Cheap Finds: Handmade Jewelry on Esty

One of my favorite thing about browsing markets is finding (and buying) one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces. Alas, Syracuse isn't a mecca for markets but I've recently discovered Etsy.com, a site where you can buy anything and everything handmade.

Here are some of my favorites -

Paper and wire, $70

Old watch parts, $30

Flatware, $17.77

Tips on shopping for handmade jewelry on-line:

- Do your homework: Scrounge the web for similar items, and if you spot something similar, ask yourself - what makes this pieces different? Handmade jewelry shouldn't look like you bought it from J.Crew - look for truly unique pieces that speak to you.

- Be careful of anything stretchy or elastic: These usually break pretty quickly and the last thing you want to do is contact the buyer for a refund or exchange.

- Rings don't lie: If your fingers normally fit a ring PERFECTLY, and the ring you want to buy has a thick band,   chances are your finger won't fit. Unless you want everyone to think you have pudgy fingers, get a size up if it's available and take it to a jeweler to resize to ensure a correct fit.

Now, where's my credit card?