Carriece Jefferson

Made By Design: Make It. Wear It.

 Happy Wednesday, Golden Divas!

You all know how much I love jewelry; especially statement pieces, no matter the size; there is something about jewelry that makes me feel good every time I put on a necklace, bracelet, or earrings.

I was taught jewelry is an addition to your outfit and should never compete with what you are wearing. Accessories can make any outfit look great. They can dress up an otherwise drab outfit or colloquialize a more formal piece. There’s absolutely no reason not to spice up your wardrobe with some fantastic jewelry. We should have fun with our jewelry and let it make a statement about our style. At least I know I do.

Until recently, I never gave a second thought about jewelry making and the time that goes into designing it. I just know I like what I like when I see it, whether in the store, in magazines, or around someone’s neck. However, I appreciate the value of handmade jewelry compared to its mass-produced counterparts. To craft and create something from your hands, with pieces that are soldered, sawed, carved, and shaped without the use of manufacturing machinery, is simply magical. The personal connection and love of the craft transform ordinary objects into jewelry masterpieces.

The Future of Handmade Is in Our Hands – Jessika Hepburn.

Here are 11 things you didn’t know about handmade jewelry.

1. You’re Supporting Real People

It’s hard to know exactly where your money is going when you buy from a big corporation. Investing in handcrafted jewelry means you get a connection with the artist. Whether you know them in person, or feel like you know them after learning their unique story, you can remember that your purchase supports a real person.

2. There’s A Story Behind Each Piece

When you wear handmade jewelry, you’re part of the story the maker or artisan tells through their work. Each artist has a different reason for designing jewelry. Their designs are sending a message.

3. No Mass Production Machinery Involved

By definition, handmade jewelry is made by the “hands” of the artisan or maker. The pieces are soldered, sawed, carved, and shaped without the use of manufacturing machinery.

4. The Value of Time

As previously mentioned, since there are no machines involved, it takes an incredible amount of time to produce just a single piece of handmade jewelry.

5. The Designer’s Process

The maker has a very intimate relationship with each piece or design they create. The design process is key to the value that is inherent in each piece.

6. Exclusivity

Machines can keep going even once the designer is gone. Handmade jewelry is different. Makers and artisans can only create a finite number of pieces in their career as a designer.

7. Materials

In almost every case, the materials involved in a handmade piece are of stellar quality.

8. Sustainability

Jewelry makers are often dedicated to sustainability and ethically sourced materials. By nature, being ethical can be much more costly than taking the easy route and purchasing from the refiner or dealer with low prices and shady sourcing.

9. Quality

Smaller-scale production is almost always higher quality because the ability to track and control the process from start to finish is inherent in the making process.

10. Locally Made with Love

There is HUGE value in supporting local from a sustainability standpoint. Artisans and makers infuse love and energy into each work, and many designers use local products, materials, and people to help produce their creations.

11. Always One of a Kind

When you think about it, handmade pieces are always unique in their own way. No two pieces of handmade jewelry are exactly the same.

These eleven points bring me to my Golden Diva of the month. I met her at Victory Garden’s Theatre, Rick and I were there to review a play, and she was selling her jewelry. My husband met her first and told her how much his wife loves jewelry. This young lady’s personality was so inviting and pure, and to hear her talk about making jewelry was a pleasure to listen to.

As I mentioned before, every piece of handmade jewelry has a story, and this storyteller was not short on words about her creations. There is one thing that I have learned over the years to sell something. It has to be beneficial for the customer, and her jewelry was that. Going off of the motto: Make It. Wear It. This was a win-win situation for those who have crafty hands. Ladies, every now and then I will step out of my decade and feature our younger divas to Club Fifty so let me introduce you to this future Golden Diva (she has a little over a decade to go) beautiful gem by the name of Carriece Jefferson, a woman who stole my heart with her passion for jewelry making.    

MEET CARRIECE JEFFERSON

Carriece Jefferson is a small business owner, jewelry artist, and instructor. As the founder of Crafty Hands Club, an e-commerce store, Carriece is known for creating simple and cute DIY jewelry kits that can be made in five simple steps. She has taught jewelry making at various organizations, including Mercy Boys & Girls Club and Loom Chicago. She has been featured in Chicago’s Southside Makers Faire. She’s married and enjoys traveling, culture, reading, and writing!

Whoever thought jewelry making would be so stress-relieving and offer a form of freedom by creating. Golden divas before you read this delightful interview listen to the sounds of Jill Scott’s “Living My Life Like It’s Golden!” 

IN CONVERSATION WITH CARRIECE JEFFERSON

C50: Carriece, how did you get started with Crafty Hands Jewelry, and why?

CJ: Crafty Hands Club started with fond childhood memories. As a creative child in a traditional school setting, it was difficult for me to learn. I was blessed to have a first-grade teacher who believed in me enough to foster academics and creativity. Later that year, I became a Girl Scout, and to obtain most of the badges, a craft project was required. I never forgot the feeling I had each time I completed a craft project, nor did I forget witnessing the joy of others whenever they received handmade gifts from me. Fast forward years later, I returned to crafts and took a chainmaille jewelry making class and was hooked on jewelry making ever since.

C50: Crafty Hands Club’s mission is to encourage and inspire women worldwide to make jewelry with their own two hands. Why do you feel this is so important to women?

CJ: I feel it’s important to inspire others to make with their own two hands because we live in a world that’s heavy with technology, which takes away from working with your own hands. Working with your hands gives satisfaction that no mass-produced product could ever give. Plus, jewelry making is a stress-relieving activity that can be done alone or with others. Doctors and colleges/universities are encouraging craft activities as a way to reduce stress and improve mental health.

C50: Tell us about your experience working with this addictive hobby using different tools, techniques, and the different things to explore.

CJ: I’ll be honest, jewelry making is addictive, and it can get expensive, depending on which media you decide to take on. In my experience, I focused a lot on fundamentals and getting to know the terms and tools. Where most people go wrong in the beginning is that they go after what’s trendy or they see a design without knowing what all it entails. I always tell people in the beginning, to take on projects that have five steps or less. That way, it’s easy to accomplish, and it doesn’t take many materials and supplies. Another lesson I learned early on is to work with inexpensive materials until I get the fundamentals before moving on to more expensive items. Lastly, have a budget for tools, supplies, materials, etc.

C50: Do Crafty Hands jewelry give you lots of opportunities to create your components, findings, and beads?

CJ: That’s the future plan for CHC to allow customers to make their own findings and components. The reason is that jewelry is a personal statement, and it should be reflective of the individual’s personality.

C50: What are some of your favorite design features and ideas in jewelry making?

CJ: I love the process of making jewelry. In terms of styles, I enjoy mixed-media, chainmaille, metalsmith, and wirework. I also enjoy other elements of jewelry making, such as enamel, 

anodizing, and incorporating culture.

C50: Does it take long to make jewelry?

CJ: The duration depends on what you’re making. However, the biggest myth in jewelry making is that it’s time-consuming. You can make jewelry in less than 30 minutes.

C50: Do you sell the personalized pieces of jewelry that you make?

CJ: Yes

C50: What makes creating your jewelry so satisfying and fulfilling?

CJ: As a teen, I loved accessories because it was the one thing that I could personalize. Wearing accessories played a part in self-esteem, and it was a creative way to use my voice in terms of what I liked, what was sentimental to me, etc.

C50: Carriece, what are the different types of kits you can buy to make your jewelry?

CJ: Currently, Crafty Hands Club have kits where you can go from start to finish in 5 easy steps. All kits come with written and video instructions. Currently, we have stretch bracelet kits (which are super easy to make) and earring kits. More kit selections will be added later this year.

C50: How can you host a jewelry making party?

CJ: Crafty Hands Club does offer jewelry making parties to groups of 8 or more. To express interest or find out more details, please email info@craftyhandsclub.com

Bonus Question

C50: Carriece, where can people find you interested in buying or making Crafty Hands Jewelry?

CJ: Crafty Hands Club has a website, www.craftyhandsclub.com, and available on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, all under Crafty Hands Club. Crafty Hands Club podcast can also be found at anchor.fm/craftyhandsclub.

C50: There, you have it Golden Divas the opportunity to design jewelry looks exceptionally bright and very creative for Carriece Jefferson A.K.A. ‘The Jewelry Maker!”