The Maker's Journal

ADVERTORIAL

The Maker’s Journal

After 3 Decades, This Retiring Artisan's Final Jewelry Pieces Are Going Viral

Written By Sadie Michaels – Senior Writer at The Maker's Journal
Published: August 13, 2025 – Updated: 2 hours ago

On the left, 5-year-old Lara learning from her grandmother in 1960. On the right, 70-year-old Lara passing on the same craft to her own granddaughter. (Photo: The Maker’s Journal)

“Lara Green is saying goodbye to the craft she’s loved her entire life. Her final handcrafted pieces are now available — with up to 80% off.”

It all started at her grandmother’s kitchen table.

Lara Green still remembers the clink of beads on an old wooden table and her grandmother’s soft hands guiding hers. She was just a child when she learned the art of jewelry making — not from a book, but from family.

“Every time I create something, I feel her with me,” Lara says. “She passed down more than a skill — she passed down love.”

Now, 35 years later, Lara is preparing to say goodbye to her tools. After a lifetime of crafting heirloom-quality pieces by hand, she's retiring. And for the first (and last) time ever, she's offering her final designs at up to 80% off.

In her early 20s, Lara spent countless quiet evenings at this little table, turning passion into craft — one piece at a time. (Photo: The Maker’s Journal)

A dream fueled by passion — not profit.

After college, Lara didn’t chase trends or corporate jobs. She chose a different path — one that led her to dusty bead shops, handmade tools, and hundreds of quiet hours shaping stories out of metal and stone.

She sold her first necklace at a local market in Durham, North Carolina. She’s been crafting ever since, building a loyal following of customers who adore the soul in her work.

"Every piece tells a story — that’s always been more important than making a buck."

Decades later, Lara’s workshop had become a sanctuary — a space filled with stories, sparkle, and the steady hands of a master. (Photo: The Maker’s Journal)

Over 30 years, thousands of pieces, and countless smiles.

From custom wedding sets to birthday bracelets, Lara’s jewelry has marked life’s most intimate moments for thousands of women. Each piece has her signature: hand-finished, heart-led, and made to last.

Even during hard times, she refused to outsource or cut corners.

"If I wouldn’t gift it to my own daughter, I won’t sell it."

With her other granddaughter by her side, Lara shares not just her craft — but her heart, her stories, and the love behind every handmade piece. (Photo: The Maker’s Journal)

Passing the torch to the next generation.

Today, Lara teaches her granddaughter just as her grandmother taught her. It’s a quiet ritual — stringing beads, laughing, telling stories. The tools may be the same, but the meaning has deepened.

“This isn’t the end — it’s the closing of a beautiful chapter.”