Besu Handmade

Just for fun, I attempted to recreate a beautiful Mara Hoffman necklace I found on Pinterest .  This statement piece has some imperfections (i.e., broken bead, stray threads) but I still love and wear it frequently.   My recreation is at top with green and black glass bead necklace chain with the original piece directly below.   xo, S

 As being new to the jewelry design business, I was unaware of the the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990.   This truth-in-advertising law prohibits misrepresentation in marketing American Indian or Alaska Native arts and culture in the United States.  So basically you cannot market or sell any product falsely claiming to be an Indian product, or a product of a Indian Tribe or Indian arts.  This law covers all Indian and Indian style contemporary and traditional arts and crafts produced after 1935. Because American Indian or Alaska Native designs and style is so prevalent in society, especially in the handmade crafting/jewelry industry, this act will honor the historical significance of Indian and Indian-style arts and crafts. Now if a law could be created to ensure every bad piece of clothing is not labeled "vintage" at Etsy, that would be great.  The Tommy Hilfiger purse you bought at Ross in 1999 is in no way vintage. Please admire my American Indian Inspired...

  Two of my favorite pairs of earrings sold!  Don't worry, I will be busy this week with re-creating the hearts in time for Valentines Day! Please visit Besu Handmade for more jewelry.

Now on Etsy…… Besu Handmade

 Does not mean your ears have to suffer.  xo, S

There is nothing like having your own space for projects.  Both my dad and mom had their own, a garage workshop and a garden house, respectively.  A work space can be anywhere really as long as it your own. A place where your tools are handy and preferably an anim al is asleep nearby. My studio is a very small garden shed in our backyard that my husband gave me for a birthday present.  It is 6x6.  Too small for most but is perfect for me.  The shed has had multiple incarnations from a place for storing garden tools to an art studio. The latest (and permanent) remodel includes a sturdy 3-inch built-in work bench (thanks Jim!) that is functional and gorgeous.    Right now, in California, it is cold outside.  I know, I know, 55 is not really cold, but it is to this coastal dweller so my work is temporarily moved into the house at the kitchen table.   Once the days are longer and warmer I will be heading back to out. xo, S

Jewelry is one of the oldest types of archaeological artefacts - beads made from Nassarius shells are thought to be the oldest known jewelry dating back 100,000 years .  Jewelry varies vastly between cultures yet is extremely long-lived persisting since ancient times. We know that jewelry is made from a wide range of materials including beads, gemstones, precious metals and shells.  Because of jewelry's material properties, patterns, meaningful symbols,  jewelry is understood as a status symbol in most cultures. A simple necklace made of fish bones dating back 25,000 years was found in a cave in Monaco.  What did this necklace signify? Was it for the chief of the village or a witch doctor? Maybe a princess wore it as a trophy her husband gave her for having a boy child. We might never know the real reason for the making of the gift but we can use our imagination and try to understand the way people thought in those days. Broad collar of Senebtisi, Middle K...

I hope you have as much fun wearing these as I had in making them!  You can find these on my Etsy page at: Besu Handmade   

Welcome to Besu Handmade.  My name is Susannah and I have recently started making earrings and other jewelry that are available on my Etsy page at  Etsy - Besu Handmade I know, I know, another jewelry designer?  The market is saturated! While that is all true, the process of making jewelry has become so enjoyable to me that making money off of this would only be a bonus.  My real job pays the bills. So, why the blog?  Well posting earrings on Etsy with a price is very, well, sanitized.  This blog allows me to provide a narrative about the jewelry I make which is much more fun I think.   Well that's all for now. Until next time........