4 Tantrum Thurdady 6/21/12

I think maybe it is because I haven't thrown a tantrum in a while, but I really have a great one for today!

I was contacted the other day by one of my old customers.  They had purchased a bracelet from me - over a year ago - and were very upset that the bracelet had broken.  I told her that is was well out of my warranty period, but that if she could send it to me I would do my best to try to fix it.  

So, she did, she sent it to me.  It was a simple bracelet - just stranded - and it was made with Swarovski Crystal and Silver Plated findings.  When I got it it was almost to much for me to look at.  The beads had been so encrusted with wear that you couldn't even see the sparkle.  The beading wire - was broken - and had been frayed in almost every section.  The clasp was actually being held together with a twist tie!

 

Now, I am very conflicted about the condition that I received the bracelet in.  Since I started selling my creations on-line I include a letter with each purchase that tells the buyer the proper way to care for your HANDMADE creation.  There are ways to clean Swarovski Crystals, ways to clean beadwoven and even how to clean the Silver parts of each creation.  When I received this bracelet I realized that this customer had literately warn the bracelet to death.  But, that also means that she wore it everyday....so I was very conflicted.  

 

I wrote her a note and asked her if she had cleaned it, she said she hadn't taken it off since she got it - except to fix it.  I told her that I wasn't sure if I could fix it, I would have to completely re-make it.  She wrote back to me with this (yes, I have her permission to tell you all of this).

  

 When I purchased this bracelet it was for my mother.  Her birthday was just a few days away, you see.  Then, the day before her Birthday she was killed in a car accident.  I was actually on my way over to give her the bracelet when the accident happened.  I decided to put the bracelet on and I was just unable to take it off after that.

Once I heard this I was unable to do anything but re-make the bracelet.  I actually re-made it with some 'stronger' wire and I added one Swarovski Crystal on the end for her mother's birth stone.  And then I sent it back to her.  I think the moral of this Tantrum is that you never know what has happened and what the situation is like, until you ask.  

For me, this was an eye opening experience and it was one of those times that I was proud of what I do.  Not only making the bracelet, but that I was open enough to try to fix it for her, and even to ask her what/why it had happened.  I will look at each of my creations differently now.  

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Here is today's newest listing, and it is fitting that it is from my Grandmother's Stash!  I just love these beads, but the earrings are my favorite.  They are shaped like little jars.....just wonderful!

Blue White Ceramic and Swarovski Crystals - from Grandmothers Stash

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Today I want to leave you with this quote;

You may be sorry that you spoke, sorry you stayed or went, sorry you won or lost, perhaps, sorry so much was spent.  But as you go through life, you'll find you're never sorry you were kind.

- Anonymous