This Family-run Jewelry-maker Draws On its Midwest Surroundings for its Jewelry Designs

Minnesota’s d’ears has some great gift options for Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day has a way of sneaking up on us, and before we know it, we’re surrounded by pink plastic, mass-produced cards, and the feeling that love somehow needs to come with a receipt. There are many Made in the USA gift options that feel personal instead of commercial; gifts with a story behind them, made by people who take pride in what they create and the communities they call home.

That’s exactly how I felt after talking with Ken Matheson, the founder of d’ears, a small, family-run business based in Finlayson, Minn. It’s pronounced “d-airs,” and once you hear the story behind it, you don’t forget it.

Ken didn’t set out to build a jewelry company. Like many Midwestern entrepreneurs, he followed his curiosity and creativity wherever they led. d’ears officially came to life in 2013, shaped by years of hands-on creative work. Before d’ears, Ken built a career working in signage and custom graphic wraps, including projects for nationally recognized brands and musicians. That experience shaped his approach to design, durability and detail long before he ever made jewelry.

From the beginning, d’ears grew naturally and very much as a family effort. Some of the most beloved designs started with something as simple as a grandchild’s watercolor painting or a crayon drawing taped to a wall. Ken saw possibility and turned those drawings into earrings that eventually landed in museum gift shops and national venues. One design, literally made from a child’s crayon scribbles, is now a top seller. It’s the kind of detail that makes you smile, because you can feel the joy behind it.

If there’s one piece you should know by name, it’s the luna moth earrings. They are the company’s best-selling design. Inspired by nature and rendered in vivid color, they’ve quietly become a favorite across the country. Ken laughs when he talks about how they took off, but there’s pride there too, the kind that comes from making something with your own hands and watching people genuinely connect with it.

d’ears also offers florals, Northern Lights-inspired pieces, and engraved earrings and necklaces made from fishing lures; sourced from Wisconsin, crafted from brass and coated in silver.

Finding and serving niche markets has been key to keeping d’ears growing. In addition to jewelry, the company’s suncatchers have taken off, especially among dog lovers. They now feature more than 100 dog breeds, with products sold through the American Kennel Club and a partnership with Chewy in the works. They also create designs for bird lovers and nature enthusiasts. These niches are what allow a small American maker to keep going.

d’ears products show up in some pretty special places, including national parks, fine art museums, airports and hotel gift shops from Minnesota to Alaska to Hawaii.

We saw just how much visibility can matter for a small business when the Alliance for American Manufacturing featured d’ears in our 2025 Made in America Holiday Gift Guide. When CBS Sunday Morning aired the segment, Ken told us they came into work the following Monday to a flood of unexpected orders from all over the country. It’s a powerful reminder that choosing to support American-made products has a real, immediate impact on small businesses.

For Ken, keeping production here isn’t a debate. It’s the point. d’ears sources materials domestically whenever possible, including stainless steel, and keeps the work rooted in Minnesota. He’s proud of the fact that they can create something from scratch, from beginning to end, and send it out into the world with their name on it.

That said, Ken is candid about the realities of being a small American maker. Designs get copied. Overseas competitors undercut prices. Staying ahead means constantly creating and adapting. He doesn’t dwell on it, but it’s part of the landscape. What stood out to me most wasn’t frustration; it was determination. Ken keeps finding new ideas, new markets and new designs that stay true to what d’ears does best.

What “Made in the USA” means to him is refreshingly straightforward. It’s pride, yes, but it’s also people. It’s being able to hire locally, keep a small retail shop open in a rural area, and say yes when the local Lions Club or a kids’ sports team comes through the door looking for support. Ken told me they get almost as many donation requests as customers, and he says that it’s part of the responsibility, not a burden.

This Valentine’s Day, it’s a great reminder that a little Midwest love goes a long way.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing does not receive a commission from purchases made through the above links, nor was the organization or author paid for favorable coverage.

Labeling Note: This story is intended to highlight companies that support American jobs and that make great products in the United States. We rely on the companies listed to provide accurate information regarding their domestic operations and their products. Each company featured is individually responsible for labeling and advertising their products according to applicable standards, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s “Made in USA” standard or California’s “Made in USA” labeling law. We do not review individual products for compliance or claim that because a company is listed in the guide that their products comply with specific labeling or advertising standards. Our focus is on supporting companies that create American jobs.

For more on the Federal Trade Commission’s standards for “Made in USA” claims and California’s “Made in USA” labeling law, please also read this guest post by Dustin Painter and Kristi Wolff of Kelly Drye & Warren, LLP.