to educate our customers about the time, skill & design that goes into our beaded jewelry, as well as the quality of the components. We all love beaded jewelry because of the vast color & design opportunities! Give 10 of us identical components & you will get 10 completely different pieces of jewelry.
www.cloudhaledesign.com

FTC Guildelines
by: Anonymous

I appreciate the link. Upon reading it, however, I do not come to the same conclusion as Debra. Re the first paragraph of said section "These guides apply to jewelry industry products, which include, but are not limited to, the following: gemstones and their laboratory-created and imitation substitutes; natural and cultured pearls and their imitations; and metallic watch bands not permanently attached to watches.1 These guides also apply to articles, including optical frames, pens and pencils, flatware, and hollowware, fabricated from precious metals (gold, silver and platinum group metals), precious metal alloys, and their imitations. These guides also apply to all articles made from pewter. For the purposes of these guides, all articles covered by these guides are defined as "industry products."

Were we not speaking of our own jewelry designs, our own finished products? This paragraph is not. Certainly, I cannot have a clasp made by a machine, perhaps a mold, and then advertise and sell it as "handmade". It is another issue entirely, should I use such clasp in one of my own individual designs, that I have constructed myself, and call the necklace itself "handmade." This FTC section is for elements, not for a jewelry design. Of course, continuing with my fictitious necklace with the machine molded clasp, I could not say such necklace is handmade and all parts of it are handmade. But I never say that anyway. Not to mention if every single part of my jewelry was "handmade" in such a way, no one could afford my jewelry! :)

So I think it is important to read that section in its entirety, and understand its intent.

... and one more thing
by: Anonymous

I know I must get back to my (apparently) mindless task of designing jewelry, however, I thought I would cut and paste the Etsy shop listing rule of "handmade" definition. Etsy is a fairly large business overall, and I doubt they would be flying in the face of government regulations.
"With the exception of Vintage and Supplies, categories on Etsy are for handmade items. Handmade items must be created by the seller (or a member of the collective) operating the Etsy shop. Below are general policies regarding handmade items on Etsy, as well as special considerations for certain types of listings or activities in the handmade categories.

•On Etsy, the term "handmade" can additionally be interpreted as "hand-assembled" or "hand-altered."
◦Simply tailoring, restoring or repairing an item is not considered handmade.
◦To be considered handmade, the seller must substantially alter the design of an item produced from a "ready to assemble" kit.
◦Upcycled, reconstructed or significantly altered vintage items are considered handmade. These items should be listed as handmade, not in the Vintage category.
•Selling commercial or mass-produced items in Etsy's handmade categories is not permitted.
•You may not list handmade items that you (or a member of your collective) did not create. This is considered reselling and is not permitted.
•All items in the handmade categories must comply with Etsy's listing and tagging policies, including special policies for tagging handmade listings. "

I think we sometimes get confused between "handmade" and "easy" also. Just because something may have taken 5 minutes to construct (not counting design, thinking, shopping for elements, etc.)would not necessarily make it less than handmade. Although it may not win any prizes in a design challenge. I would think its pricing would reflect the ease, also.

A special shout-out to Patti & Tina, fellow stringers. We all know the "stringing" part is just the end product. The "work" part is what goes on before. And Tina, yes, it is a shame that the jewelry shows make that distinction. It seems to me there is a difference between skill and talent (although good to have both). And some of those people can't tell the difference.

www.metaldreamer.etsy.com
by: Denise Jenkins

This is a sore spot at juried shows. I have been a metalsmith for 20 years and have seen a distinct increase in jewelers as a whole in the amount of entrants to a given show. Due to the incredible volume of applicants in the jewelry category, and the perceived value of items being made; jurors pick the jewelers that bring in the most money. It is not about how "handmade" the art is, it is about money. Now I am talking about shows that have an entry fee of 500-1500 for a weekend. If it is a smaller little show the criteria is usually first come first served.What beaders really want is credibility. It is up to you as an individual to build your credibility with promoters to get into the show. It is business, not whether you spend "X" amount of time deciding what color the necklaces is.
I just had to put my two cents in as the mean-horrible metalsmith that really does crank out my own wire. I make my own wire BECAUSE it is much cheaper economically to mill it out than to pay a refiner the extra dollars they charge on top of the daily spot price. This notion of who thinks it is art is not really the actual issue. We all make things. Sometimes the piece is evocative, and sometimes it is distinctly not, but for heavans sake quit confusing making a living with making art!

one opinion
by: Anonymous

Don't have any idea if I'm right or wrong, but for what it's worth---I label my creations as one-of-a-kind hand crafted. I do use many purchased findings and components as I have no expertise nor equipment for silversmithing, and as someonr else said, we are in a situation of keeping costs in perspective if we want to sell.

Let's Create Our Own
by: JoAnne Green

I wonder if we shouldn't come up with a satisfactory definition of what we do, agree on it and use it in our descriptions of our work. I have had customers who expected "everything" to be individually handcrafted.
Surely, with all the creative people who read this, we can come up with our own word or short phrase. Then, by using it consistently, we can codify it and make it our own.

Touchy subject
by: Barbie

Some of our local art fairs used to allow interesting beaded jewelry along with the usual metalsmithing and stone cutting 'art'. Between the two, I noticed the booth with the swarm of traffic was ALWAYS interesting beaded jewelry. All of a sudden, the beaders (assemblers) were outa there! The fine jewelry was whittled down to a half dozen who cut their own stones, and doubtless milled their own silver. Did they begin to enjoy the swarm of traffic? No. Not really. They have their own following, and that's cool.

I am an assembler, and proud of it. Beads are some of the earliest art forms to have survived the ages. Beaded jewelry is not going away.

So y'all know . . . Miriam Haskell jewelry is assembled.

It's okay to be a beader. Women (and men) love us.

http://www.barbaraherndon.com

clarify
by: Tina

I just wanted to clarify to Denise that I in No Way think that metalsmiths are "evil". I appreciate all kinds of art & artist's talents. Your comment about the big shows juring in the ones that they think will bring in the most money hit home (i.e. "fine" jewelry is more expensive). I feel like a duffus for not truly considering that aspect before. It just seems like my PMC pendants by themselves are considered "fine" art, but soon as I make them into a necklace with gemstone beads they fall into that "middle ground" art that doesn't get accepted into the big shows. The disconnect between juries & clients is that I consistently sell more necklaces than loose pendants.

I agree that we as jewelry artists need to find a better way to describe our beaded jewelry so we are not lost in the "middle ground."

Made by hand
by: Erin Prais-Hintz

I consider it handmade because it was made by my hands. I may not make all the components - althogh I am finding ways to add more hand crafted elements to my work - but that doesn't mean that it is not unique or special. I agree that it can take me days to find the right placement and assortment of components to make a piece that might be simply strung. But that doesn't make it any less special. I sell my work through a Gallery and at special shows. I am not a metal smith or gold smith, but what I make are beautiful memories and tell the story of the wearer. I am fond of using found objects. By elevating them to a place of importance in my work I am making them art. I guess it depends on what the organizers' definitions are, and you have to abide by that. But there are plenty of shows out there that fit whatever your style is.
Thanks for the lively discussion topic.
Enjoy the day!
Erin

"handcrafted jewelry" ???
by: Kim aka The Chic Peach

Rena had posed the question:

"Also, I wonder whether those juries would approve of...

* Jewelry made from repurposed items?
* Mixed media jewelry?
* Steampunk jewelry?"

I recently did not get into a show as they only allowed "original artwork/jewelry". My specialty is combining vintage elements with other found objects, gemstones, freshwater pearls, etc. While I wanted to participate in this show as many of my clients live near the show venue, I'm not going to worry about it. Vintage style jewelry is becoming increasingly popular. I intend to apply for the same show next year and hope that they've changed their policy.

nomenclature/labeling/marketing
by: Denise Jenkins

Jewelry that is in the category between costume jewelry and fine jewelry is usually considered in the industry "bridge" jewelry. For those of you that have not seen the advertisement/call to entry from Halstead Beads, there is an annual contest held in this category for assembled-strungjewelry

.http://www.halsteadbead.com/grant/

Barbie,I am sorry I was a bit rough and accept my apology. I get frustrated sometimes with the industry as a whole. There is a hierarchy in jewelry industries that constricts artists of any type with labeling. I just try to make the best of it and go on. It truly is about perceived value of what the customer wants that drives all of this notion of what is considered handcrafted. Is gold better than silver? Is metal better than beads, are beads better than upcycled materials???? Art is about the IDEA, I am sure we as artists would think that is the universal clarified notion of an art object. The materials and the monetary cost are what shifts the price of things. Gold trumps paper for the most part...and i don't work in gold by the way.Handcrafted is a term jurors use freely for a criterion of other considerations of value. Marketeres use the word frequently for implying value and time spent making the object. In this society of cyberspace, handmade versus automated factory work is what draws consumers in. That connection between the brain and the hand is what drew most of us into jewelry making in the first place.The inspired connector of thought brought to fruition of hand-making is what we all need to emphasize whether we bead, or beat metal, sling clay, or fold paper etc. whew! guess I need to slow the coffee down, and on that note I wish everyone on the list a nice day.

Handcrafted/Art/Craft
by: Aileen Parmenter

I have run into this very thing. Alot of times it is the jurors perception of your work. I have seen guidlines for some art shows that want you to make every component. This includes cutting and polishing your stones. They allow strung beads if you made the beads. At some of the other shows you are allowed a small percentage of prefab components.
About four years ago I started participating in a silent auction that is a fundraiser for the city. Everyone is allowed to enter upto two items. When they saw the items (wirewrapped designer cabs) they almost didn't allow me to enter the pieces. I was a demonstrating artist in the art gallery leading up to the auction. As they watched me work their perception changed of my work. The clincher was when the bidding started my two pieces recieved more bids than any of their photographs or paintings.
The second year the same thing happened. The third year one of the members on the community is a photographer and I guess she was jealous of my success so I was told no jewelry would be allowed because it was craft. So I guess she thought that would be the end of me. Not true because I am a wire sculpture artist. So I submited two of my "Beaded Bonsai Trees". One was sold at auction to a chamber member. That year I had a woman come to me and ask where my jewelry was? (She had been winning the bids and was collecting my pieces.) I told her that I was not allowed to enter it anymore because they did not consider it to be art. I also told her she needed to tell the people running the show that she missed my jewelry on auction. She dosn't want to buy from my booth she likes bidding on it. This year I again entered two trees and both sold! Many of the other artists did not sell anything. I hope it is not a glimse of what will happen the rest of this year.
So the point I wanted to share is ... believe in yourself, you know what you are! If you want to participate in juried shows than you will have to go by their definitions. In the art world it seems that these questions are being redifined. If you want to be recognized as an artist then you will have to educate, educate, educate, and be prepared for alot of rejection.
My definition of Handmade is pretty broad ... if you assembled it with your hands with out the use of machinery, it qualifies. Handcrafted means making a large percentage yourself. No stringing of prefab components.
Thank you for sharing I am enjoying all your comments.
Aileen
www.aileensart.com

Great discussion
by: Anonymous

I am a gemmologist, a stringer and I can work with wire and silver sheet - sometimes I saw, melt, twist, bend and make my own components and sometimes I use a purchased component if that fits the idea I am after. I only use gemstones and pearls as that is where my passion lies. All my items are one of a kind and if someone asks me at a show "do you make all of this" I answer yes. After all, I have!

I think there is a 'snobbery' factor in play in some shows and this appears worldwide. I am in Australia and have felt first hand this angst by a nearby town's art group whose members include artists, artisans, crafts people, gallery owners and the art/artisan show organisers. Every time I enquire with anything that the art group has involvement with, no one returns my call or someone else has to call me (but never does) or they forget to process the form or they tell me "oh but you do craft, this is only for art". I AM in a number of ART galleries, but that obviously doesn't count!

I have a fairly big client base in the town and my clients can't understand why they never see me involved in the show there ... but it seems I am blocked at every effort to participate in any events there, unless I organise something privately.

Interestingly, an active member of that art group includes a master goldsmith, who also does stringing of gemstones and pearls at a hugely inflated price. She has known me and my work for a number of years. I can't help but wonder if it is a case of 'keeping out the competition' and how she justifies her stringing work!?

Even the farmers' market
by: Nell

The local regional farmers' market has an entire building for "crafts". I asked about a booth and was told that "jewelry isn't allowed; it has to be handmade like quilting, crocheting, woodworking". So they will allow dishtowels with crocheted "handles" to hang on your stove... but not beautiful jewelry made from components. Tell me, does ANYONE make their own PEARLS? I wonder what they would tell a jeweler who cast their own metal, made their own lampwork beads etc???

A Good Name For What We Do
by: Patti

We are all artists, whether we string, use wire, do metalwork, lampwork, etc...

I like the name Jewelry Artist.

Isn't that what we really are?

A Name For Us
by: Patti

We're all artists who use beads, metal, etc. as our medium.

I like the name Jewelry Artist. It defines what I do.

The components and wire are my canvas, and the beads are my paints.

Handcrafted definition
by: Melissa

I once applied for the Renaissamce Market in Ausitn and had teh opportunity to present my jewelry to a person and received a critique... I was told specifically what that meant to them. Perhaps their criteria is close to the criteria of the show you are applying to.

Handcrafted jewelry should exhibit a craft or modification of components(other than stringing) the gentleman explained that one could paint beads, wire wrap, manafucture own beads, modify beads by carving...handmade clasps.. Basically one component needed to be modified or manufactures by the artist. Even simple wire wrapping would qualify...

Customers
by: Brenda

Rena says: And what do jewelry customers think about this issue?

To be honest, I don't think most jewelry customers care whether handmade jewelry was crafted from purchased components.
>>>>

Some do. Most of the customers I have definitely do.

I fabricate most of my jewellery from sheet metal and wire, I end up pricing my jewellery sometimes hundreds of dollars more than a similar 'assembled' jewellery item and I get buyers.

I think people are more discerning then we think.

~brenda
http://decadence2.com

Handcrafted Debate
by: Michelle B.

Reading all the interesting perspectives regarding the 'Handcrafted Debate' makes me realize just how wide of a scope we, as "people who create things others adorn themselves with", are working (or trying to work) in.

When I was asked to be a juror one season for a rather large Art Festival in Arizona we were given the list of do/don'ts for each category and it was specific in it's guidelines that there could be nothing (even photographs, pottery, etc.) that was 'mass produced' or that the artist hadn't 'manipulated into an original design'. I was not shown any names or given a list that told me who the art belonged to, so I had no way to know which ones were more popular or which ones would bring in more money. Our votes were to be based on this: 1) did the entrant follow ALL the entry rules to the "T"! 2) is their art pleasing to the eye (my opinion counted!) and 3) do you think that this type of art work represents what we stand for as a show and as a show attendee would you purchase from this individual or show interest in their work?

With so many of the artists not complying in some way with all theinstructions for this juried show, (i.e. - they didn't send in the right number of photos, they weren't sent using the right technology, etc.) it COMPLETELY narrowed down the competition because I could NOT, with a GOOD CONSCIENCE, give a perfect score to anyone who was missing even one element that was required for the juried entry - no matter how beautiful their art! (Bummer - because some of it totally blew me away, while some that followed all the rules were completely mundane!!)

And, in regards again to the FTC thing, as a Pearls Graduate from GIA I find that I do have to watch how I word things on my website when it comes to pearls. I must use the word cultured when/where it applies and cannot use the word pearls to misrepresent the item for people to think they are natural pearls if indeed they’re cultured. And, if they are shell pearls or Swarovski Pearls, etc., I must state somewhere these truths as well; being careful to understand the definitions of the words 'faux', 'imitation', etc., and not misuse those words either. So, in regards to the 'handcrafted' business, I guess it boils down to how we interpret these FTC laws/guidelines and also what the norm is in our industry when referring to our creations.

We do 'craft' our designs from components that weren't together when they laid upon our benches, and most of us probably do use our hands for this, making the term 'hand-crafted' rather appropriate as well as descriptive.

I also like the term jewelry artist very much! I think it safely covers it all - the artful decision of the picking of the elements, the design process in our heads and on paper, and the actual assembly of the item into a work of wearable art!

Another Perspective
by: Kathryn

This discussion has probably run its course by now, but I'd like to add another point of view.

I'm a professional musician--benched by a disability--turned jewelry designer. I was thinking about the glory days one night, and I thought of this analogy.

Many of my collegues were song writers--I made them sound good as an arranger--and as a matter of course used various instruments to assist them in the creating process. I'm sure that none of them ever considered constructing their own guitars, pianos or digital keyboards from scratch. The thought would have been ludicrous! Yet, the compositions were no less their original work even though they used pre-constructed tools (instruments).

In the same way, jewelry designers use pre-constructed tools--beads, wire, findings, etc.--but the designs (compositions) are no less an original creation than the music my friends created.

Just my two cents...very interesting discussion.

What Qualifies as Handcrafted Jewelry
by: Rena

I've just deleted a post above here because the commenter's rude and disrespectful way of expressing her viewpoint offended several people.

I apologize for not removing the hurtful post earlier.

I know that not everyone sees "handmade" in the same way, and that's totally fine - everyone has a unique viewpoint, and that's what makes this discussion fascinating and eye-opening.

I've been very interested to hear everyone's perspective on this topic. You all have expanded my thinking about "handcrafted".

And when it comes to defining exactly what constitutes "handcrafted", there may be as many different viewpoints as there are people!

But whether we agree or disagree with them, it's important to respect and honor the work and opinions of people who create jewelry in other media.

Listening and "agreeing to disagree" is just as valuable as sharing the same opinion.

I'd just like to post a reminder to keep this a respectful, professional discussion.

Any comments posted below here that are not respectful and professional will be deleted. Thanks!

Disrespect
by: d'Olivia

I do not find Ally's comment to be respectful or professional at all. She is mean spirited and insensitive, and apparently clueless about crafts other than her own. Why are you not deleting her comment? I find it offensive.

Thank you, d'Olivia
by: Rena

You are absolutely right, d'Olivia, I should have deleted the comment to begin with.

I've deleted it now. If you refresh your page it should be gone.

I love learning from different opinions and viewpoints - but not when they are expressed in a way that offends or hurts other people.

My intention is to give everyone a place to share their views and ideas, and I appreciate that except for this occasion, our discussions here are positive and helpful.

My sincere apologies for letting the discussion become offensive and hurtful here.