FAQ

Where do you find all of your supplies? Like...you know...the beads and chains and disco dancing dragon buttons?

I'm a thrift store junkie. And an antique mall addict. And a garage sale stalker. If you've got old jewelry for sale and you live anywhere near me, I'll be there in 5 minutes.

Ok, but hold on...You claim to be all eco-friendly and environmentally concerned but you're probably driving around all of the time looking for stuff, choking everybody with your car fumes, right?

Ok, I lied. If you have old jewelry, I won't be there in 5 minutes. I try to do all of my scouting and shipping on one day of the week in an attempt to cut down all of the driving...so I'll be there on Wednesday.

I get that the pendants and chains are all kind of wired together, but some of those things look like you're using some sort of adhesive. How is that environmentally friendly?

I knew you were going to ask me that! Yes, I do use jeweler's glue sometimes. Unfortunately, eco-friendly glue isn't strong enough to hold things together...at least not any that I've tried. I keep looking, though. Whenever I can avoid using any adhesive, I do. I'd much rather wire and link things together if I can. In the meantime, I try to make up for some of that by giving a portion of my jewelry earnings to the World Wildlife Federation...er...Foundation...um...the WWF that's not involved with wrestling.

How much?

That's rude.

Not really...I mean, if you're giving a portion, don't you want your customers to know how much?

Right. Well, it's not a set amount. It's based on what I can afford. If I say 10% and then my refrigerator quits and I need a new refrigerator, I'm going to have to buy the refrigerator. But, you know...I'm shooting for 10%. I started donating in March and have been able to do the 10% so far, so that's a great thing.

Ok, so I read that you used recycled packaging like cereal boxes and stuff...that's weird, right?

Not really. A cereal box is still a box and they actually travel pretty well.

But the box that I got from you was pink and had stamps and hearts and dancing monkeys all over it and I've never heard of dancing monkeys cereal.

Because I paint the boxes just for you! Awesome, right? Non-toxic paint and all of that, too. Everything that I use, from jewelry components to shipping supplies, never leaves here unless it's cleaned, refurbished, re-invented and something that I would want to receive myself.

Ok, but there was some shredded paper and a plastic bag and a jewelry box and some weird tissue paper and ribbons and thank you cards...how come you use all of that stuff? Shouldn't you just send it without all of that stuff and nonsense? Seems pretty wasteful.

I order the jewelry boxes from a company that swears up and down that they're recycled. The weird tissue paper is old sewing patterns, the ribbons are thrifted,the shredded paper is junk mail and old magazines, the plastic is used to protect the package and it's leftover from a local company and the thank you card is because I am SO glad that you shopped with me.

Come on...

No, for real. I'm always amazed when somebody buys something from me...like, I know I love it but you love it, too? That's probably the greatest compliment ever.

How come your stuff is all random and you don't have a series or a collection or a line? I saw a necklace that I loved once and then when I came back a day later there was nothing there that even looked like it.

I can't do it. I kind of look at each piece like I would a painting and it has it's own inspiration and it's own music and there's just not going to be anything like it because there shouldn't be...it's unique and individual, just like you.

You're totally making me blush.

Yay!

Ok, so one of your necklaces has a sparrow pendant and I KNOW I've seen those all over the place. What gives?

I bought a bunch of supplies last year when I first came back to jewelry...then I realized I didn't want or need to use new supplies. I'm pretty sure that 95% of whatever I need is already out there...unfortunately, I had already bought all of that new stuff so I'm trying to make sure I use it all.

Do you really believe in all of this environmental stuff or is it just a ploy to get more sales?

No...I'm really into it and I always want to be better at it. I'm always open to tips and suggestions because I know there are areas that I could improve.

So, were any of these real questions or were you just talking to yourself?

Totally talking to myself.

Cool. 

Copyright Jessica Benassi, Hey Lola, 2003 - 2009