CleverKimsCurios

Well, I'm Kim. I like to think I'm reasonably clever, and I like neat little tiny things. I also love alliteration, and that's how my store name came to be.
I was kind of bored and looking for a way to make money doing something I actually enjoy. I love weird little tiny things, and I am fascinated by bones and creepy stuff. Initially I wanted to make weird creatures out of polymer clay with "real" animal accents like tarantula molt parts and beetle wings. As it turns out, I am definitely not a sculptor. I am, however, pretty good at making stuff like bones and bug parts look pretty from far away. I decided to focus on making pretty jewelry that looks like something else from far away, but is definitely bones or insect parts or something else bizarre close up. I'm inspired by dark and beautiful things, and since moving to the desert I plan on incorporating that (and more witchy feels) into my work.

My goal, and a catchphrase I have kind of adopted, is "Jewelry as unique as those drawn to it." I have never liked diamonds or gold or flash all that much. I like things that look old and strange and like I found it in an attic in an abandoned house. I know I'm not the only one who likes these things, and the other people who do, *my* people, are the people who I try to please with my jewelry. I think that my jewelry fills a niche that isn't filled by mainstream jewelers. I also try to incorporate my Craft into my jewelry when possible. Feel free to message me if you have questions or requests!

Clever Kim's Curios began in October of 2013. One of the first goals I set for myself (and achieved, I am proud to say) was to be accepted to Onyx Friday, which is an artisan-run, online alternative to Black Friday. My jewelry has since been featured in the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Eye Popping Oddities 2015 Annual, on a variety of couture websites/magazines, and on multiple television shows such as Charmed, The Orville, and The Vampire Diaries.

My future plans are to continue to bring strange, beautiful, and witchy jewelry and objects to the world.

The bones/skulls I use are from various online sellers, from roadkill I collect, or from animals that I raise for food. Most I process myself. I use either dermestid beetles, maceration (google is your friend here), or a combination of both. The bones are then whitened using a mild natural bleach (which also disinfects). Since I buy from more than one seller, these bones can come from a variety of sources: found bones, bones from taxidermists, trappers & hunters, or from collectors. Bones are *not* the reason people hunt or have animals mounted and/or stuffed, they are a byproduct of these actions. It is up to you as a buyer to decide if this qualifies as an "ethically sourced" product.

The Puppy Rescue Mission helped us get Chuck home from Afghanistan and they always need donations to help bring home the pets of other deployed military members. Periodically I have surprise sales where a portion of the proceeds will go to Puppy Rescue MIssion. Or if you like, you can specifically ask for a portion of YOUR purchase to go to them! You can read more about this amazing, wonderful, and much-needed group at their website: http://www.thepuppyrescuemission.org.

And so I am, and so we are, and so it is.
Feel free to contact me about spelled jewelry and witchy tools; while they are not allowed here per Etsy's policies, I would love to assist you privately in finding what you need.