What does “handmade” really mean?
Recently, I was in involved in an online discussion in a jewellery makers group on Facebook. The topic was “handmade” vs “handcrafted”. I wasn’t the original poster, but in the comment section, I described what I make and how I make it, and the consensus was that I should use the word, “handcrafted”, and that I am a designer. Ok, fine.
Until later that day, when re-reading the thread - I was astonished to see that an angry woman declared that I was not a designer, because all I was doing was “arranging” pre-made materials. As in, I am not creating the components of the jewellery, I am using beads, chains, pendants et cetera made by someone else. I’m just taking a chain and throwing some beads on it.
To say that I was insulted by this characterization is an understatement. I was HIGHLY offended.
Handcrafted doesn’t mean I made every molecule of the jewellery. I don’t forge silver, I don’t search for semi-precious stones and make beads myself. I don’t manufacture connectors or clasps myself. If I did that, my prices would skyrocket! I use pre-made findings, chains, leather or suede cords, beads, and pendants that I search for and buy. The choosing, designing, assembling, finishing and all the problem solving that goes along with all of this is what makes everything handcrafted. There are many decisions, made by me, that go into every piece.
Just for complete transparency, let me outline exactly what happens to make a love letters 925 jewellery piece come into existence.
THE IDEA: Sometimes the person, place, or memory comes into my mind first Other times it’s the bead or the pendant. Whichever comes first doesn’t really matter, but as the piece forms in my mind, decisions must be made. Finding the correct components of every piece takes time.
THE DECISIONS: Why I’m using one component over another (which type of chain to use for a necklace, or what type of hook to use for earrings are some examples) and why certain things just will not work. Sometimes certain things just don’t look right, and the requires a solution and an adjustment. There is always a solution, it just takes some time to figure it out. And then, sometimes an idea does not work out at all. When that happens, a new idea can take its place, or sometimes I have to abandon an idea for a while. Coming back to it later is always an option.
TESTING MODE: Once a piece is finished, I wear it myself for a while. At home as well as out and about. It’s important to make sure the piece lays properly on the body, and to make sure the piece is sturdy and secures correctly.
NAMING: Sometimes this is easy and obvious - a person’s name. Other times, though, it’s a thought process that takes profound reflection and figuring out what the piece really means to me. Sometimes it comes to me in the shower, sometimes in the middle of the night. Sometimes it just shows up for no reason at all, but I always know when the name is just right.
As you can see from all this, the process can be lengthy. Handcrafted is knowing who made the piece, in this case, it was made by Andrea, in Ontario, Canada. It passed through my hands and my heart before reaching yours. And that is design.
