I'm always looking for new and interesting jewelry on Etsy. I recently Pounced upon greyandstory, a metalsmithing duo that produces really cute necklaces and earrings. (Silver Tattoo, seen above, is my favorite. Well, that or the Brooklyn Bridge. It's so hard to decide!)

Here's a little interview we did with this Fresh Shop.

Can you tell us a little about the people behind greyandstory?
Grey & Story is the metal collection of below14th studio. In both shops, we try to create bold pieces that are unique and that tell a story. Three artists work in our studio, but the third one is our cat Olivia, so I don't know if you want to count her. We (Olivia, my partner and I) work out of our home studio in New Haven, CT.

 
What inspires you as a creative person?
I am attracted to messages and concepts more than textures or colors. I don't know how these synapses happen, but I might notice something someone said, or read something, and then I think about how I could translate it into a wearable object. Then I try to picture it on my imaginary customer — usually a more attractive and popular version of me — and I make final adjustments based on that.

I love the idea of making something for a stranger, and I like the idea of storytelling. I am much less interested in aesthetics than I am in the hermeneutics of these little glass and silver signs between me and my customers, or between my customers and a work of art (in the case of my Art Details.) The biggest thrill about selling my jewelry is knowing that something I made in my little studio in CT is now around a person's finger in Australia or in a souvenir box in Lithuania. For me, thoughts like that are as overwhelming and humbling as they are self-indulgent.

 
How do you like Etsy so far? What are your favorite features of the site?
My experience with Etsy has been both extraordinary and frustrating. I love the opportunity that Etsy gives people like me to present our work in front of a large audience. I do believe that Etsy has extremely loyal and invested sellers, who will continue to be enthusiastic promoters and I am hopeful that Etsy will grow with us. I think in any diverse community, but especially in an artist community, freedom of expression should be valued and fostered. Etsy is a fantastic idea and has amazing support in our community and it should not be afraid of free speech and of provoking or even outrageous ideas. In fact, I think we, the sellers, want it to be THE leader of fresh, cool, bright new directions.

Advertising is very tricky, I think, and I'm no expert. I can only speak about my own experience that I rarely, if ever, meet people who have heard of Etsy. Most of my close friends are creative, live in big cities, are supportive of the handmade movement and have some disposable income—yet they don't shop on Etsy because they've never heard of it. TV advertising would be fantastic, in my opinion.

Anything else you'd like to add is also welcome!
You can read our blog at http://below14th.typepad.com.