About this Product
Sterling silver sand dollar ring that I named "Day at the Beach". The pure brass sand dollar rests on a wide band of sterling silver that has been textured to remind of a lovely sandy beach. The band measures 5/8" wide (16mm), and has been oxidized to bring out the detail.
I love beachcombing, and nothing delights me more than finding a perfect, unbroken sand dollar. I made this ring to celebrate those perfect beach days with deep blue skies, a warm breeze and soft, warm sand. If you can't spend the day at the beach, at least you can bring a little bit of it with you!
Copyright Notice: This original design, descriptive text, and all photographs are © 2008 Cheryl Van Dyck and Lavender Cottage Jewelry
Lavender Cottage Jewelry
Meet the Maker
Lavender Cottage Jewelry is a "cottage industry" started in my own little cottage-style house built in 1935. I settled on the name Lavender Cottage because of my love for growing lavender. The workbench in my basement studio faced a door into my garden, looking out on my favorite rugosa rose, Moje Hammarberg. She was the inspiration for my rose jewelry collection. I have just moved to my dream location in southwest New Mexico, the "bootheel" region. I now look out on beautiful mountains to the east and west - just perfect for sunrise and sunset inspiration. A new garden is under way, and there will soon be roses and lavender among the beautiful prickly pears and mesquite trees.
My passion for art began as a six-year-old growing up in Chicago. My mother was an art student, and I was fascinated by her oil painting and jewelry projects. Trips to Chicago’s fabulous Art Institute came often, further instilling the love for art that would become a constant in my somewhat strange career path ranging from horsewoman, freight pilot, innkeeper/chef, and computer programmer before finding my passion for making metal jewelry. Our family’s organic garden and frequent camping trips created my love for nature, especially flowers and rocks, which find their way into much of my work.
My jewelry skills are mostly self-taught, and after starting with natural stone beads and wire, I quickly found a passion for moving metal with hammer, saw and torch. The beautiful shapes and textures that can be accomplished through these simple tools are nothing short of amazing.
Each one of the pieces in my shop is made by hand, including jump rings and clasps. Metal pieces are fabricated by hand using a jeweler's saw, multiple hammers (you can never have too many hammers) and my wonderful acetylene torch. The beads, cabochons, gems and metal charms that I use are lovingly gathered from sources all over the world. I'm addicted to collecting cabochons, and I love vintage brass stamped charms - another addiction, and you'll see them in many of my mixed metal pieces. Metals used in my jewelry include fine silver (99.99 pure, and less subject to tarnishing, but softer than sterling), sterling silver, copper and brass, as well as 14 and 18kt gold. Recycled metals and conflict free eco-friendly stones and gems are always used if at all possible.
Shop Policies
Thank you for visiting Lavender Cottage Jewelry! Each piece of jewelry is made to order completely by hand, just for you. I am a one-woman shop, so my production time will vary according to how busy I am. My normal production time is 5 to 10 business days, depending upon what you have ordered. I am always happy to work within your deadlines if I can - please don't hesitate to message me if you need me to rush your order!
SHIPPING: All items are carefully packed, ready for gift giving. 1st Class mail generally arrives within 3 to 6 days after shipping. Priority Mail generally arrives within 2 to 4 days after shipping. It may take up to 24 hours after shipping for tracking to update. I guarantee and insure all of my shipments.
How much does shipping cost? I use flat rates to cover the actual cost of the postage, since my packages generally weigh 4 ounces or less. FIRST CLASS SHIPPING IS FREE TO THE UNITED STATES.
Refunds and Exchanges: Your happiness with your items is my main concern. If there is a problem with your purchase, please let me know within 7 days of receipt. I will happily change/fix the item, issue shop credit, or exchange it for another piece. (Since my items are custom made to order, it is not my usual policy to give cash refunds.) My work is always guaranteed for life, and I stand behind its quality and durability.
There is no charge for repairs if there is a workmanship defect in the piece. Design or finish changes are subject to possible charges for materials/labor if requested changes require more than minor adjustments.
Note on ring fit: Many of my designs have wide bands, or are multiple band stacking sets, and these need to be a larger size than a single narrow band. I take this into consideration when making your ring and will adjust the size according to how wide the band is. Be sure to give me your narrow ring band size. I also guarantee the fit and comfort, and will adjust the size if necessary at no additional charge if you find it to be too tight, or not comfortable after trying it on. If size adjustment is needed, the purchaser pays to ship the ring back to me, and I pay to ship it back to you after the size adjustments are completed. Of course, the goal is always to have a perfect fit to start with - if you are unsure of your ring size or need help figuring it out, just let me know by sending me a message!
Copyright Notice: All jewelry designs and jewelry piece photographs on this website are © 2008 by Cheryl Van Dyck and Lavender Cottage Jewelry. All Rights Reserved. Do not use photographs or designs without express written permission of Cheryl Van Dyck.
