venusenvyart

I gladly accept returns or exchanges. I put a lot of time and love into my work and sometimes it's hard to part with it, but I always want it to go to a good home! If for any reason you are unhappy with your purchase you may return it (provided it is in its original condition), no questions asked. Also, I offer what is in effect a lifetime guarantee. In your package I always include my business card with my email address and web site information; if at any point your item needs repair, regardless of whether it is due to natural wear and tear or a mishap, I will be happy to repair it for you, usually at no extra charge (unless the damage requires me to purchase further supplies, in which case I will only charge for the supplies).

I accept Paypal. Unfortunately I am unable to accept credit cards at this time. I may be willing to accept an international money order or UK cheque; contact me if this is your preferred method of payment.

Payment must be made within 1-2 days of checkout purchase or the order will be cancelled. Requests for reserve items must be paid for within 4 days. I will happily honor custom order requests; however, I expect payment of at least half of the full amount BEFORE commencing work on the order. I am willing to accept payment plans on certain items; please contact me ahead of time for arrangements. Payment must be made in full before the item will be shipped.

I will ship anywhere on the globe, though I may eventually have to alter shipping costs to certain countries over time depending on what I learn as I go along. At this time I offer a flat rate fee for all countries, but that cost may differ depending on circumstance (see below).

I ship twice a week and/or dependent upon customer needs. I will contact you with shipping information, such as the date the item is/will be posted, tracking number where applicable, and other information as necessary. If you have a time-sensitive or rush order PLEASE contact me BEFORE purchase to ensure that your item will arrive in time to get through customs!

Please keep in mind that shipping from the UK might take anywhere from a week to a month to arrive when ordering from the US. In my experience items usually arrive on average between 7-10 days, but if time is a factor, please make sure you order early to cover for any delay. Please note that custom orders may result in a delay in shipment as well, depending on the order in question. Unless an item is specifically marked "made to order," all items in my shop are ready to ship (special/custom requests may take time to complete).

Depending upon the item, shipping costs may include insurance and/or delivery confirmation (especially glass items or any packages totaling over $100). This cost will be included in the shipping cost incurred at checkout and will be detailed in the listing or by convo after purchase where necessary.

IMPORTANT: The buyer is responsible for any and all fees incurred by customs. I ask that you learn about your country's customs policies before purchase, as the cost of shipping in shop listings does NOT include any fees which may be applied by customs. If you have any questions about this, please consult your postal service.

I am happy to create custom orders for you for gifts, wedding parties, special occasions, holidays, etc. (please see Payment policies above). I can also adjust or refine pre-made/existing items as desired. If you have any questions or requests for made-to-order items, including jewelry and/or glass art, or other specialty items as needed, please feel free to message me, or you may utilize the "request custom item" link on the left-hand side of my shop's front page.


A final note on pricing:

Many of my items are created with high-end gemstones, art glass, precious metals (sterling silver, 14K gold, vermeil) and/or vintage items. Some of you may be aware of the high prices of silver and gold, which have more than doubled this past year to an all time high of $42/ounce as of August 2011. In addition, as vintage jewelry has become more and more popular since I started in 2000, the cost of true vintage supplies (i.e. not "vintage style" or "vintage inspired") has also risen, and true vintage is much harder to find and also more expensive as a result. For other items, such as painted glassware, much of the cost lies in labour. I do not charge nearly enough for my time, I have been told, but for the hand painted glass, charging for my labour would mean pricing myself out of business! Hand painted glassware is extremely time and labour intensive. A single 4 oz. jar of special glass paint (the kind that allows for food and drink-safe glassware) is impossible to get here in the UK and must be imported from the US, and at $4.95 for a single bottle is rather pricy. I charge very little in the way of labour for any of my work, and for some items I do not make a profit at all. I strive to create items of heirloom quality by using only high-end supplies. I don't use stencils or decals, I do not use pre-assembled items, and and I offer a lifetime guarantee.

For these reasons, my prices may seem higher than some of the similar items you find on Etsy. I can assure you that the time and energy I put into my work ensures that you will get what you pay for. I work very hard to make every line, every loop, every detail perfect. I hope that you find my items worth the little extra you might pay, although I certainly think that my pricing is quite fair. I know that many people are used to the WalMart mentality, where it seems even the higher quality items are cheap and inexpensive. However, as any artist can attest, this is not the case--those items are factory produced, and the cost of labour is offset by outsourcing to other countries (and severely underpaying workers expecting them to churn out products as fast as they can). Handmade items are necessarily, and (hopefully) understandably, more costly than items at discount stores. You are also getting, in many cases, a one-of-a-kind or limited edition piece, and often one you will not find anywhere else.

I ask that you keep this in mind when viewing my items. As with artists all over Etsy, much of my labour is made of love, and you can't put a price on that. Unfortunately we have to pay the bills too. Many of us don't have the luxury of making a profit, but making up cost is a necessity for us to keep doing what we love. I am hoping that you are as enchanted with your item as I am, and enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. And I hope that I have given you a little insight on the world of the artist, so that when you visit craft fairs in your area you can see the work of my fellow artists in a new, and frankly more realistic, light.

Thanks bunches for allowing me to do what I love. :)