Cheerful Crimson Barrette

Cheerful Crimson Hair Barrette

This delightful hair barrette is wrapped in a crimson mix of iridescent glass nuggets and beads with some Czech glass and a couple of Swarovski crystals, all selected from the stream of consciousness and wrapped with coordinating red wire onto a 50mm (2 inch) pinch-spring French-style hair barrette.

This barrette sold, but here are some other lovely barrettes.

Beautiful Black Hair Comb

This beautiful hair comb features a free-form wrapping of black glass beads, Swarovski crystals and Czech glass beads, wrapped with coordinating black wire on a clear plastic comb. 

This comb sold, but here are some other lovely combs.

Customer Service and the Golden Rule

 My customer service policy was instilled in me by my Grandmother, who always said to treat others the way I'd like to be treated (the Golden Rule).

One result of that is that the things I make for sale are things I like, beautiful things. If I like what I have made, somebody else probably will, too.

I use quality materials and techniques in my work. 

I offer my creations at a reasonable price. 

I ship quickly.

When you place an order with me, a special service I give is that each handcrafted jewelry item comes to you packaged in a giftable box wrapped with ribbon. Ribbon color is based on availability and is tied in a simple bow so you can easily open it. Inside the box with the jewelry piece I include a tag or business card without pricing information, in case it is a gift for someone. 

The pricing information is included in the shipping box and on the shipping invoice. If you prefer that NO pricing information be included in the shipping box at all, just message me or let me know in the "Special Instructions" portion of the order process and I will be happy to ship your order with a "blind" packing slip, and mail you the shipping invoice under separate cover.

 I try very hard to make sure that everything offered for sale in my online stores is in stock and ready to ship.  I usually ship before the end of the next business day once confirmed (cleared) payment is received. In the extremely unusual event that an item has oversold, I will contact you  to discuss options of a back order, a slightly different item, or a refund.

If you see something you like, but want something, maybe slightly different, I do consider custom work, and of course, I certainly do repairs and rebuilds.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions at all. 
 

Rebuilt Bracelet

 
A friend had a bracelet that was a special gift to her. One day it broke. She was greatly dismayed because of what the bracelet represented to her, but she was able to save the pieces and brought them to me to reassemble. I added a few new parts to the bracelet, too. Since there were extra beads when I was done, I made her a keychain too!

www.EightSusquehanna.com

Amendments

"Amend: To repair, correct, or make right."

Sometimes customers ask, "Can you do something with this?" Maybe some stones have fallen out, maybe it's a sentimental piece that has broken, or maybe they have a piece they can't wear and wonder if there's anything I can do with it so that they can wear it again. I am not a "fine jeweler" like you might find in the Diamond District or at BC Clark but as an artisan/craftsman I am very fortunate that my customers have faith in my skills and creative abilities, and I am highly honored when they ask me to work on their jewelry.

 Here are five particularly memorable cases:

• Customer had a beautiful bracelet watch, set with crystals and cabochons, and stones had fallen out of some of the links. I was able to match the existing stones and crystals with new ones.
• Customer had a ring that was too big. She didn't care for the setting, but she loved the stone, a lovely chevron Amethyst cabochon. I was able to reset the cabochon into a new Sterling Silver setting, much more appropriate to her style and taste, that fit her finger better. She now proudly wears that ring every day.
• Customer had a Southwestern style belt buckle of sentimental value to her, and some of the cabochons had fallen out. She asked if I could just replace all the cabs. I found some lovely turquoise ones and did exactly that.  She is utterly delighted with her "new" belt buckle!
• Customer had a bracelet that had been a gift, that was uncomfortably tight. I was able to construct and add links to match the existing bracelet so she could enjoy wearing it.
• Customer had a vintage necklace of handmade shell beads that her missionary grandmother had brought back from Africa many years ago. It was an amazing piece, beaded in a particular pattern. Unfortunately, the strand had broken so that it was unwearable, and the clasp was fragile and somewhat corroded. Fortunately, she still had almost all of the beads, so I was able to add a few coordinating beads and emulate the original design on a sturdy modern synthetic silk beading thread along with a new clasp. She now has a very special necklace she can actually wear and bequeath to her own grandchildren.

I view these projects as being a little like making a quilt - taking pieces of this and pieces of that and reassembling them.  When undertaking a task like this I consider the customer's needs and tastes, balancing their requests and requirements with my own creativity and available materials. In each of these cases and more, my customers express pleasure and delight with the amended pieces I present to them. It's certainly one of the personally rewarding parts of what I do.

Next time I'll take before and after pictures!