Michelle Stangl isn’t just creating beautiful jewelry—she’s creating jewelry that smells good, too. “You put a drop of essential oil on a volcanic lava stone and the stone soaks up the oil and it diffuses the aroma throughout the day,” Stangl explains.
Stangl began making jewelry as therapy in high school when she needed relief from painful and distracting migraines; she started My Naptime Jewelry after her son was born. “I just wanted something to call my own and to calmly settle down after taking care of babies all day,” she says. “The name, My Naptime Jewelry, comes from the time where I started making jewelry—which was nap time.”
Originally creating jewelry with just gemstones, Stangl got the idea of using essential oils and volcanic lava stones from one of her friends. “A girlfriend of mine asked if I had ever made lava stone jewelry and I said, ‘No, what’s that?’ and she kind of explained to me the properties of it,” Stangl says. “She ordered a necklace from me and said, ‘Why don’t you make me something with a lava stone on it?’” Stangl made the necklace and posted a photo on Instagram. “It kind of blew up,” she says.
As time progressed, and Stangl’s jewelry became more popular, she decided to get a bit more serious about her jewelry-making business downstairs. “I used to work at the dining room table, but I’ve blocked off my basement into my studio now,” Stangl says, creates a variety of pieces, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets, nose rings and more. “I kind of just play around with what I have. I look for pretty gemstones to pair up with, and I add the lava stones where I think it would make sense; usually close to the nose,” Stangl says. She’s also working on more men’s bracelets and dog collars.
Stangl purchases the lava stones online from a few different suppliers, and the essential oil from a source in Rosemount. She sells her jewelry online, on her website and on Etsy. It’s also sold in 12 stores across Minnesota and three stores in Wisconsin. “What makes it unique is the jewelry I make is more fashion-forward than a regular locket-type style,” Stangl says. “I love working with gemstones, so I try to make pieces as eye-appealing and fashion-forward as possible, with a little addition of the lava stone on it somewhere.”
Through it all, Stangl still finds joy in the creativity, the organic process of crafting her beautiful pieces. “My favorite part is making the jewelry. I think it’s so therapeutic and creative. It’s a creative outlet for me,” Stangl says. “I find it necessary to create at least one piece of jewelry a day. Even if I’m not in production mode, I’ll still go downstairs in the studio and make something.”
A Few of My Naptime Jewelry Items
Minimalist Three-Bead Lava Diffuser Stone Necklace, $30
This beautiful necklace has three volcanic lava stones that give off a wonderful aroma of essential oils. The chain is 18 inches long and comes in silver, gold and rose.
Yellow Jade Stone Diffuser Stacking Bracelet, $25
If you’re looking for a bold and eye-catching bracelet, this one is for you. With beautiful yellow jade gemstones, it will get a lot of attention. It also smells amazing—with a volcanic lava stone in the middle, adding a great touch.
Earthly Bronze Leaf Earrings with Diffuser Beads, $35
Get in touch with nature through your jewelry. These bronze earrings are in the shape of a leaf and have volcanic lava stones situated at the top.
