Frequently Asked Questions

Since having any kind of online home for my jewelry is new for me, I thought it might be a good idea to answer some of the questions I get asked most often at shows.

First, do I make all this jewelry? Every piece is handmade in my workshop; I even cut a few of the stones I use.

Next, do I sell online? I'm working on it, and this is the first step in that direction. For now this is a place to put pictures of new pieces and new ideas. If you see something you like and want to buy it, all you have to do is email me at lanellet@gmail.com. Most items are one-of-a-kind, but something similar can often be made for you if I have the same type of gemstone in my stash.

Then, what is the jewelry made of? I work primarily in sterling silver, and occasionally add in copper or 18k gold. All sterling earrings have sterling earwires or posts, and I buy my silver from a company that uses no nickel or zinc in their alloy. This cuts down dramatically on allergic reactions, but if you are among that small group of people who still have "metal issues" I can switch them out for niobium or titanium (space-age metals that are ultra-non-reactive). The copper earrings all get the niobium earwires, and the gold earrings get handmade 18k earwires.

So, where do I get my stones? I cut a few of the cabochons myself, but mostly I get them from my dad, who is a very talented lapidary artist and has been for many years. For faceted stones, I turn to my dad and another artist, Bill Vance. I also belong to a local gem and mineral club, and many of the club members are fabulous stone cutters. When I buy stones, I take pains to buy from people I know because trust is absolutely everything in the jewelry business.

Where do I get my ideas? Ideas come from a lot of places, but mostly from looking at a stone's shape, color, and markings and deciding what type of setting will show it off to its best advantage. Sometimes I come up with a design idea and cut a stone to fit, but usually it works the other way around.