- PayPal is the preferred method of payment for secure online purchases. If you would like to pay by another method, please contact me at cindy@sweetbeadstudio.com.
- Items will ship within two business days of your order. Your purchase will arrive packaged in a gift box and/or organza pouch.
- Orders over $75.00 will be shipped free.
- Insurance is available by request. The current USPS insurance rates will be added to the order total.
- 5% sales tax will be charged on all orders shipped within Virginia.
SHIPPING RATES
| Method | Cost | Delivery time |
|---|---|---|
| First Class Mail | $3.50 | 2-7 days |
| Priority Mail | $4.60 | 2-3 days |
| Express Mail | $16.25 | within 1-2 days |
| Priority Mail International | $11.00 | 6-10 business days |
| Canada | $9.00 | 6-10 business days |
- All non-custom items may be returned within ten days of receipt. A full refund will be given, less the cost of shipping. Merchandise must be in its original condition. Please email me at cindy@sweetbeadstudio.com to arrange for a return.
- If an item has broken due to normal wear within six months of purchase, you may ship the item to Sweet Bead Studio for complimentary repair service within this time frame.
- Every purchase will arrive packaged in a gift box and/or an organza pouch.
- Complimentary gift wrap is offered if you choose to send your purchase as a gift. Please request gift wrap when you check out in the PayPal "notes" section.
- Your order may be shipped directly to the recipient. Again, please specify this information in the PayPal "notes" section.
What is lampwork?
You may notice that handmade lampwork beads are used in many of my jewelry designs. I wanted to share my interest (!) in these beads so you may appreciate too why many consider them little works of art.
Glass bead making is an art form that has been around for centuries. A torch is used to heat rods of glass. The melted glass is then wrapped around a steel mandrel (rod) to create the bead from the center outward. The artist will use various tools and techniques to shape and decorate the glass. The beads are then placed in a kiln to cool slowly (anneal), reducing the internal stress from the glass. This process makes the beads very strong and less prone to breaking. Artist-made lampwork beads are one of a kind and individually crafted. These beads are very different from mass produced imported beads that may be found in craft stores. I hope that you will enjoy and cherish your handcrafted lampwork jewelry for many years to come.
