About this Product
Bright, fun, and sparkly! I came up with the idea for these earrings while we were on our last trip to Jamaica. I used aqua crystals, silver fish, and silver shells to make these beautiful earrings.
The earrings are 3 inches long, .75 inches wide, and they are very lightweight.
mmillsdesigns
Meet the Maker
Hi! I am Mary Staples Mills, the owner, and designer behind the mmillsdesigns name! I am 54 years old, I have been married to my best friend for 17 years as of May 2021, I have one older brother who lives overseas {no, he is not in the military}, my Dad just turned 90 this January, and I have lived in 5 states and Australia at one time or another in my life.
In the summer of 2004, I was looking for something new to do craft-wise. I have always loved photography, but I was looking for something different. A friend of mine had visited a local bead shop and told me about it. The next weekend I went with her to see what she was so excited about. It was amazing to discover this whole new world of beautiful beads. It was overwhelming to see so many beautiful beads, with so many unique colors, shapes, and sizes. Where do I even begin? How do I pick something out from so many choices? I decided to start by picking out textures, colors, and shapes that appealed to me and went from there.
I bought a few books on jewelry making and beading, used my color books from past art classes, took a few courses in bead shops, and began to design things for myself and wearing them regularly to make sure that I was making not only beautiful pieces but durable as well. Eventually, people started noticing the jewelry I was wearing, and they would ask me where I bought it. I told them that it was handmade by me, and I began to pass out my card to anyone who inquired about the jewelry I was wearing. I sold a few pieces, and people started contacting me to ask about my jewelry and custom work, and the rest is history. Because all of the beaded jewelry at mmillsdesigns is individually handmade, you are guaranteed a one of a kind, unique work of art, personally designed and crafted by me.
I have been away from my business over the last 16 months while fighting stage 3c breast cancer. In late January 2019, I found a lump in my breast, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer soon after. If you would like to read about my journey, I have been writing a blog to share experiences with others. I do not hold anything back when sharing my journey, so from time to time, there will be graphic photos with a clear warning in the title of the blog post.
My Cancer Story Basics: I was Dx at age 51 w/ ER/PR+, HER2-, IDC. I have had ACT, Rads, and I am on a 10 yr plan w/ HT, Anastrozole. My cancerversary is the date of Dx on February 25th, 2019. I have had a partial mastectomy, port-a-cath insertion, reconstruction w/reduction mammoplasty, and breast prosthesis insertion following reconstruction.
Shop Policies
Returns & Exchanges:
I do accept returns and exchanges.
Contact me within: 7 days of delivery
Ship items back within: 14 days of delivery
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can’t accept returns for:
- Custom or personalized orders
- Digital downloads
Return & Exchange Details:
I do accept returns and/or exchanges. Please contact me within 7 days of delivery. I will refund the purchase price of the item but the shipping charge is non-refundable. Any item returned must be in the same condition at time of shipment.
I take all my pictures in natural light. I do my best to photograph and describe items as accurately as possible. Please keep in mind colors may vary on monitors and in different lighting. If for any reason you are not happy with your order, please let me know. I want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase!
Shipping policies:
I usually mail packages within 1 to 3 days of your order; please allow extra time for weekends and holidays. Please make sure your shipping info is accurate before you place your order.
Shipping rates:
Domestic Shipping: Flat rate of $4.99; Shipped USPS First Class.
***If your package has not been delivered within a reasonable period of time, please contact me and I will contact the postal service and try to locate it. If I insured your package, which I usually do for orders over $50.00, I will file a claim for the lost package, it usually takes a few weeks for the claim to process. If the package is lost I will issue you a refund. If your order’s tracking number shows that your package was delivered to you, and you did not receive it, there are several steps you can take to try and resolve the issue. Your local post office should be able to tell you if the package was delivered to your address by looking up the GPS coordinates using the tracking number. If the package was stolen, you need to file a mail theft report. If your package was delivered to the wrong address, and they are unable to retrieve it, you need to file a claim with the postal service for reimbursement. If your package is returned to me because the post office was unable to deliver it for whatever reason, I will notify you and issue you a refund. While these issues are extremely rare, I want to have this information available if needed.***