What does this symbol mean?

If you see this symbol, it means that this piece of jewelry incorporates recycled, reused or found materials–such as pendants, charms, watch parts, clasps and beads–which are taken from previously-loved, vintage and broken items, bits found at estate sale and flea markets, or things given to me by friends (“Hey, Jen, this looks like something you could use”). It might also include bottle caps, buttons, old magazines, greeting cards, Scrabble tiles, washers, pieces of metal, tea tins, bolts, broken pottery, etc.

Do you accept commissions, special requests custom orders? Can I get rush service?

Jewelry is my hobby, not my full-time job. I am also a writer and I homeschool my children, as well as having several other commitments. So, rush service and special orders are typically not available. To be entirely honest, jewelry is my great creative joy. It is what I do to stay sane. Some people watch TV, some drink, some have 20 cats. I make jewelry.

I will entertain proposals of creative projects or collaborations with fellow artists, or for charity, or other similar situations, if my schedule allows. But if I’m spending my scant free time making copies of previous pieces or filling someone else’s design request, then it’s no longer joy, it’s WORK, and I have enough of that to do. So, thank you, thank you, I love that you love my jewelry, kiss kiss, hug hug, but no, I am not accepting those sorts of commissions at this time.

I don’t understand the measurements. If the bracelet “is adjustable around 7 inches” what does that mean?

Most of my bracelets are adjustable, and will say so in the item listing. When I say a bracelet is adjustable “around 7 inches,” that means I’ve included some extension chain and that the clasp may be hooked on any link of that chain to make it looser or more snug for a wrist which is 7 inches in circumference. However, the bracelet itself, if laid out straight, might actually be 8 or 9 inches long, depending on how it’s made. The picture below illustrates this.

Just imagine the red circles are your left and right wrists. The black circle on the left wrist is a bracelet made with large beads. The blue circle on the right wrist is made from chain, which fits differently than a beaded bracelet. When laid out flat and measured end-to-end, the black bracelet is longer, but it still “fits” the same size wrist (because the diameter of the beads decreases the inner circumference of the bracelet).

How a bracelet fits depends on personal preference. Some people prefer them snug, others like them very loose. And while 7 inches is considered the “average” bracelet size, in real life women’s wrists may range from 5 to 9 inches. If you don’t know your wrist size, wrap a piece of string around your wrist, then lay it out flat in a straight line and measure it end to end with a ruler. You can also measure your wrist with a fabric measuring tape. Just make sure that the measuring tape or string are not pulled too tightly — they should be comfortable, the way you’d want your bracelet to be.

Most women with significantly larger or smaller wrists typically already know this, because off-the-shelf bracelets or watches in department stores won’t fit them properly. If you have any questions or would like a bracelet re-sized, contact me before ordering, or put a note in the instructions box when submitting your order.

How do I receive updates or notifications when you list new items?

This website is a blog, and you can subscribe to it with a blog reader, aggregator, RSS feed, or other online service. I use Google Reader, but there are many others. Use the link http://www.jlhjewelry.com/feed/ to subscribe. You can also follow me on Twitter or on Facebook.

Why can’t I buy more than one? Why does it say OUT OF STOCK?

Most of the items on my website are original, one-of-a-kind works of jewelry art. If the item description says “only one available,” then only one is available. If it says “out of stock” when you are trying to order, it means that someone else has already ordered and paid for the item. This can happen if two people want the same item at the same time, but one person completes their order before the other. Putting it in your cart doesn’t hold it for you. Only completing the checkout process and paying for your order will mean the item is yours.

On FIREFLY/SERENITY replicas and other costuming items, I do sometimes make more than one (check individual listings for details), though each may vary, depending on availability of materials.

Do you have a return policy?

Jewelry may be returned within 10 days of purchase, in it’s original condition and packaging, for a full refund of the item price (shipping is not refunded). I do not accept returns on custom orders.

Do you do wholesale or consignment?
Do you have a catalog?
Where is your store located?
What is your phone number?

The answer to all of these questions is that I’m just one person who occasionally makes unique goodies in my home studio. I don’t have a physical store or a business phone, but if you are a customer and drop me an email request, I’d be happy to call you. Due to the one-of-a-kind nature of most of my items, and my limited schedule, it’s not feasible for me to do wholesale, consignment, catalogs or brochures.

What do you charge for shipping?

First class shipping within the U.S. and Canada is free (though, be warned, mail to Canada can take up to a month or more). Additional information is available on the Shipping Information page.

Are your earrings hypo-allergenic?

I’ve read that at least 10% of the population has a sensitivity to nickel, and nickel is a common ingredient in store-bought earrings. When I make earrings, I use either brass or sterling silver earwires, and occasionally surgical steel. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, sterling silver is an alloy of 92.5% silver and 7.5% of some other metal — usually copper, though sometimes in lower-quality sterling it might contain nickel. If you’ve had problems with sterling silver (and you’re sure it’s not “nickel silver”), check into the origin of your silver — personally, I try to avoid silver from Mexico and prefer silver from Ireland, Israel, or Bali. Hill Tribe Silver is 95-99% pure silver. Surgical steel is the kind of steel used for medical applications (implants, tools) and body modification.

If you have problems with earrings, you might not be “allergic” at all. Inserting your earrings can cause tiny scratches around your ear holes; these scratches may become irritated by sweat, hair products, etc. Or the earrings themselves might be dirty. Try cleaning earwires and earlobes with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol before inserting, or applying Neosporin.

Do you have recommendations on jewelry care?

See individual listings for details about specific pieces. But in general, perfumes, lotions, hair spray, household cleaners, chlorine and other chemicals are harmful to all jewelry. To prolong the life of any jewelry, don’t shower, swim, clean house, or engage in strenuous activity while wearing it. Do not pull, tug, yank, force, or crush your jewelry, or allow others (such as small children) to do so. Any jewelry will last longer if you keep it away from dust, sun, water, sweat, etc., and stored properly when not in use.

Sterling SILVER and silverplate will tarnish when exposed to air, water and skin, and sometimes cleaning can be difficult. PEWTER does turn dark – sometimes even black – from skin contact. BRASS and COPPER often have a patina or discoloration, which is part of their charm (in my opinion). Tthese metals might discolor the skin, though this doesn’t happen to everyone.

Who does your pictures?

I take my own photographs using a Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd digital camera with a “macro” setting for extreme closeups. Then I process the pics with GIMP, free image manipulation software. Here’s a post I wrote on my jewelry biz blog, “Bird on a Half-Hard Wire,” about taking pictures.

Why don’t you charge more for your jewelry?
Why do you charge so much?

I’ve heard both of these questions in equal amounts, which leads me to think that there’s nothing wrong with my prices, it’s just a matter of perspective.

Some people appreciate the time and attention to detail I put into my work, and they value it so highly that they think I should charge more — and they are certainly welcome to pay more, if they feel so inclined. Others may be buying handmade jewelry through festivals, boutiques or galleries, where they are paying higher prices due to the retail markup, overhead, or economic level of the region.

In the case of thinking I charge too much, many people are used to buying made-in-China costume jewelry in retail stores and don’t understand the difference between that and the pieces I create. I don’t use plastic, and I strive to be lead-free and nickel-free. They might not understand the time it takes to imagine and create a unique piece of jewelry, or they might not know that a Chinese factory worker is only paid about 57 cents an hour — the Federal minimum wage in the U.S. is $7.25 an hour, and that’s for basic, unskilled labor, not for artists and educated workers.

I price my pieces exactly as I believe they should be priced, no more, no less.

Do you ever use Soft Flex, Beadalon, or Tiger Tail?

No. I don’t like using crimps, and I don’t like the way these sorts of stringing materials feel. I prefer thread if I’m stringing beads, I like the way it hangs and moves, and I like the way the finished ends look. I will typically use waxed linen, or a combination of waxed linen and silk. Occasionally hemp, nylon, cotton or some interesting fiber might be used, or leather, suede, or vegan suede, if appropriate to the design.

Filed under: Jewelry