FAQ

I welcome any repairs of art work I have made. Shipping is paid by the customer to send it to me, and I will send it back as a tracked package free of charge. The repair itself will be free also.

As my artwork is so much a part of who I am, along with silversmithing being a costly artistic business, I do not offer returns if what you receive is unsatisfactory. 

The best way to get a good fit is to measure a cuff bracelet you already have that fits you well and look for a bracelet with those dimensions. The total inside circumference is the inside circumference of the bracelet from end to end plus the gap (the distance between the ends).

If you don't have a cuff bracelet to use for comparison, then measure your wrist where you want to wear the bracelet. There are several ways to do this.

1. Use a cloth tape measure to measure around your wrist where you will wear the bracelet. Use this measurement as your wrist size which corresponds to Total Inside Circumference on our bracelet pages. Read the rest of this article to see if you need to adjust your measurement.

OR

2. Wrap a piece of string (or ribbon) around your wrist where you will wear the bracelet. Make a mark on the string where the end meets the rest of the string. Remove the string and lay it on a ruler. Use this measurement as your wrist size which corresponds to Total Inside Circumference on our bracelet pages. Read the rest of this article to see if you need to adjust your measurement.

How well a bracelet will fit you will depend on the width of the bracelet , whether you like to wear the bracelet tight or loose, alone or with other bracelets, in front of or behind the prominent bone on your wrist, changes in temperature (weather) and other factors.

RING
https://www.blingjewelry.com/pages/ring-size-conversion

Step 1 - Get a non-stretchy string or paper about 6"(152MM) long and 1/4"(6.5MM) wide.  

Step 2 - Wrap around the base of your finger. It has to fit snug, but not too tight.

Step 3 - Mark the point on the string/paper where it overlaps forming a circle.

Step 4 - Measure the length of the string/paper from the starting point to the mark.

Step 5 - To determine your ring size in all countries open our Ring Size Conversion Chart for MM or Inches.

Ring finger measuring tips:

If you are between sizes, order a larger size. Make sure your finger is at a normal body temperature -- fingers can shrink or expand when cold or hot. If your knuckle is much larger than your finger’s base, take two separate measurements and choose a size in between. You want a ring to fit over your knuckle, but not be too loose or it will shift around.

How to care for copper or silver jewelry when it tarnishes:

Copper is a traditional metal used in North West Coast Design before contact. Copper has health benefits as well that can help with certain ailments such as arthritis, and is a metal that viruses and bacteria have difficulty growing on. Because it’s such an active metal, it oxidizes quickly and is affected by the oils in our skin and environment. For some this is a welcomed Patina (antique)look to their copper jewelry. For others they wish they can have the shine that resembles rose gold of when they bought their original piece.

When I make a copper piece I coat it first in what’s known as Renaissance wax. This helps prevent the oils in our hands from leaving finger marks and slows the patina process down. For my cuffs I also give the option of a laquear, which will prevent the green that copper can leave on the skin. It also will prevent any health benefits of copper making contact with the skin.

Silver or Copper can be cleaned up using a gentle microfibre cloth ( to prevent scratches) and an acid. Some common household ingredients will help clean it up.

Ketchup (tomato acid and vinegar)
Salt and Lemon Juice
Lemon Juice
Tooth Paste
Fantastique

Shipping is through Canada Post: 

A flat fee of $15 within Canada that includes tracking and insurance. Only purely sticker orders I can offer $5 letter mail shipping, but there is no guarantee upon arrival unlike the $15 tracked shipping option. Shipping to the United States is $20 that includes tracking and shipping. Shipping anywhere else in the world, please contact me and I can give you a quote on shipping costs once I have contacted Canada Post sort out.

There is at least a two week waiting period for custom designs. Wholesale is around 1 month turnaround time. If you are needing work done sooner, there is a $30 fee added for work done sooner.

Indigenous art has taken many forms, developing into a modern era through political and historical moments. Most notably, the potlatch ban era for North West Coast Indigenous Art prevented many cultures from expressing their cultural art forms and ceremonies.  Indigenous art then took a turn and began what is known as a revitalization period, which brings us into a place where there is art made for ceremony and art made for a market.    As a jeweler who identifies as a Kwakwaka'wakw artist, I am between these two places with my art form. On one hand I make art work meant to be worn in ceremony, and I also make work that is meant to be sold to the Indigenous art market. 

Art work meant for ceremony includes the symbols that are specific to that person, their families, their clans, and their ancestry. There is a story behind it that they bring to the present, and I am proud to be able to make their ancestry alive. It is a tie to their families from the past, present, and future. There are origin stories of how these families gained these symbols, but there is no magic around receiving a name within our religious/Potlatch systems. So one cannot ask “ what does the raven mean”, because a raven clan from one territory means something different in this territory. So despite wanting a deeper meaning of Indigenous animal symbology, it basically refers to our people like a last name would. It tells what family line you are from, and the rights and titles that go along with it. 

With regards to the market and those not a part of north west coast lineage:

 I make art work based on stories my clients tell me, which is why I also draw creatures that are not a part of the traditional formline creatures. I let there be space for them to talk about why they want certain elements in the design, and I will often infer what the animals represent in a more ecological way. Orcas work together as families, ravens are clever, and hummingbirds mark renewal with spring etc etc. This allows those not belonging to specific clans to have appreciation in something that represents them and their relationship to the art work made by an Indigenous artist without appropriating the culture itself. I also appreciate the interest in understanding Indigenous cultures, and how they differ across turtle island. 

You are welcome to put in a wholesale order form, but recognize that I work on only so many custom wholesale orders a month. In 2022 there will be a Spring and Winter catalogue to choose from, and my suggestion would be to order at least a month ahead of when you need it. 

My custom work is done in this process:

1. Inquiry is made and we talk quickly about what it is you're interested in, and I will do an initial sketch to get the first rough idea.

2. Then one more sketch is offered, and any redraws after that is $20 for my time to draw the work.

3. After the approval of the design I will then make the artwork and send an invoice. You can pay with credit card, Email Money Transfer, or PayPal.

4. Then you will get contacted by me that your artwork has shipped with a tracking number! Everyone is happy and the artwork is on its way to it’s forever home.