What type of jewelry do you design?

I started life as a wired wrapper. Wire jewelry dates back to ancient Egypt and Phoenicia. Utilizing ancient methods to design objects to be worn in the 21st century is challenging and an expression of my interest in history. I incorporate a variety of techniques to feed my love for “mixing things up” including soldering, forging, cold connections, metal clay and paper clay. I’m also drawn to asymmetry and tend to play with balance and color within my pieces.

My pieces are handmade (by me, Karen) out of high quality materials. A few favorites are: sterling silver, semi-precious gemstones, Swarovski crystals, copper and, from time to time, 14K gold-filled wire makes an appearance. Good materials cost more but they are soooo worth it.

All of my jewelry is intended for adult use only.

Where may I purchase your jewelry?

At this time, pieces available for purchase are listed on Etsy.com.

How do you ship your pieces?

Your purchase will generally be mailed the day after I receive payment. All orders received and paid for on Saturday or Sunday will be shipped on Monday (unless Monday is a USPS holiday, in which case it will be shipped on Tuesday). I will email you to let you know when your package was shipped so you can keep an eye out for it. Your jewelry will be sent via USPS First Class Mail. If you wish to receive it sooner, just let me know. I’ll be happy to send it Priority or Express if you are willing to pay the additional postage.

I try to keep shipping costs as low as possible. Shipping charges are:

United States – $2.50 USD for the first item. $0.50 USD  for each additional item.
Canada – $3.00 USD for the first item. $0.50 USD  for each additional item.
Everywhere Else – $3.50 USD for the first item. $0.50 USD  for each additional item.

All orders shipped to US addresses receive complementary Delivery Confirmation. Since handmade pieces are difficult to reproduce exactly, I add insurance for most pieces. The insurance is included in the price of the item and will not be an add-on to your shipping charge.

Shipping internationally may mean your package will be charged additional duties and customs fees. These fees are the responsibility of the buyer to cover. Please contact your local customs organization for information on how fees are charged.

How are pieces packaged for shipping?

Yes. Your piece will be shipped in one of two ways. Smaller pieces are placed in a Kraft Paper jewelry box filled with cream color crinkle cut paper and tied with a stretchy silver cord. They are mailed inside a bubble envelope. Larger pieces are packed in an unmarked satin lined, organza pouch with ribbon drawstrings inside a sturdy cardboard box. I deliberately do not put any labels or branding on the jewelry boxes or the pouches. I hope this encourages you to reuse them. You will also receive a mini Ziploc bag you may store the jewelry in to help protect it from tarnish. Please refer to the product photos to see which option your piece will ship in.

If you would like a printed receipt included in your shipment, just let me know.

What is your refund and exchange policy?

I want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. I describe and photograph my work to represent it accurately. Since you and I may not have the same computer monitors, the colors in the photograph may vary but they should be close. If you purchase a piece and it is not what you expected, you are welcome to return it within 7 days of the date that you received it. Returns must be mailed in their original packaging (i.e., if you received it in a gift box, the gift box must be returned). Once I receive the return, I will be happy to exchange it for an item of comparable value or refund your purchase price including shipping. I recommend that you insure the package if you return a piece. I am not responsible for returned items that are damaged or lost during return shipping.

What type of payment do you accept?

On Etsy, I accept payment through PayPal. You may use PayPal with or without a PayPal account. I have been a PayPal member since 2004 and trust them to protect my customers’ personal information and privacy. Please visit the PayPal Security Center if you have any questions or concerns regarding their services.

Will you respect my personal information?

I will not share or sell any personal information you provide to me. I promise.

Do you offer wholesale pricing or are you interested in consignment opportunities?

I am open to wholesale requests or consignment arrangements. Please contact me and we can discuss them. I will have a wholesale line sheet available online in 2012.

I have another question. How may I contact you?

If you have any additional questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. I’ll be happy to help you.