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My Process

Currently, I fabricate all of my pieces by hand, nothing is cast, and I am able to cut my own stones as well as using acquired stones.   This affords me much more    freedom in my designs,  though it is  more time consuming and involves a different process than most jewelers use.

I start my process by drawing out my idea, trying to keep it to scale. I also note which stones and metal accents I am thinking of using. 

I then begin shaping the sterling bezel strips into the shapes that the stones will fit into.

After soldering the bezels   together, I sand the bottoms flush, then solder them to the back sheet, adding any other metal  accents or designs.  Finally, I clean up the edges by sawing and sanding them.  Once I have the metal bezel and all the soldering finished, I begin to choose the stones for the piece, marking the shapes and sawing them out on my wet saw.

 

 

 

With the stones roughed out, I begin fitting them into the bezels  using  the roughest wheels on my diamond grinder.  Once the stones are fit into the bezels, I mark them, stick them onto dopsticks  to hold them better, and begin to dome and polish them using successively finer grit wheels.

 

 

 

 

This is me shaping stones on my diamond grinder.  It has six wheels, impregnated with diamonds , in varying grits– roughest to finest.

 

If I’m going to carve and scrimshaw the ivory, I first draw a guide on the ivory with pencil then use diamond bits to carve out my design and polish the ivory again.  Then I draw my scrimshaw designs onto the polished ivory with India ink.

 

 

 

 

Using a sharpened tool, I scratch into the ivory, exposing the lines in reverse, then re-ink the ivory and wipe off the excess.  By doing this, the ink now stays only in the scratched areas while easily wiping off of the polished ivory.

 

With the stones and ivory ready, I burnish and polish the metal, then glue the stones in.  Voila!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

My Policy

 

All of my jewelry is made with pride and integrity, and I guarantee the craftsmanship of all of my pieces.   I use fossil walrus ivory in many of my pieces.  This material has been consciously harvested by Native Alaskans and fairly traded.  I will never knowingly use any bone, shell, or stone which endangers the existence of any animal or their environment.  The majority of the material I use is naturally sourced, but I can be dazzled by synthetic stones and always clearly label them as such.

 

Payment

Purchases through this website will be securely processed through PayPal using the Buy Now button.  Orders through my Etsy site may also be paid through PayPal or through Direct checkout with any major credit card.

 

Turnaround

Most of the pieces shown here are available for immediate shipment and will be sent out within 1-2 days of receiving your order.  However, some pieces may be on view in Galleries or in Shows and may take 2-4 weeks for shipment.  Custom requests will be made to order and depending on time and materials may take 4-6 weeks before shipment.

 

Custom Orders

I am open to custom orders and commissions.  Please contact me by phone or email to discuss it.

 

Shipping

I live in Hawaii and will ship UPS upon request, but prefer to use USPS Priority Mail.  This usually takes 3-6 days for delivery to the mainland and, depending upon insurance is between $4-$15.

 

Returns

I do not generally accept returns, but your satisfaction is important to me.  I will issue credit or honor exchanges (on pieces of equal or lesser value) on pieces  returned unworn and undamaged within 25 days of shipping.

 

Repairs

I guarantee the craftsmanship of all of my work and will make repairs due to craftsmanship free of charge.  Damage incurred by the wearer may often be repaired at a reasonable rate plus shipping.  Lost earrings can be replaced for half the current retail price plus shipping.  Please return the remaining earring to me, securely packaged, so that it can be matched.

Thank you

 

"Virgin de Guadalupe" Limited Edition

Sterling, 14k, Fossil Ivory, Pietresite, Noreena Jasper, Tiger's Eye. 

 

 

 

 

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