Making Our Mark

The idea of May and Moon was hatched from a need to fill a gap in the jewelry industry where a unique mix of materials and beads meets affordable high end design. Where those of us who love textures and fitted styles can access a variety of options that suit our mood.

I had spent my life making my own elastic jewelry for my petite wrists. I started with plastic beads and nylon stretch cord and as I became more aware of all of the textures, materials, and colors available with beads, I realized how much I liked to sort of imperfectly mimic fine jewelry. Through A LOT of trial and error and a natural creative problem-solving brain, I have created pieces that do just that with the movement of stranded beads.

As I meandered through adulthood still avoiding bracelet purchases due to the average fit being 7.25+ inches (which has always slid right off my wrists), I started collecting thrifted pieces that weren't necessarily my style, but may have been loaded with quality materials like peacock pearls or ethnic brass beads. I would disassemble these strands and rebuild fitted elastic bracelets and developed a skill for cutting thick metal chains shorter and adding new clasps.

Throughout this process I would rearrange earrings and build new pendants-- all to fit my more modern eclectic personal style. I found myself attracted to imperfect materials and liked only parts of a whole piece. So, I started designing my own chic beaded pieces and wearing them stacked everywhere I went. Definitely on the left wrist. I was previously a graphic artist and photo editor and I couldn't stand the feeling of bracelets on my mouse-using right wrist.

Anyway, I started hearing the same question almost everywhere someone could see my wrists: "where did you get your bracelets?" And I would become flushed with embarrassment and swiftly answer "oh... I made them" with a naive little shrug. As if I thought it would change their opinion on the pieces they were admiring.

Fast forward to the last couple of years: I started making jewelry for others as a side hustle- often just remaking pieces they wanted right off of my wrist-- and always saving the limited materials pieces for myself (duh).

It wasn't until I walked into an all women's networking conference as a guest of a member, that I started to feel like I could develop a business to put my creativity out into the world! Something I always avoided because I wasn't ready to not please every single human being with my designs. That conference helped me to realize: I'm not going to please everyone, but instead, I'm going to make SOME people happy, and that's okay.

I immediately signed up for markets and fairs and spent months making jewelry-- my original designs- on my dining table with whatever funds I could put forth.

Hardly a year since my first market sales, and here we are!

I am not a college educated designer- but a life long learner who has applied every technique I use, for 20+ years. Each piece is designed in one of two processes: either hands on designing- like with our Everything Collection or from a sketch which produced our Renew necklaces, among other designs.

At May and Moon, we want you to feel unique when you wear our pieces. We want you to layer up with your other favorite brands and compliment all of your moods. As we grow and I continue to add to my collections and create new ones, I hope you'll wear these pieces and feel as empowered as I do-- knowing that you can be bold, lax, energized, or anything you want to be! More importantly, that our pieces will amplify your authenticity.

Thank you for following along and supporting this dream!

Ryanna Cook

Founder & Designer