Where do the shells you incorporate into your designs come from? Is your process sustainable/ethical?

I personally find each of the Abalone shells and pieces that I incorporate into my designs. Each shell is foraged with love and care along the wild waters and shoreline of the California central coast. I find these precious shells I consider beings of their own in the tide pools, rocks, and sandy beaches of special spots I have developed a relationship with over the years. I am mindful to take only what I need and leave these beautiful places better than I found them through my love, devotional offerings, conscious footprint, and efforts to support organizations and human efforts that are stewarding our oceanic waters.

The baby Abalone shells are more rare, and can only be found in certain places, or so I have found. I feel grateful and a sense of pride to personally find materials that I use in my jewelry; it keeps me connected to a cyclical process of reverence, awareness and sustainability. Although I could certainly buy abalone pieces or shells for my jewelry, I love that finding them keeps me in connection with the beautiful places they are found, the magical energy of mama ocean and abalone that I imbue into each of my creations, and integrity with nature’s rhythms of boom and bust. I know the exact process that went into harvesting the abalone since I find them with my own hands, and know they were found ethically and with a process of devotional connection and listening.

How to care for your Spiral Sister Design:

Mini Abalone shells: The mini Abalone shells I incorporate into the designs are surprisingly sturdy, but they still can break, as they are natural, raw shells. Please handle your earrings with these precious shells with care and caution, especially earrings with the tiny Abalone shells. If one does break, you can send me a message with a picture. If I have matching abalone shells on hand, I am happy to replace the shell for a small fee if you pay for shipping to send your earring back to me.

• Do you polish the shells you find? I do not! All of them are naturally polished by mama ocean! I will sometimes lightly rub the mother of pearl shimmer part of the Abalone shell with a cloth and some natural oil like Jojoba or Coconut oil, to give the shell an extra shimmer and glimmer. You can always do this at home with your design as well.

• *The only modification I will make is that I will sometimes sand away an outer layer of mother pearl to make an Abalone piece thinner/lighter or expose a shinier inner layer. I will also sometimes sand away a shell to alter the shape of the Abalone pieces I find.

Metals: I use non tarnish Gold plated and Silver plated metals to create the hammered spirals. I do this out of mindfulness for cost (plated metals are more affordable right now, thus keeping my prices more in reach for people) and out of the love for a more raw look, and culture where, like all of nature, jewelry has a life of its own and can change over time. The top layer of metal is 14k Gold or Sterling Silver, the inner layer is Copper. The metals shouldn’t tarnish, but if you put a lot of wear and tear on them, the top layer could wear away to expose the Copper inner layer, in places.

Depending on the design, I use Gold/Silver plated or Gold fill/sterling silver ear wires. You can always request that I use Gold Fill/Sterling Silver ear wires for an additional cost, if not already part of the design. This option is great for sensitive earlobes or if you want to ensure the ear wire does not tarnish.

• Are the plated spirals water safe? Yes, they are. However, over time the plated metals may tarnish if you put a lot of wear and tear on them. I’ve worn mine in the rivers and oceans plenty of times, but I am careful to not do it all the time (especially in the ocean) so that I can preserve the top layer of gold/fill or sterling silver.

• Do you create hammered Spirals with Gold Fill or Sterling Silver? I haven’t yet due to the current high prices of these metals, and my desire to keep this design relatively affordable. However, I am certainly open to it! Send me a message and we can look into this option, if desired (: Price point will certainly be higher.

  • You can also request Gold Fill or Sterling Silver for an additional cost in our other designs, i.e. in the wire metal used to wire wrap, the hoops, etc.

• How to care for your Necklaces: I use 14k Gold Fill chain and Sterling Silver chain in most of my necklace designs. The Gold Fill and Sterling Silver chain I use is fairly dainty, and so it is recommended not to tug on it really hard, or it could break.

  • If you would like a less dainty chain, send me a message and I can use a thicker 14k Gold Fill or Sterling Silver chain for an additional cost.

Beads: All of our beaded designs are handwoven with seed beads and strong beading thread (usually Nylon or Polyethylene). The weave is durable; however, it is advisable to wear your beaded designs in water, sparingly. This is because water soaks the thread, but often the thread doesn’t dry very well as the beads are tightly woven together, preventing air flow. For this reason, I recommend wearing your beaded designs in water, sparingly (if at all), in order to protect the longevity of these handwoven creations. Note: With that said, I wear mine often in bodies of water and haven’t had any problems. It’s just an important note of caution with any handwoven, seed bead earring.

My conclusion is, wear in water at your own risk.

What you need to know about returns/exchanges/repairs:

• Returns: I accept returns within 10 days of the date you received the item, as long as the item isn’t damaged. You can send me an email or DM and a picture.

  • *I do not accept returns on Custom Designs.

• Exchanges: I am open to exchanges of equal value as long as the item is not damaged and you reach out to me within 10 days of the date you received the item. You can send me an email or DM. If I have available designs of equal value, I will let you know and we can discuss the potential exchange.

• Repairs: A previous question refers to the process of replacing a broken/damaged Abalone shell. For other repairs, if you send me a picture of the part that needs repair and how it was damaged, I am happy to repair it, if I am able to, if you ship it to me. If the damage was on my part (i.e. a faulty component or bead), I will repair it for free, but I might ask you to pay for shipping depending on where you live. If the damage was on your part, I may charge a fee depending on the extent of the repair.

Can you tell me a little more about your artistic process? What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability is deeply important to me, particularly the process of connecting with Nature and with all that inspires me while I create. In particular, bead weaving is an ancestral art that is meant to be creative, slow, prayerful, and a way of storytelling. I deeply love this dimension to what I create and it is my hope that the ombre of colors tells a story that inspires you, grounds you, and brings more magical connection into your life.

I know that while I am bead weaving, I feel this magic and engage in devotion to whatever I am telling a story about through the beads and patterns. I feel my Mayan abuelita ancestors as I weave, feeling this part of my lineage and the old ways of slowness, connection, and reverence that are in us all and deeply remembered by the land. I also approach the process of finding Abalone shells and the other natural materials I work with, like pine needles and other shells and stones, in this way (mentioned more in an above question on how I find Abalone). I am still learning and remembering always, approaching this journey with humility, honesty and grace for myself and others.

Another part of sustainability that I value is supporting local businesses as much as possible when it comes to sourcing my materials. I buy almost all of my beads, metals, and crystals from a local bead store, Beads by the Bay, in Morro Bay, Ca. Susan, the owner, is the best!

Lastly, I value giving back to organizations and people that are working to restore, heal and steward the land and waters where I live and find Abalone. As well as healing-centered causes in general, especially those in the BIPOC community. I aim to support these organizations with raffles, donations, volunteering, etc. I am always looking for more ways to give back, so please reach out if you know of any aligned causes. I am still a fairly small, growing business so I haven’t been able to do this yet, but it is my goal to donate a percentage of my annual sales to such organizations, as Spiral Sister Designs grows and evolves.

• Check out some of these organizations and their important visions:

  • Local Landback Initiatives

  • Providing our next generation with Nature connection experiences

  • Endangered Abalone Restoration

  • Kelp Forest Restoration

Do you do Customs?

I do!!! Customs are one of my favorite parts about creating, especially if it is for a meaningful gift, big life event, rite of passage, etc. You can refer to the Customs page or send me an email/DM with what you have in mind.

Customs typically take me 7-30 days to complete, depending on my work load. I request a deposit to secure a custom, and will work with you until the custom is to your liking.

Do you do Wholesale orders?

I do!! Please reach out via email or DM to inquire. I love to find aligned shops and places where Spiral Sister Designs can thrive and be happy (:

Do you do events, workshops, or classes?

Yes! I regularly teach bead weaving and basketry classes in Morro Bay, CA. Check out Estero Bay Arts and Crafts to see current offerings in their “Learn and Do” section for Adults.

I also teach and mentor locally with a nature connection education program for children and teens. I am offering a couple week-long camps for youth this summer focussed on ancestral craft, young women’s empowerment, and music in nature. Check out Outside Now for more information.

It is my vision to start offering various retreats and workshops, locally and afar, in collaboration with other sister friends of mine. Please reach out if you’re interested in collaborating or learning more. You can also sign up for the Newsletter below or stay updated on Instagram, where I’ll be sharing more as the vision unfolds and evolves (: