Frequently Asked QuestionsDo you make your own glass beads? TOP
Yes! I create wearable pieces of art. Please keep in mind that though they are kiln annealed for durability, they are made of glass and are still breakable. Please treat them with care. I make my glass beads with a torch that heats up to about 2000ºF. I use Morretti, Lausha, Kugler stoft glass rods and Borosilicate (Pyrex) hard glass. I use a metal rod called a mandrel and wrap the heated glass around it one color at a time then use smaller glass rods to “draw” the designs on the bead. Each bead takes anywhere from 5 minutes to 25 minutes to make. I have made some beads that have taken 45 minutes to an hour to make.
What exactly is "memory wire"? TOP
Memory Wire is a shape holding wire similar to a piece of a slinky. It won't lose it's shape unless it is pulled on hard or bent out of shape on purpose…kinda like a slinky!
What are findings? TOP
Findings are the pieces that hold the jewelry together. They are the ear wires and the decorative metal pieces in the jewelry. I only use Sterling Silver of Gold Fill findings in my jewelry.
What are Swizzle Sticks? How Long are they? Can you make more than a set of 4? TOP
They are drink stirrers. I make them on average of about 6” in length. I can make them up the 13” in length. I can make as many of them as you need!
Are these items made to order or already done? TOP
Both. Everything you see on the website has been already made. I can make you a similar piece but nothing will be the same since I make them all by hand. If you see something you like but want it in a different color or shape, I can do that for you. In fact, you are more than welcome to help design your own beads and jewelry. How cool would it be to have something that you can say to people “I designed this”!?!
What's the turnaround time / when can I expect my order? TOP
If it is already made and in my possession, I can mail it to you on the next business day. If you special order something or if I need to make it I always specify 2 weeks. It usually won't take that long though.
How will you ship my order? TOP
I will ship it in a box with packing material through the USPS with insurance. Insurance isn't optional. I want to make sure it arrives to you safely and in one piece.
How do I pay for items bought from this site? TOP
I only accept Paypal. I do take credit cards but only through Paypal.
How much is shipping? TOP
I don't charge a blanket fee. It will cost you what it costs me plus the cost of the packing material. I can't imagine it ever being over $10 to send items. Usually it is less than $5.
Can you do gift packaging / can I include a card and ship to a different address? TOP
All jewelry is placed in my signature purple boxes. I can send it to and where ever you would like!
What is "kiln annealed"? TOP
When glass is heated up it needs to be cooled slowly to prevent cracks and breaking. Kiln annealing does this best. I have a kiln that I heat up to 975ºF and place the beads in it that I just finished making with the torch. After I have finished all the beads I will make that day I set the program to ramp the temp down slowly over 8 hours. It stops at about 75ºF and holds that temp. Beads are still breakable because they are of course glass but they do not break easily at all. Typically they even last through a few drops on cement.
Other glass beads made by mass importers aren't annealed and therefore are very breakable. They aren't cleaned either so they still have bead release in the hole of the bead. The worst part of this is the workers are barely paid and work in an unventilated and unsanitary area many many hours at a time. These importers run sweatshops for their mass bead creation. (A big importer is a "man" named Austin Hamilton.) These are reasons that these sellers charge an inexpensive price. But remember you get what you pay for!
