Jewelry Archives - Try Handmade

Evidently, I like necks

May 24, 2018 by Erika Jurney 1 Comment

Light and comfortable jewelry? Who would say no to that. Oh, plus it is so luxe yet clean. No easy feat to pull off.

MOUFELT. | modern felt goods
All designs are handmade in portland oregon using 100% pure wool felt. A sustainable and renewable resource, felt is a simple and honest material with an endless range of creative opportunity.

With a focus on clean lines and simple geometries, necklaces and earrings are bold yet remarkably light and delicate. Both traditional hand felting techniques, craft, and industrial felt are used to create this collection.

Manny Beads

May 24, 2018 by Erika Jurney 9 Comments

Manny Beads: I’m Manny and I live in beautiful Vermont where the colors of Summer in bloom, and Fall happening inspire me. Some years ago I found myself really wanting to breath some fresh air into my creative lungs. I learned how to knit, took some pottery courses and dove into making jewelry. I had been creating jewelry for myself and others for many years, drawn to the challenge of making a reality what my imagination cooks up.

I have a passion for unrefined stones and other elements that inspire me to create jewelry that is designed with an organic feeling to it: a bit unrefined, beautifully irregular and suggestive of the spiritual. Some of the elements I am most drawn to are organic and unrefined stones, ancient pieces, vintage buttons, Tibetan mala beads, and ethnic additions. I prefer to use creative elements that are not too many steps removed from the earth…imperfectly perfect. The stones and beads are often hand-cut and unrefined, left to speak for themselves, reminding us that they are of the Earth.

Beware the squirrels

May 17, 2018 by Erika Jurney 1 Comment

$14.50 from Beads by Evelyn.

April showers

May 15, 2018 by Erika Jurney 1 Comment

Jill Popowich Designs: Since I was a little girl, I’ve always loved jewelry and was intrigued with designing and making it. I attended the Maryland Institute College of Art where I received a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration. Since 1994 I’ve been working as an Environmental Graphic Designer having the opportunity to travel the world working on large scale retail environments designing signage, sculptures and architectural details. It is this large scale 3-D work that re-sparked my interest in jewelry design and the opportunity to build something that can be interacted with on a personal scale.

All of the jewelry in my shop is handcrafted by me. Since each piece is hand made they will all vary taking on a personality of their own making each one unique and special. Please wear and enjoy each of my creations for its individual personality, shape, texture, material and craftsmanship.

Mann Made in Washington, DC

May 7, 2018 by Valerie Williams Leave a Comment

Eastern Market, the legendary open-air arts, crafts, and antiques market on Capitol Hill, is absolutely full of gems. The market is huge, and visitors will find something a little different every weekend, but there are also some pretty amazing regulars. One of those delightful fixtures is Mann Made Designs, an eighteen year veteran of the Market.

Mann Made Designs is the brainchild of full time artist Jimmy Mann, a Florida native who has been making things out of silver, aluminum, glass, and whatever else strikes his fancy since 1989. The Mann Made line is brimming with pop culture references, bold color, and clean, modern lines.

While I was browsing the booths at Eastern Market, Jimmy’s colorful jewelry for women is what caught my eye. Bright, apple green on just about anything is like a magnet for my eyes, but combined with sleek sterling silver? In such an elegant, yet still playful setting? It was like he made this pendant just for me!

The designs at Mann Made go far beyond pretty things for ladies. Jimmy creates an extensive line of cuff links, ranging from the whimsical and irreverent to the elegant and classic. How to categorize the cuff links made from Pabst Blue Ribbon beer bottle caps is probably up for debate in some circles, but there’s no doubt they are popular.

In addition to his collection of cuff links and ladies’ jewelry (including pendants, earrings, rings, bracelets and watches), Jimmy also directs his considerable talent with metal smithing and his eye for color towards creating wall art.

He combines recycled aluminum and stainless steel and patches of bright color to create three dimensional works that are simple and modern, but quite dramatic. All the wall art is made to order, so that means you can request custom colors to match your decor!

You can find Jimmy with his Mann Made Designs at Eastern Market on the weekends, or you can shop online anytime.