I know, you're mad...you came here expecting pictures of pretty things and instead I'm just going to answer a bunch of random questions about stuff I make. But you know, sometimes other people come here to get answers to questions about stuff I make and all they find is lots of Kevin Bacon stuff...there has to be some middle ground, ok? Anyway, some F.A.Q. and the super genius and mind blowing answers:
What's your online store address?
www.shopheylola.com ... it's on Etsy (I love Etsy!)
Where do you find all of your supplies? Like...you know...the beads and chains and disco dancing dragon buttons?
I'm a thrift store junkie. And an antique mall addict. And a garage sale stalker. If you've got old jewelry for sale and you live anywhere near me, I'll be there in 5 minutes.
Ok, but hold on...You claim to be all eco-friendly and environmentally concerned but you're probably driving around all of the time looking for stuff, choking everybody with your car fumes, right?
Ok, I lied. If you have old jewelry, I won't be there in 5 minutes. I try to do all of my scouting and shipping on one day of the week in an attempt to cut down all of the driving...so I'll be there on Wednesday.
I get that the pendants and chains are all kind of wired together, but some of those things that you put together look like they're glued. How is that environmentally friendly?
I knew you were going to ask me that! Ok...jeweler's glue is bad, everybody knows that. Unfortunately, eco-friendly glue isn't strong enough to hold things together...at least not any that I've tried. I keep looking, though. In the meantime, my extreme guilt for using jeweler's glue and for buying new earwires and clasps has led me to give a portion of my jewelry earnings to the World Wildlife Federation...er...Foundation...um...the WWF that's not involved with wrestling.
How much?
That's rude.
Not really...I mean, if you're giving a portion, don't you want your customers to know how much?
Right. Well, it's not a set amount. It's based on what I can afford. If I say 10% and then my refrigerator quits and I need a new refrigerator, I'm going to have to buy the refrigerator. But, you know...I'm shooting for 10%. I started donating in March and was able to do the 10%, so that's a great thing.
Ok, so I read that you used recycled packaging like cereal boxes and stuff...that's weird, right?
Not really. A cereal box is still a box and they actually travel pretty well.
But the box that I got from you was pink and had stamps and hearts and dancing monkeys all over it and I've never heard of dancing monkeys cereal.
Because I paint the boxes just for you! Awesome, right? Non-toxic paint and all of that, too.
Ok, but there was some shredded paper and a plastic bag and a jewelry box and some weird tissue paper and ribbons and thank you cards...how come you use all of that stuff? Shouldn't you just send it without all of that stuff and nonsense? Seems pretty wasteful.
I order the jewelry boxes from a company that swears up and down that they're recycled. The weird tissue paper is old sewing patterns, the ribbons are thrifted,the shredded paper is junk mail and old magazines, the plastic is used to protect the package and it's leftover from a local company and the thank you card is because I am SO glad that you shopped with me. I'm serious.
Come on...
No, for real. I'm always amazed when somebody buys something from me...like, I know I love it but you love it, too? That's probably the greatest compliment ever.
How come your stuff is all random and you don't have a series or a collection or a line? I saw a necklace that I loved once and then when I came back a day later there was nothing there that even looked like it.
I can't do it. I kind of look at each piece like I would a painting and it has it's own inspiration and it's own music and there's just not going to be anything like it because there shouldn't be...it's unique and individual, just like you.
You're totally making me blush.
Yay!
Ok, so one of your necklaces has a sparrow pendant and I KNOW I've seen one just like it at a local craft store. What gives?
I bought a bunch of supplies last year when I first came back to jewelry...then I realized I didn't want to use new supplies. I'm pretty sure that 95% of whatever I need is already out there...unfortunately, I had already bought all of that new stuff so I'm trying to make sure I use it all.
What's up with the gift tags in your store? How does paper tie into jewelry?
I use the cardboard box dividers from beverage deliveries to create my own jewelry tags...I love them. They turned out so great and I think the material is even better than recycled because it hasn't been re-processed at all. We get so much of this stuff that I figured I might as well put it to use.
Do you really believe in all of this environmental stuff or is it just a ploy to get more sales?
No...I'm really into it and I always want to be better at it. I'm always open to tips and suggestions because I know there are areas that I could improve.
So, were any of these real questions or were you just talking to yourself?
Totally talking to myself.
Cool.
3 comments:
Wow, you are great at interviewing yourself. These were the best FAQ ever!
I was going to write "the best FAQs ever" because that sounded right, but then I realized the Q is already plural, so writing FAQs would make it "questionses" and I would sound like Gollum...
This is the best set of FAQs I've EVER read. And I'd totally buy something from your store, but all the items I want are on hold for a photo shoot! That and after spending a hefty chunk of change for my birthday I'm not allowed to shop for a while *sigh*
This was really great! I am going to try this after i drink 4 cups of coffee. (or a glass of wine) let me know when you find that "eco-friendly" glue!
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