| If you spent any time at camp as a child, you | | | | the beauty of the natural materials. |
| probably made friendship bracelets, or spent | | | | In fact, many pieces you see in small jewelry |
| hours with twine and beads, perfecting your | | | | stores, or even worn by famous people, are |
| macramé technique. Who among us hasn't | | | | handmade. They may appear to be manufactured |
| strung together some sort of bracelet or | | | | because of their level of perfection, but that is |
| necklace? If this is your idea of handmade | | | | the sign of a crafts person doing a great job. |
| gemstone jewelry, you are mistaken. Handmade | | | | One advantage to handmade gemstone jewelry is |
| does not mean that it is "homemade", or that it is | | | | that every piece is different. Because a piece is |
| any way inferior to generically manufactured | | | | handmade, there is no other one like it in the |
| pieces of jewelry. | | | | world. An artist may mass-produce earrings or |
| What you may think of as handmade gemstone | | | | bracelets, but each one is different in some small |
| jewelry differs considerably from the | | | | way. Not only will the design be different, but the |
| "artsy-craftsy" feeling of the 60's and 70's. | | | | addition of gemstones ensures that each stone |
| Handmade jewelry is not made from rudimentary | | | | will be different as well. No two pieces of |
| materials, using primitive techniques, by | | | | turquoise are alike, and no two handmade pieces |
| elementary craftspeople. Handmade jewelry is | | | | of jewelry are alike, either. If you are looking for |
| made by people who have studied metals and | | | | a unique piece, then you have to choose a |
| stones for years, are artists, and understand how | | | | handmade piece of jewelry. |
| to design jewelry that is stylish and shows off | | | | |