Important Notice

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success.

If you love what you are doing, you will be successful."

I started making jewelry because it made me happy; finding that hidden talent I had for so many years was truly wonderful! I started selling the jewelry I made because it was a nice way for me to continue this hobby that I love, and share my art with others.

Truth be told, I am not very happy doing this anymore. I love making jewelry,and I truly love when others share their joy when wearing the pieces that I have created for them. However, this has become tedious, and stressful; I've begun to dread it.

I do what I do because I love it, not because I have to. My love for making jewelry has turned into something it's not. I am not a postal service, and I am most certainly not a punching bag. Turns out, I've become these things whether or not I like it.

I want to get back to loving what I do. I want to sit down in my studio and create, with a smile on my face; the way it used to be.

That being said, I am taking some time off. A hiatus, and extended "vacation", a break; call it what you will. I'll be taking this time off to find that passion once again.

My Facebook page will be taken down temporarily, however my website will still be up and available for orders, though some items will not be available. Shipping fee's have already been adjusted and will now include insurance; tracking is also still available in the options (more details to follow).

My blog will be updated every now and than with my newest projects, etc. so make sure you check in every now and then.

Thank you for your patience and understanding through this time. If you need to get ahold of me, then you probably already know how to.

My loyal customers are always more than welcome to contact me at any time, for any reason!

In regards to the new shipping updates, yes, that means shipping has gone up. Melissa's Jewelry & Accessories will no longer provide shipping via "regular mail. My policies have stated since day one that I (MJ&A) am not responsible for lost or damaged items sent via regular post. This can be found on my Facebook fan page, my website, this blog, and a handy little link is posted at the bottom of every email I send out.

When I ship items out, I use a third party service. When you order from Melissa's Jewelry & Accessories, you are entrusting and paying that service directly, not Melissa's Jewelry & Accessories. Once items are dropped off at this third party postal service, that you've requested and entrusted your items to, I am no longer responsible for them. Once items are our of my possession, I cannot control what happens to it. It can get lost, damaged, and outright stolen.

Did I lose, damage, or steal your item(s)? No, but it is still somehow always my fault. If you read my policies, you would see that I've warned, and highly recommended customers to choose and request additional shipping features (tracking and/or insurance).

I have always done my absolute best to ensure excellent customer service; In doing so, I've replaced several lost or damaged items at my own expense, because customers have refused to purchase the additional shipping features I have available for them. I will not continue to be blamed for postal errors; This is something completely and literally out of my hands. At this time, the only way to avoid the problem all together, is to ensure that every package is shipped with insurance, and accounted for. The cheap, regular post option is no longer available here at Melissa's Jewelry & Accessories.

I am extremely sorry to everyone that this will inconvenience. It is something I've been trying my best to avoid, but I just can't anymore. Re-making lost/stolen, or damaged items, at my own expense, is not something I enjoy doing on my spare time, especially when I have other orders to fill, and other customers waiting or their jewelry. It's not fair to me, or them. The best way I see to avoid the problem, is to eliminate it completely.

Again, I do apologize to those of you who will be inconvenienced by this. I completely understand that $3.50 for shipping seems much more reasonable and convenient than the new rates, but this way we can all bee assured that all bases are covered.

In efforts to make these new rates seems less daunting, I have already slightly lowered costs on a lot of products on my website.

As mentioned above, my website is still open and accepting orders. I am not accepting custom orders until further notice. My facebook fan page will become unavailable sometime on Saturday, August 13th, 2011.

*Disclaimer

Please understand that I am only human! I do my very best to keep Melissa's Jewelry & Accessories running, by myself, while raising my daughter, tending to my family and living this military life. I am not perfect, and mistakes do (rarely) happen, especially  under stress. I am doing what I can right now to eliminate this stress, and get back to enjoying my work.

Excellent customer service is still my #1 priority.

Thank you to those who understand <3