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Frequently Asked Questions

of Second Wind Jewelry & Weaving

If you don't find the answer to your question here, contact me directly via email or phone. I will respond as quickly as possible.

What shipping methods do you use and what are your shipping costs?
How quickly do you ship?
What kinds of payment do you accept?
What is your privacy policy and how will you handle my confidential information?
What does "gold-filled" mean?
What is a talisman?
What is rudraksha?
What are your charges for custom orders or heritage redesign?
What is your return policy?
What is your guarantee?
What is vermeil?
What is hand painted yarn?
How long does it take to weave a scarf?
What is colorgrown cotton?
What are low-impact, fiber-reactive dyes?
What does it mean to be a Roycroft Renaissance Artisan?

What are your shipping costs?: My standard shipping method is the US Postal Service, using either first class or priority mail, depending on destination. Shipping and handling for the first item is $7.00. Each additional item adds $0.75 to the cost. Alternate shipping methods can be used - contact me for options and costs. UNLESS YOU ADD SHIPPING INSURANCE FOR AN ADDITIONAL $3.00 PER ORDER, I CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ORDER AFTER IT LEAVES THE POST OFFICE.

In order to be as friendly to the earth as possible, I use recycled packaging material whenever possible. Do not be offended by this environmental choice.; Insurance is optional, and costs for it are individually determined based on the value of the purchase. Customers interested in insurance will receive an email from me with those costs.
How quickly do you ship?: In stock items generally ship within two business days. Items that must be made, including both out-of-stock items and special orders, generally ship within 10 business days. Customers ordering an out-of-stock or special item will recieve an email from me with this information. Credit cards will not be charged until an item is ready to ship.
What kinds of payment do you accept?: I accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and PayPal. I also accept Bank or Postal Money Orders. Personal checks are accepted, but items will not be shipped until checks clear the bank, often at least seven days.
What is your privacy policy and how will you handle my confidential information?: I consider your privacy a very serious matter, and ALWAYS MAINTAIN YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY. See my Privacy Policy for more information.
What does "gold-filled" mean?: I regularly use 14K gold-filled beads, spacers, clasps, wire, and other components. Gold filled is very different than gold plated. Gold-filled materials are made from 100 times more gold than gold plate. Gold filled involves bonding a sheet of 14K gold to a core of semi-precious metal, usually brass. Gold-filled components are much more affordable than 14K gold, and lasts a lifetime; examples from the earaly 1900s still appear brand new.

By contrast, gold plating is a thin sheet of gold, generally adhered to a base metal. Depending on the thickness of the plating, it can be scraped or worn off within weeks or months.
What is a talisman?: A talisman is an item made from gemstones that help to bring about positive change. It may help you to have a more positive outlook, be calmer, be more patient, or improve a specific health problem. Each gemstone has its own properties that help to accomplish this. A talisman may be something that you wear, carry in your pocket, hang from your bedpost, or otherwise have with you regularly. I will work with you to design a talisman just for you. Talismans should not be used in place of professional services or other action; their impact is certainly NOT guaranteed.
What is rudraksha?: Rudraksha beads are actually seeds from rudraksha trees. There is a legend in India about the rudraksha: Lord Shiva was meditating for many years on the well-being of all living things. When he stopped meditating, tears immediately sprang to his eyes and fell on the ground. From his tears grew the holy rudraksha tree, and the beads are actually seeds from this holy tree.
What are your charges for custom orders or heritage redesign?: The costs for these services is individually determined based on the amount of work involved. I always make "drafts" of this work, sections of the finished work that are temporarily strung. Digital photographs of the design drafts are sent to the customer for input throughout the process. I will also provide both initial estimates, and should design elements or processes warrant estimate modification, the customer will be notified for approval.
What is your return policy?: My return policy is my guarantee - if you are not happy with your purchase, I will happily refund your full purchase price (less shipping), within 12 months of purchase.
What is your guarantee?: I provide a 12-month unconditional guarantee on all my jewelry. If, during the year after purchase, your jewelry does not please you, I will happily provide repair, replacement or refund (less shipping).
What is vermeil?: Vermeil is gold plate over sterling silver. Most other items are plated over base metals; vermeil is an exception. Although not as durable as gold-filled, vermeil is a quality jewelry product, and helps keep my jewelry affordable.
What is hand painted yarn?: Hand painted yarn is created by a fiber artist who starts with either undyed or bleached yarn, winds it in skeins, and then carefully applies permanent dyes in sections along the length of the skein. The color choices are made individually by the artist, and their combinations and the length of each section of color dictate the finished results of a handwoven scarf. For a bit more info, I've written a blog post about hand painted yarn
How long does it take to weave a scarf?: There isn't a single or a simple answer to this question, since there are many variables - length, width, and fabric being the primary ones. Some yarns, such as 100% bamboo yarn, are easier to work with than others, like rayon chenille, with more challenging yarns requiring more time. But regardless of yarn type, the actual weaving is the smallest time investment. Preparing the warp, beaming the warp, threading the heddles and reeds, and tying on to the front apron are all time consuming. From start to finish, a scarf may take eight hours to complete.
What is colorgrown cotton?: As the name implies, colorgrown cotton is grown in the colors you see in my scarves - no dyes are used to create the beautiful earth tones. Colorgrown cotton is originally from South America, but is now grown in the United States as well. Colorgrown cotton has a naturally-occuring finish that is a bit waxy; it may take several washings to completely remove this finish and develop the full, rich color of your scarf. Hot water will encourage the colors to develop, but is also likely to lead to some shrinkage.
What are low-impact, fiber-reactive dyes?: Although these types of dyes are made from chemicals (instead of plant materials or naturally-occurring minerals), they are easy on the enviroment. Some of them are even more eco-friendly than all-natural dyes. How is this possible? Low-impact, fiber-reactive dyes chemically bond with the fiber very well, requiring much less water than most traditional dying methods. These dyes are manufactured using no heavy metals and meet the often more stringent European standards for safety; almost all made with petrochemicals.
What does it mean to be a Roycroft Renaissance Artisan?: Following in the footsteps of Elbert Hubbard, Roycroft Renaissance Artisans are people who are committed to continued growth in their medium maintaining excellence in craftsmanship. Artisans are juried regularly receiving critical reviews to help focus their efforts.