FAQ

Creation time varies depending on type of jewelry you have ordered and the current orders in queue.

Ready to ship orders without personalization: 1-3 business days to package and ship.

Made to order, custom/bespoke and personalized: 1-3 weeks to create.

Creation times may be longer during the holidays where many people are looking for something extra special to give to their loved ones. Shipping time is additional and dependent on the method you choose. If time is an issue, please contact me with your intended order items and I can give you a better idea at that time.

Yes, on a limited basis and with pre-approval. For Rush orders, I will send an invoice to your email address, as rush orders are not able to be submitted on the website at this time. Rush orders are required to have expedited shipping and may be assessed an additional fee. Rush orders are not eligible for return, exchange and/or refund with the exception of a mistake on my part.

Absolutely! Each piece of jewelry is packaged individually in a matte black cotton filled box and a business card is included with every order. Since so many people order gifts to be sent directly to their recipients, I do not include an invoice inside the package. If you would like a note included with the order, please let me know what you would like it to say during checkout and I'll take care of the rest!

Shipping timeframes vary depending on the method you choose. I currently ship USPS from Maine, USA; the following are typical transit time estimates for USA orders. (Orders shipping to Canada take longer as they need to cross the border and go through customs) Please note that the USPS does not guarantee their timeframes as weather and other unforseen events can delay a package:

First class mail: 5-7 business days

Priority Mail: 2-3 business days

Priority Express: 1-2 business days

Please note these estimates typically do not include the day I drop off packages. I ship First class mail packages twice per week on average in order to provide an economical shipping option. Priority Mail and Priority Express options include a VIP post office drop off the day your order is complete-so the package you need to have gets to you even quicker!

Yes, all shipping options come with tracking that you can use to follow the package as it makes its way to you. Rest assured that every piece of jewelry is packaged securely, and I insure every package to make sure it arrives safely at your doorstep.

Sometimes, tracking doesn't update as soon as we would like, or one of the hubs doesn't scan a package. I've had a lot of packages still arrive on time, even if the last scan was across the country! While individual scans are outside of my control, very, very few packages don't make it to their destination- in fact, I can count the total of "lost" packages in all my 7+ years making, selling and shipping on one hand!

I'm sorry to hear the package hasn't arrived and am happy to help you locate it.

First, have you received your shipping notification? If not, your beautiful jewelry is likely still in my hands being carefully crafted.

If you have received your shipping notification, has it been at least the max number of business days specified in the transit estimate above? If not, please use the tracking number provided in the email to see where it is in transit.

If it has been at least that long and the tracking is not updating, please use my contact form to send me a message and include your order number and tracking information. I will reply within 1 business day and will provide further steps and assistance in locating your package.

Rarely, despite our best efforts, a package cannot be located and we will need to submit an insurance claim. If this happens, I will be in contact with you to sign and submit an affidavit of non-receipt. Once the claim has been approved, I will be able to remake and reship your order. Please note that in the case of one-of-a-kind items, I will do my best to either recreate it as close to the original as possible or discuss further options with you.

At this time, I only ship website orders to the USA and Canada, though I plan on adding additional countries in the future. If you live outside of these countries, please contact me via my etsy store and I'll be happy to discuss shipping options.

Since I am an entrepreneur, I work many and varied hours. I do my best to respond promptly as long as I am in a place to do so. On average, slightly longer response times may be experienced during the weekends, federal holidays and school vacations. That being said, there are many times where I am reaching out to people or working on orders late into the night or very early in the morning. My flexibility provides the unique opportunity to give you the personal, attentive and knowledgeable care that you just don't see in a lot of big stores. You will never need to wait for me to "ask a supervisor"!

For any product that requires additional information not provided during checkout- like photos, handwriting, etc; I will reach out via email to request these. If you do not hear from me within 1-2 business days, I recommend checking your spam/email settings, but also feel free to contact me with your order confirmation number.

I accept custom orders on a limited basis. If you are interested in ordering a bespoke piece from me, please contact me with what you are looking for, your budget, any design constraints you’d like me to consider, when you need it by and where you are located. 

I believe in taking the time to develop a true understanding and connection with each commission. Custom and bespoke orders should be considered an investment in combining your jewelry desire with my unique vision and purpose. I recommend a starting budget of $200 for custom work. With any bespoke order, I am happy to communicate along the way to give you “behind the scenes” in progress photos and updates that are a cherished and integral part of working with an independent artist.

I design jewelry for the buyer's/recipient's personal use only; by commissioning me, you understand and acknowledge that the intellectual property rights of and ability to reproduce these designs in whole or in part belong to and remain with me, Maria Lothrop.

On bespoke pieces especially, I work hard to combine your emotions, memories and connections with my sense of design and workmanship into memorable and unique jewelry. Out of respect for all artists, I do not honor requests to copy another jeweler’s work. If you would like me to consider incorporating select design elements that have been around for hundreds of years or more, I am happy to look at reference examples.

I know that many of the stones and crystals that find their way into our personal lives have sentimental and real value, and since I cannot replace those connections when a stone breaks, I prefer to use materials that I can source and replace. Since I take such care in picking out beautiful gemstones, I am sure you will come to love and make memories with the new ones as well.

At this time I do not accept old jewelry for melting, repair or re-purposing into new jewelry as I prefer to leave that to the refineries so I can spend more time forging personal connections with my clients and making beautiful jewelry that expresses the unique vision they value.

I do occasionally work with cremated remains of pets and human loved ones who have passed. Usually I need only a very small quantity- less than 1/4 of a teaspoon, and it should consist of very small pieces and dust as larger fragments will not fit within the jewelry.

When you order an item that has an option to have ashes placed within, I will email you specific instructions on how to package and send them to me. You may check out the USPS guidelines at https://about.usps.com/publications/pub139.pdf I do not accept remains that are sent to me without a current order.

Should the ash requirement guidelines be followed, there should be little if any ashes left over. They will be respectfully scattered locally unless otherwise noted in the order notes. If a large amount of ashes are sent, there will be an additional shipping and handling fee to be able to properly return them to you in accordance with USPS pub139. This must be paid prior to your order being shipped.

GossamerScapes jewelry is designed for and meant to be worn by adults.

While I take the utmost care in sourcing quality materials for my jewelry, I do not test it specifically for CPSIA compliance, which is required in the USA to ethically and legally sell children's products. In addition, my pieces are carefully crafted art jewelry and are best suited to those who are of an age to responsibly maintain, wear and store them.

All pieces may be wiped lightly with a soft, dry cloth. To ensure the longevity of your jewelry, do not store it in humid areas like the bathroom, on or near sinks, or wear swimming, exercising, bathing/showering or doing housework that involves water or chemicals. I recommend storing it in individual bags with tarnish strips after use. Do not use chemical or abrasive cleaners, as they can cause damage to some stones and finishes. Be sure to follow the "last on, first off" approach; always put jewelry on after all makeup, sprays, lotions etc. have been applied and are dry as the ingredients in beauty products may build up over time or alter the finish on your jewelry. If you have a question regarding a specific piece of jewelry, please contact me.

Some people notice after wearing copper or copper containing alloys that the skin where it has rested may have a slight green or gray color. Many times, this happens because the person’s body sweat and oils build up under the material and are more acidic in nature- and acids naturally clean oxides from metal.

First, this color change is cosmetic and easily removed with a cloth or tissue and some hand sanitizer (or alcohol wipes if you have them). Not everyone will have this reaction, and I’ve heard many anecdotes on people discovering that as they wear a piece regularly, this characteristic is minimized or goes away completely. If this is a concern, I recommend sticking to pieces that move freely as there is less chance of the heat plus dampness interacting with the metal. You may also wipe down the jewelry with a soft, dry cloth after you are finished wearing it and place it in a plastic bag for storage.

While rumors that “cheap” metal turns you green circulated in the mid 1900s, the truth is that copper is an affordable, amazing material that humans have been working with for thousands of years. Did you know that copper is one of the main metals added to gold and silver to increase its strength? Brass and copper are beautiful, expressive metals that allow artists to create wonderfully intricate and inspired pieces without clients having to take a second mortgage out on the house to own.

I work with a variety of rough, faceted and smooth semi precious gemstones and beads, polymers, metals such as brass, copper, aluminum, titanium (limited), sterling, argentium sterling, and fine silvers, silver filled and gold filled wire and sheet, wood, shell, glass and other materials as inspiration strikes. Materials used in any significant quantity will be listed in the description of each piece. I take the utmost care in responsible material sourcing and purchase recycled metal when possible.

In the United States, inches are typically used for length and diameter measurements. I will sometimes use metric (mm) for very small items or bead components where metric is the accepted standard. I frequently use common US coins (dime, nickel, penny, quarter) to give an idea of the approximate size. If you have any questions and cannot find a size reference, please contact me with a link to the jewelry in question and I will be happy to help.

The industry standard is as follows for necklace lengths:

Choker length: 12-14 inches

Collar/base of neck length: 16 inches

Princess length (just below collarbone, above bust): 18-22 inches

Matinee length (mid-bust): 24-28 inches

Opera length (lowest part of bust): 30 inches

Lariat or Rope (between bust and navel): 45 inches

Your mileage on the above measurements may vary depending on your body structure. As a generously endowed lady myself, I find I need to add 2-4 inches onto “standard” necklace lengths to get them to “fit right” and it inspired me to add an option of an extension chain to all the necklaces I offer. Now you have the flexibility to adjust your necklace with your wardrobe and other changes life may introduce over time.

Rings size can be one of the most difficult things to pin down- but it doesn’t have to be! Rings of the same size can fit differently depending on metal thickness, height, how many you are wearing, not to mention the body itself can change.

I recommend going to a local, reputable jeweler and they will size you for free- this is a service that all offer. Bring a note with the details of the ring you are purchasing so that they can size you as accurately as possible. If it is very cold or hot out when you visit the jeweler, be sure to give your body a few minutes to normalize inside before they measure you.

If your fingers shift drastically in size when they are hot or cold, I do have some small, soft plastic removable spacers and can include one in your order if you leave me a note. In this case, I recommend ordering at the larger end of your size spectrum and using the spacer when needed.

I accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, Diners Club debit and credit cards as well as Paypal.

I highly encourage clients to contact me with any questions about size, color, weight, etc. prior to purchase. Should a need arise where you would like to return or exchange a normal stock- unaltered item, I am happy to discuss this with you via email.

Purchases of pieces that have been personalized, classified as bespoke, altered/sized (in the case of rings) or have other custom elements are considered final; no returns/exchanges can be honored outside of an error on my part (despite my careful and constant care, I am only human and occasionally make a mistake).

Generally, regular stock returns are allowed for eligible items on a case by case basis and the return request must be submitted within 10 business days of the original delivery date as shown via tracking. Please contact me via email/contact form prior to the return to receive an RA (Return Authorization) number and further shipping instructions. Returned jewelry must be in new, unworn condition and include all packaging. Refunds are limited to the purchase price of eligible item(s) only, and may be assessed a restocking fee between 10-25%. Shipping and handling costs are non-refundable and are the responsibility of the buyer. I highly recommend purchasing insurance when you send an item back to me, as I cannot refund items that get lost or damaged in transit.

As long as the item is a regular stock item and does not have any personalization- absolutely! Return procedures apply; once I receive the item back in unused, new condition, I'll be in touch to set up the new shipping payment and confirm the size details.

All approved refunds go back to the original method of payment.