September's Brat Feature - Jean of Moon Mystic's Handcrafted Gemstone Jewelry

Every month, the Brat Team chooses one of our members to “highlight.” This month, we are pleased to introduce our FEATURED ARTIST – SELLER… Jean of

Mystic Moon Handcraft GemStone Jewelry

Superior Stones

Silver Smack

*Tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Jean and I live on the Western end of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in “Big Snow Country“ with my husband and four-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter. I also teach junior high and high school English.

“Aqua Sea Glass Pearl Pendant Necklace”

*What is the first thing you can remember making by hand? How and why did you make it?

When I was younger, I loved these little fuzzy creatures called Weeples and you could buy them, of course, but they were really hard to find, so I started making my own. I bought little colored puff balls, and little google eyes, and little antennae, and little felt feet. I even started selling them in school for a quarter a piece.

“Green Amethyst Prasiolite Tsavorite Garnet Pearl Iolite Sterling Silver Cluster Pearl Pendant Necklace”

*What inspires you and where do your ideas come from?

Lately, a lot of my ideas come from nature. In my shop, SuperiorStones.etsy.com, I use a lot of natural beach stones, so I try to keep them as natural as possible and just give them a little accent. In my shop, SilverSmack.etsy.com, I do birds nests, pea pods, and many leaf inspired pieces.

“Seafoam Green Agate Smokey Quartz Woven Herringbone Wire Wrapped Silver Necklace”

*What are your favorite materials?


My current favorite materials are are flashy stones, like labradorite, moonstone, kyanite, and sunstone. I also love working with silver- hammering, oxidizing, texturing, buffing, twisting it, and just seeing what I can make it do.

“Daisy - Brown Carved Bone Knotted Pendant Necklace”

*What have been the most valuable lessons learned from other artists on Etsy?

I have learned so much from the members at Etsy. Everything from taking better photographs, to making my blog three columns, to uploading my items to Google Base, to setting my shop up for Google Analytics, to accepting Propay and getting the Etsy discount, to drilling, tumbling, and wire wrapping. Everyone at Etsy is so helpful- and not just with information- with moral support too.

“Rare Morenci Turquoise Blue Flash Labradorite and Gray Onyx Sterling Necklace”

*Why should people buy handmade?

People should by handmade because it is better quality and it is special. Somebody was inspired to make it. It was someone’s vision.

*What features/services would you most like to see on Etsy?

I would like to be able to list faster, rearrange my shop, and I wish checkout was easier.

“Textured Fine Silver Eternity Rings”

*Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I also teach, garden, play with my kids, bike, read, and ski (about seven months out of the year.)



*Read any good books lately?

I’m just about to finish one. . .Don’t make me ruin it.

“Reflections of Gray”

*In ten years I'd like to be?

Retired and debt-free handsomely supplementing my income making jewely. . .

“Elegant Pearl Pink Swarovski Crystal Dangle Sterling Earwire Earrings”

*How did you come up with your Etsy Shop Name?

MoonMystic was supposed to be Mystic Moon, but Mystic Moon was taken. That one was just kind of a hasty decision because I needed a name for my business cards. Superior Stones was named that because I live near Lake Superior and I use Lake Superior stones in making that jewelry. SilverSmack was named thus because I love(Smack=kiss) working with silver and smacking it with my hammer.

“Beige Carved Bone Necklace”

*What is the connection between being a Crafter and being a Brat?

I was kind of lost on Etsy and the Brats were the first team I joined. They took me in and talked to me in the forums when no one else would. Patti or TerriAnn was always there with a hi or some kind words or just some acknowledgement of my existence. It was really nice to know there was a group of people with similar experiences who were just nice and I could just chat with. It was a place I knew I could always go to.

“Ice - Hammered Rock Crystal Fine Silver Eternity Textured Circle Silver Necklace”

Thanks for stopping by and getting to know one of our FAVORITE Brat SELLERS!