All jewelry is made from solid, raw brass and genuine, natural gemstones (not dyed or altered in any way, unless otherwise noted.)

Variations in color, tone, clarity, shape, etc, of stones are normal and to be expected. Please let me know if you have preferences and I will happily accommodate if I can.

I work with solid, raw brass. It is naturally more organic and 'imperfect' looking. Little marks and scratches are part of the intended aesthetic of this material.
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Brass will naturally darken and patinate as it ages and is handled. Many love this effect.
The "Polishing" tab has info on how to keep your jewelry shiny if that is your preference.

*Please read the "Care" instructions carefully to ensure your jewels last a long time

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. The most common ear irritant is nickel. Real brass does not contain nickel (unlike cheaper brass-toned jewelry). I have sensitive ears and mine do just fine with the brass.

If you are extremely sensitive, you can request hypoallergenic stainless steel ear wires. This is an option for any design with separate ear hooks (so excluding hoops, for example). The wires will of course be silver-colored. Even the most sensitive people should have no problem with stainless steel wires.

Gold filled ear wires coming soon.

I use solid brass; polishing will not harm your jewelry. (Don't polish ebonized brass, i.e. any black components.) There's a few approaches to polishing:

1) My current favorite is to use a "Sunshine" cloth. (This is a specific brand; you can get it on Amazon...it should be yellow.) This is a quick, easy, odorless way to keep your jewelry looking like new.

2) Lemon juice. You can drop your jewelry into lemon juice and leave it fully submerged for 30 mins. Then, take it out, wipe it with a cloth and [and this is important!!] wash it off. You can then drop it in a mixture of baking soda and water, to ensure the acidity is neutralized. Then wash again and dry thoroughly.

3) Brasso. (Use outside, it is smelly.)

Years ago, I had a vintage shop here on etsy, which I closed in early 2017. I am now very happily creating jewelry. Changing the shop name helped me take advantage of my solid reputation as a seller here on Etsy. I'm the same "Sarah" they are referring to in those reviews about planters and chairs :)

Handle your pieces with care, and they will love you back for a long time:

Store them in a cool, dry place (not the bathroom; it's too humid in there).
Try not to get your jewelry wet, and dry it thoroughly if it does.
Don't swim or bathe in it.
Don't get hair or body products on it.

Natural gemstones vary in hardness and can break if dropped.
Don't throw them in the bottom of your bag. (Gently polishing with a cloth after wearing helps remove fingerprints and oils that can accelerate the patination process.) See "Polishing" tab for polishing info.

I put a lot of love into my work and want it to last a long long time for you. If you have any questions or issues with your piece(s), please contact me.