Etsy, again...what does handmade mean?

I stopped by Etsy to hunt for bargains and relax a bit. As the fraudulent shop was closed and there is no way for me to chat with fellow victims, I went to the forums to see if the whole incident got any play there. I didn't find that but I stumbled upon a spirited conversation among a group of sellers arguing about what "handmade" meant and if people who "assemble", like beaders, fit the definition. Some argued that Etsy should be juried to exclude assemblers and that this was a form of subterfuge...the poor buyer expecting a handmade object and getting something put together with pre-fab, purchased parts.

Well what was a nosy Maximalist to do, but stick in her two cents on this issue! Here was my addition to the chat:


Hi,

I am a customer, exclusively, and I am readily able to see that some things are "assembled" and not hand-cast, or whatever you want to call it. Hundreds of necklaces with the same or very similar bird charms are available on etsy. Some are called "birds" others "sparrows" or "swallows". The art, I guess, lies in the creativity or deliberate simplicity of the usage of the prefab materials. Is the swallow strung with a pretty arrangement of seasonally colored beads? Does it fly solo stark with sterling chains and loops? Does it mingle with a multimetal creation?

All of these can be precisely what somebody is looking for and buyers are not always looking for a completely handcrafted objet d'art.

The person who said that not everyone has the time or money to assemble her own jewelry is pretty on target, IMO. And I would add, we don't all have the creativity. I am always surprised by how very many different looks can be build around something like a swallow charm!

I also, truth be told, LOVE the clever names given to the items. They are great to download or mention on a card if the purchase is a gift.

I think there is room for all sorts of crafters on etsy, and I am fond of the vintage section too.

I don't think buyers are fooled, who expects that every glass bead is mouth blown or however they're made? Some buyers go looking for bargains, to find something unusual or unique, or even because they are just looking for a fun gift with a quirky name. I have bought assembled and hand-cast objects on Etsy and have known every time what I was getting. As for assembly, is a necklace lovingly beaded in a creative one of a kind style less "crafted" than a hand cast item of which the seller has made hundreds? I think not. Also an experience beader with a great sense of color and an access to great quality large quantity materials can make something that I would never have dreamed of at quite a thrifty price.

Chacun a son gout, when it comes to "handmade".

The Maximalist