The Changing Meaning of Handmade

A Personal Beginning

Unbeknownst to me, my story began years ago when I was a registered nurse working the night shift. During our short breaks, I remember sitting in the dull, boring lunchroom. I didn’t realize it then, but the idea for my brand of exposing the grain in wood — bringing joy, warmth, and beauty into everyday spaces — began to take root in those quiet hours. Handmade, to me, has always meant more than the physical act of making something. It means taking raw material, touching it with care, and leaving behind evidence of human thought, patience, and heart. That’s why I build my work one piece at a time, showing off the natural character in every board. Today, under my Etsy shop 86CustomStudio, I continue this journey, one handmade piece at a time.

Etsy and the Promise of Handmade

When Etsy first began, it was seen as a haven for makers. A marketplace where people searching for something authentic could find the work of hands, hearts, and homes. Buyers wanted something with a story, and sellers like me found joy in sharing those stories through our craft. Over the years, Etsy has grown enormously, and with that growth has come change. Recently, in June, Etsy updated its policy: you can no longer buy a ready-made digital file for a 3D printer and call the product “handmade.” The design must be original. That was an important step forward. But it also highlighted how complicated the word handmade has become on the platform.

The Gray Area: Tools vs. Machines

As woodworkers, we all use tools — saws, sanders, chisels, lathes — to shape our creations. Tools extend our hands, but the vision and craftsmanship remain ours. However, there’s a difference between using tools to assist the craft and relying on machines to produce products with minimal human touch. For example, some sellers use CNC machines to mass-produce items and still claim “handmade.” The result? Products flood the marketplace at a speed and volume no small shop could compete with. To the average buyer, they may look similar — but they are not the same. One carries the hours, mistakes, and adjustments of human craftsmanship. The other is programmed and replicated.

Responsible Sourcing and Handmade Integrity

Handmade, at its core, is about integrity — integrity of process, integrity of story, and integrity of material. For me, that includes being mindful about where my wood comes from. I source from trusted suppliers who share my commitment to sustainable forestry and responsible harvesting. Reforestation and ethical cutting practices matter because every board we use today comes from a tree that took decades to grow. When handmade products are mass-produced, questions about sourcing often become less transparent. The focus shifts to speed, volume, and cost. Wood may be harvested without regard for sustainability, or imported without a clear chain of custody. The result is not just a cheaper product — it is sometimes a product that costs us all more in the long run, in the loss of healthy forests and ecological balance. Reforestation is not optional — it is critical to our future. The choices we make now, both as makers and buyers, will decide whether future generations still have access to these beautiful woods. That is why I believe handmade should also mean responsibly made — with care for the forests, the environment, and the world we share.

Why It Matters

This distinction matters because it creates an uneven playing field. A small woodworking shop like mine cannot produce hundreds of items a week, nor can I lower my prices to match mass-produced competition. Yet buyers searching for “handmade” on Etsy often cannot tell the difference. When the meaning of handmade blurs, it hurts both makers and buyers. Makers lose fair competition, and buyers risk losing the joy of owning something truly unique. Adding to this challenge, Etsy’s algorithm is shifting away from being primarily keyword-based and is now driven by AI and buyer behavior. Clicks, favorites, and time spent on listings all shape what buyers see. This means that authenticity, quality photos, unique design, and strong customer service are more important than ever for small shops to stand out.

A Call for Transparency

I believe Etsy could help by creating clearer categories — perhaps distinguishing “Handmade by Hand,” “Handmade with Tools,” and “Digitally Fabricated.” This wouldn’t exclude anyone, but it would give buyers more information to choose the kind of handmade that matters to them. At the same time, it’s up to us as makers to be transparent about our process. That’s why I share not just what I make, but how I make it. I source responsibly and locally from RawHeartwood. I expose the natural grain of the wood, and I craft with the belief that handmade means hands, heart, and human care.

Honoring Handmade

Handmade is not always perfect. A curve may wander, a joint may take longer than planned, and the wood itself sometimes decides the final shape. But that’s what makes it beautiful. It carries a story — mine as the maker, and yours as the owner. As I continue my journey, from a registered nurse in that boring lunchroom to a woodworker bringing warmth into homes, I hold onto this truth: handmade should mean something real. It should bring joy. And it should honor the people whose hands and hearts make it possible.

So I ask you, as a reader and supporter: When you buy handmade, what does it mean to you?