NaturesOfferings

Rocks, fossils, shells, pinecones, gourd art, jewelry

Grand Rapids, Ohio 285 Sales On Etsy since 2015

5 out of 5 stars (89)

NaturesOfferings

Rocks, fossils, shells, pinecones, gourd art, jewelry

Grand Rapids, Ohio | 285 Sales

5 out of 5 stars (89)

Shop owner

Contact

Request Custom Order
Contact shop owner
285 Sales
546 Admirers
 

All Items

Marcia Hintz

Contact shop owner

Marcia Hintz

Announcement    Welcome to my shop!

This is your place to buy treasures found in nature to handcraft your own creations, or to buy things already handmade from such treasures found in nature. Gourds, seashells, geodes, crystals and more are beautifully handcrafted into creations for you to enjoy! I hope that you check back now and then because you never know what kinds of new treasures you may find in my shop.

Announcement

Last updated on Sep 22, 2019

Welcome to my shop!

This is your place to buy treasures found in nature to handcraft your own creations, or to buy things already handmade from such treasures found in nature. Gourds, seashells, geodes, crystals and more are beautifully handcrafted into creations for you to enjoy! I hope that you check back now and then because you never know what kinds of new treasures you may find in my shop.

Reviews

Average item review
5 out of 5 stars
(89)
See reviews that mention:
quality 7 shipping 27 customer service 5

About NaturesOfferings

Sales 285
On Etsy since 2015
  • House finch
  • Red squirrel on the suet cake holder
  • Female Baltimore oriole
  • Turtle
  • Fall flowers

Creating with natural things

A link to my shop: https://www.etsy.com/NaturesOfferings

I am a nature scavenger, picking up seashells, driftwood, rocks, geodes, crystals, gourds, pinecones and whatever else catches my eye. I like to display these treasures in my home. Sometimes they are displayed as is, and sometimes they are “dressed up” to enhance their natural beauty or to make them wearable. I grow most of the gourds that I craft, buying extra-thick types or certain shapes that I can’t or don’t grow here in northwest Ohio. I like to try different techniques and work with a variety of materials so you will find many different types of pieces for sale in my shop.

Since I like bringing things that I find outdoors into my home, I figure that there must be other people like me out there who like to surround themselves with natural things but maybe can’t or don’t have the time to create decorative items from those things. That’s where I can help – maybe you’ll find something in my shop that strikes your fancy or reminds you of a happy time or place in your life. Please check back now and then, because if you don’t find something that speaks to you now, that something may be there next week or next month!

As long as I can remember I would pick up interesting things that I found outside, from tiny bits of colorful glass from the alley, fossils I found in rocks, to seashells and pinecones and colorful leaves. Later I grew some gourds and learned how to dry, clean and decorate them. I still like to bring natural things into my home and look for ways to decorate with them. And that's how the idea for my shop came about.

In my spare time I like to go fishing and camping with my husband, and of course we dig for rocks and fossils and pick up seashells from the beach! We grow almost all our own vegetables and I like to grow gourds. I am a member of the American Gourd Society, the Ohio Gourd Society, the Toledo Gem and Rockhound Club, and the Toledo Craftsman's Guild.

A LITTLE BLURB ABOUT GOURDS:
What are gourds? Gourds belong to the same family as squash, pumpkins, cucumbers and melons. The hardshell variety of gourds is most often used for crafting and they come in a wide range of shapes and sizes.

Gourds were among the first plants cultivated by man. They have been used through the ages in many different cultures as containers and water vessels, and even as musical instruments. Gourds were man’s first bowls, boxes and bottles, before man even knew how to make pottery. In fact, if you watch the old western movies you’ll often see gourds hanging up somewhere or in use as dippers or water vessels.

Mature gourds can be very heavy depending upon their size, but by the time they are dry and ready to craft they can weigh only ounces. It can take up to a year for the largest varieties of gourds to dry. By then the outer skin is often peeling off and must be completely removed. Once the gourd is soaked in water, scrubbed and scraped and finally clean, it is ready to be either decorated whole or cut open and scraped clean on the inside to remove the seeds and dried pulp. Then it is ready to be carved, wood burned, painted, or decorated in any other way the artisan sees fit.

So there is a lot of work that goes into preparing a gourd before it is even ready to be cut open and decorated, whether someone grows his or her own gourds or buys them from a grower.

You can follow me on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/naturegal101/

Around the web

Pinterest

Shop members

  • Marcia Hintz

    Owner

Shop policies

Last updated on March 8, 2019
Thank you for visiting my shop. I hope you find something that you like and that you will return again to see what’s new.

Accepted payment methods

Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
Returns and exchanges
I gladly accept returns and exchanges
Contact me within: 5 days of delivery
Ship items back within: 14 days of delivery
I don't accept cancellations
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
  • Custom or personalized orders
Returns and exchange details
I want you to be happy with your purchase. If, for some reason, you are not, please contact me within 5 days of receiving your item so that we can work something out. Do not return an item to me without contacting me first.

If an item is going to be returned, it will need to be sent back to me in its original condition. I cannot give a refund on pieces that are damaged and not able to be resold when I receive them. Pack the item in the original box with the original packing material.

The buyer will be responsible for the shipping costs of the return with insurance and tracking number. Shipping charges will not be refunded, just the cost of the item.

If the buyer provides an incorrect mailing address it will be the buyers responsibility to pay for additional shipping costs to resend orders.

My packages are insured through USPS. If an item is damaged in shipment, please contact me so that I can provide you with the necessary receipts and information so that you can get your claim filed. Please be sure to save the damaged box with all the contents until after the claim is settled.
Payment
I accept Etsy Direct Checkout and PayPal. You do not need a PayPal account to use your credit card.

I must charge Ohio residents sales tax.
Shipping
If you are purchasing multiple items, I will ship them together to save on shipping costs.

If your shipping cost is more than $1 less than what is listed, I will refund the difference through Direct Checkout or PayPal.

I try to “go green” with packaging by re-using boxes and packing materials whenever possible. However, I do pack very carefully because I want your item to arrive safely.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: Please be aware that your country may impose additional customs fees for international purchases. These vary by country and even by item value, so it is best to check with your own country's policies before purchasing to avoid any surprise fees when receiving your package. You are responsible for these fees.

Canadian customers please note that custom fees and/or import taxes may apply to your purchase, along with a Canada Poste fee. Any fees or taxes are the responsibility of the buyer. Please be aware of your current laws.
Additional policies and FAQs
FAQs
A shipment to Canada may take 2 weeks or even up to 3 weeks to arrive.

Canadian customers please note that custom fees and/or import taxes may apply to your purchase, along with a Canada Poste fee. Any fees or taxes are the responsibility of the buyer. Please be aware of your current laws.