FAQ
Jet as a Jeweler:
I have been making jewelry since I was a young girl - I learned the basics from my step-mother a Navajo bead artist. I picked the craft back up later in life needing a creative outlet. I don't normally just string up beads for a bracelet. I need to produce something different and unique - something more! Which is why if something stays around long enough, it could get a revision! Usually my designs feature sterling or fine silver wire, 99.9% pure silver. I take special requests and commissions.
Jet the lampwork bead artist:
Always interested in the lampwork art, I kept asking around. Finally at our Local Artist's Gallery, I became introduced to the work of a very nice woman, Von Schroeder of www.totodesigns.net so I contacted her and graciously she helped me along in the purchase of necessary items including her torch and kiln to get started making handmade lampwork beads! Von upgraded to a bigger torch for boroscilate glass. This was the Fall of 2006.
Unless specified, all lampwork glass beads are made by my hands in my home studio. Using a Nortel Minor Burner torch, which burns oxygen and propane, I heat glass rods till molten, like honey. Then I wind the molten glass around a pre-coated stainless steel mandrel to form a bead. The mandrel forms the hole of the bead. I use 1/16 mandrels unless specified otherwise and I have made up to a 1/8 inch holed bead. (I call the big holed beads, slider beads because they can slide along most silver chains.) After being decorated each little lampwork glass creation is immediately placed into a pre-heated kiln to be annealed. This process strengthens the glass by releasing the stress created in making the bead, thus ensuring an everlasting gift. All beads are thoroughly cleaned of all bead release and are ready to be made into jewelry and heirloom items and treasured forever!!
GUARANTEE:
I want you to be 100% satisfied with your purchase. If you are not, send an email allowing us to make you happy. If you are still not satisfied, I will issue a credit to you or I will refund your money less shipping and handling once item is returned into inventory and in original condition. For our privacy policy, please click here.
PAYMENTS:
We accept payment through our payment gateways, which are currently PayPal & 2CheckOut.com! Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, etc. We also take US checks via mail with our printer friendly mail-in form, available during the checkout process. We will remove merchandise from our online boutique, and hold your item until the check clears.
SHIPPING:
Within the United States, I ship using USPS First Class mail. If you wish to have your item shipped using Express Mail via the USPS the charges are as follows: up to 8oz. is $15.00 and 8.1 oz up to 2 pounds is $19.00 and if you need FedEx services email me and we'll work out the charges.
International shipping will vary based on charges I incur. International Airmail via USPS most likely. E-mail to jet@jetsjewelry for more specific information.
WHAT IS LAMPWORK?
Lampwork the name stems from the old process of using lamps to heat the glass in order to make beads. Read more information above under Jets Beads description. Handmade beads purchased from Self-Representing Artists - Specializing in Glass are not mass produced!! Each little bead is made by hand, kiln-annealed and then are thoroughly cleaned. We take pride in each design we create always striving to produce something wonderful. Look for the SRA logo in support of our mission! I am SRA #H-69.
I've always purchased beads online and found out the hard way about the mass produced beads which are sent full of bead release still in them and probably not kiln-annealed so the glass is weaker. Keep this in mind when you think about the price you are paying. A one of a kind item that should last years with proper care.
Like many glass beads sold in many bead stores, online, etc. this is one lot of beads possibly listed as "handmade lampwork" and the sucker I am who has bidding fever when on eBay - bid, maybe re-bid, and eventually won! Not so lucky when they finally arrived. I have several sets - some never been used. They're just not the quality I prefer to use in my jewelry, nor plated silver.
Below is a photo of mass produced Venetian Glass Beads I bought online ...
So what's the difference?? QUALITY!! I stand behind what I make and sell. Like the old saying "You get what you pay for!" Be happy with your purchase, buy from a Self-Representing Artist!
I thank you very much for supporting our mission and buying from a SRA #H-69.
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