Etsy recently announced the top 100 finalists for their second annual Etsy Design Awards. These were selected from thousands of designer entries from around the world, all vying for the grand prize of $15,000 or one of 10 of $1000 category prizes.  Just being picked alone will do wonders for these designers in terms of visibility and promotion.  The program helps artisans at a time when they need it most.

The winner will be chosen by judges Drew Barrymore and Etsy Trend Expert Dayna Isom Johnson. 

There is also, for the first time,  a People's Choice Award, where members of the public are invited to select their favorites.  

"Between September 22 and October 7, nominate them for the People’s Choice Award by adding their design to your favorites list. The shop whose product gets the most love during our voting period will win $5,000 USD!"

I am showing the top 10 finalists in the jewelry category here.  See the finalists feature for the remaining categories - home and living, clothing, art and kids. 

To my utter delight, 2 of the 10 jewelry finalists are designers I featured before.  The first is German designer, Isabel Kiefhaber of GeschmeideUnterTeck.  She makes amazing resin rings like the aquarium inspired one shown above. (She wowed me back in 2016.)

A couple of years ago, I stumbled on Canadian Jamie Carlson's rainbow confetti recycled leather designs.  Her shop, Scandinazn deserves to be in the top 10! 




Ashley Alexis McFarlane is another Canadian designer, one with Jamaican lineage. OmiWoods creates cultural gems made with fair trade African gold and globally sourced, conflict-free fine metals.  This cowrie infinity necklace made with sterling silver, gold vermeil and solid gold is so on trend in style!


This amazing ombre mixed gemstone stacking ring was created with peridot, emeralds as well as green tourmaline.  It's the work of US designer, Dani Barbe of DANIBARBEshop.


This unusual pair of pearl earrings includes brass and gold elements which cleverly resemble crumpled paper.  The French designer, Paula MV of LaGeometrieJewels is the creator. 


Mexican designer, Mai Solozarno, of maizolozarno specializes in ethical and botanical designs. This multi-dangle leaf inspired bracelet is the only kinetic design to make the finals. 


Minimalist jewelry designs are always popular. Manon Lienart, the French designer behind MaisonLima excels at this design trend. This modern rose gold statement earrings has such pleasing rounded edges. 

Have you noticed the trend to gold after many years of silver dominance? All the finalists who work with metal focused on gold. 



Turkish designer,Yeşim Işık of annorimo, is a fiber artist, the only one to make it to the shortlist.  Her wonderful minimalist statement rope necklace designs are best seen by visiting her shop. 


US designer and polymer clay artist, Vanessa Dunn of theXeniaStudio, goes bold and geometric with her designs. Some of my favorites from her store are her hand painted ones. 


British designer, Rosa Pietsch of RosaPietsch could do a masterclass in laser cut wood, acrylic and resin work. Her design esthetic is unique.  

Her beautiful intricate yet lightweight work marries precision computer designing to get the laser cutting of wood and acrylic just right. Her signature finishing style involves resin.  All that requires meticulous work in planning and execution.  You can read more about Rosa as she was featured on Etsy before.

Before You Go :

Disclosure 

This blog may contain affiliate links. I do receive a small fee for any products purchased through affiliate links. This goes towards the support of this blog and to provide resource information to readers. The opinions expressed are solely my own. They would be the same whether or not I receive any compensation. 
 ______________________________ 
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM