Lisa:
Owner, Designer
Violets & Vows was born from a love of playing a small part in my customers' special life moments.
I hand-create each piece in my cozy basement studio, just outside of Chicago, Illinois. In between adulting, parenting two teenagers, and catering to my two troublemaking rescue dogs (affectionately dubbed The Velociraptors), I get to be a handmade artist ALL. DAY. LONG.
My creative side was passed down to me from my mom (Thanks, Mom!). She was always hand sewing ornaments from fabric scraps, macrame-ing (hey, I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Yes, the nineteen hundreds.), painting landscapes, and stenciling. The funny thing is, I hated crafting with her—and I was too busy writing verbose and deep, man, poetry anyways—and didn't discover my own handcrafting side until 2001, when I lost my job during the dot com meltdown.
I was in my early twenties, and getting tired of playing The Sims non-stop, when I decided to buy a beginner's jewelry making kit. Hunched over a wobbly card table in my Chicago bungalow basement, I beaded and beaded and beaded. It took a while to find my own style and niche, but now I'm doing the work of my dreams.
Each of my pieces becomes a small part of someone's life, all over the world. Every day, I get to help others celebrate childhood and the great moments in life. I'm blessed.
Tanya: Production Lead
FAQs
Do you offer gift wrapping?
Absolutely! Gift wrapping is available for $4.50 per item. Yet, even without gift wrapping, our jewelry is ready to be gifted to the recipient—it is packaged in an anti-tarnish cotton lined jewelry box tied with a satin ribbon.
Can the item be shipped directly to the gift recipient(s)?
Of course. It’s important to enter the recipient’s address into the shipping address field. No pricing information will be included in the gift package (unless you request that it be included), and we include a complimentary handwritten gift note.
If you are shipping multiple items to multiple people, please place one order per shipping address. If multiple gifts going to different addresses are ordered in one transaction, all items will be shipped to the same address. Please place a separate order for each item being shipped to a different address.
Do you have a physical store so I can quickly purchase a gift?
My studio is located just outside of Chicago, but it is not open to the public and I don’t have a physical store. Each item is handmade to order.
I’m in a hurry—how soon can you ship my order? What are the available shipping methods?
Because each item sold by Violets & Vows is handmade to order in the order of receipt, we require up to five business days to get your purchase ready for shipment. Rush orders may be available for an additional fee. Please contact us prior to placing your order to discuss your options.
We offer first-class mail, Priority Mail, and Priority Mail shipping. Please visit USPS.com for the timing of these shipping options. We are also happy to ship via FedEx or UPS upon request—please contact us for a shipping quote.
Because of the five business days required to create your order, the absolute soonest your order will be delivered is six business days. Actual delivery depends on the performance of the US and the shipping destination.
Do you ship outside of the US?
Currently, Violets & Vows ships within the United States and to Canada. International shipping may be a possibility—please email us at sales@violetsandvows.com with inquiries.
What happens if I don’t receive my order or it arrives damaged?
Each order shipped within the US or to Canada includes postal insurance. An insurance claim can be filed three weeks after the shipment date. Please contact us with any problems.
Violets & Vows is not responsible for any shipping carrier delays as these delays are out of our control once the package has been shipped. Violets & Vows is happy to work with you to attempt to get your Priority Express shipping cost or your FedEx shipping cost (standard/first-class and priority mail offer no delivery guarantees and no shipping refunds for late delivery) refunded by the carrier should your shipment be delayed. Additionally, any rush fees paid will not be refunded due to the performance of the shipping carrier. We appreciate your understanding!
Will the jewelry break easily?
Each beaded item has a very strong and flexible wire at its base. The wire is 49 strands of stainless steel that are wound together and protected with clear nylon.
Although the jewelry is quite sturdy, it can break with sharp, quick tugs. For this reason, the jewelry should never be left on an unattended child under the age of 13. Violets & Vows recommends that these special pieces be worn for special occasions. Everyday wear is not recommended.
We do offer repairs in the event of a break. You can return the item (and all loose components) and have it fixed for a small fee. The fee depends on the extent of the repairs as well as potential component replacements.
What metal is used in your items? Will my jewelry tarnish?
Each product page includes information about each component used in the piece. We use sterling silver, gold fill, vermeille, and stainless steel.
Sterling silver is 92.5% fine silver mixed with an alloy for strength. Sterling is nickel-free. All sterling silver will tarnish/oxidize over time, due to reactions to different chemicals. Hydrogen Sulphide and Sulphur Dioxide are the main culprits, and they are found in air as well as many day-to-day items such as soaps, perfume, lotion, and shampoo. For this reason, it’s best to take off silver jewelry before showering or using the aforementioned day-to-day items. Store your jewelry in the included zip-top bag with anti-tarnish strip (and be sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the bag).
Gold fill is created when a thick layer of karat gold is bonded onto a base metal (typically brass). It wears and looks just like solid gold but doesn’t carry the high price tag of solid gold. Our items are either 14 karat or 18 karat gold-filled. Gold fill is very different from gold plate, which is a super thin layer of gold bonded to base metal. This is why gold-plated items flake or turn green as the gold plating is worn away.l
Vermeille (also known as vermeil) is a thick layer of karat gold bonded to sterling silver. Because of the sterling silver in vermeille, you would care for the item as you would a sterling silver item.
Stainless steel is a form of steel containing chromium, making it resistant to tarnish and rust. Stainless steel may contain nickel. Stainless steel remains infinitely shiny and is easily cleaned with mild soap and a soft cloth. Stainless steel can scratch, just like any of the precious metals, so it should still be treated with some care.
What are cultured freshwater pearls? Are they real pearls?
Yes, cultured freshwater pearls are real pearls. This explanation (found at https://www.diamonds.pro/guides/natural-vs-cultured-pearls/) explains further:
Natural pearls grow without any human intervention whereas cultured pearls form when a farmer inserts a mollusk into the oyster shell. For natural pearls, the mollusk is an organism in the water. For cultured pearls, the mollusk is usually a tiny bead.
Natural pearls look more “organic” than cultured pearls. For instance, they may not be as well-shaped or as round as their cultured pearl counterparts. Natural pearls are extremely rare and most of them have already been harvested. That’s why natural pearls are very expensive and almost impossible to locate—with most being sold at antique auctions.
Cultured pearls, on the other hand, are not incredibly rare. Cultured pearls are the pearls used to make almost all jewelry on the market today.
Choking Warning
Trinkets by Lisa T, Ltd. DBA Violets & Vows DBA violetsandvows.com’s products are manufactured with small parts and are not intended for use by children under 3 years of age. Any use of Trinkets by Lisa T, Ltd. DBA Violets & Vows DBA violetsandvows.com’s products should be with adult supervision only.
Choking Hazard – Small Parts
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD – Small Parts
Not for children under 3 yrs.
Use with adult supervision only.
Please note that our products are not toys. Never leave your child unattended with any of our products. Always supervise children closely while wearing their Trinkets by Lisa T, Ltd. DBA Violets & Vows DBA violetsandvows.com jewelry. Our products contain very small pieces, which could pose a choking hazard. This includes but is not limited to beads, clasps, charms, etc. While our jewelry is created with safety and longevity in mind, no jewelry is unbreakable and these small components are considered a choking hazard. For children under 13, the jewelry is not intended for everyday wear or teething. Make sure you take off all jewelry while the child is bathing, swimming, in a car seat, napping, and sleeping. By purchasing from Trinkets by Lisa T, Ltd. DBA Violets & Vows DBA violetsandvows.com you acknowledge full responsibility and agree all items set forth. Trinkets by Lisa T, Ltd. DBA Violets & Vows DBA violetsandvows.com assumes no liability for injury, medical issues, or death resulting from product misuse. Supervision is required. Buyer assumes all responsibility.
Our products are NOT teething/nursing jewelry. Do not allow the wearer to place this item in his/her mouth at any time.
Jewelry can be a strangulation hazard. Always supervise children while they’re wearing their Violets & Vows jewelry.