Answers to the questions I am asked most often about handmade and custom jewelry. If yours is not here, send me a message and I will answer it personally.
What is K. Carter Jewelry and Crafts?
K. Carter Jewelry and Crafts is a handmade jewelry studio run by Katrina Carter in Newport News, Virginia. Every necklace, bracelet and pair of earrings is made by hand, one at a time, in her home studio. She also makes custom pieces to order and repairs or restyles jewelry people already own.
Where are you located, and what areas do you serve?
The studio is in Newport News, Virginia. I work with customers throughout Hampton Roads and the Tidewater area, including Hampton, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Williamsburg, Yorktown and Poquoson, as well as Richmond. I also ship anywhere in the United States.
What kinds of jewelry do you make?
Necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and handmade crafts and mixed-media keepsakes. The work falls into a few families: wire-wrapped and wire-formed pieces in copper, silver tone and gold tone; crocheted jewelry such as teardrop bib necklaces and lace earrings; and beaded designs using glass beads, stones and pearls.
How do I buy something from the collection?
There is no checkout on this website. Everything is handmade one at a time, so you tell me which piece caught your eye through the contact page, and I will confirm whether it is still available or make something like it for you. I handle every order personally.
Can I order a custom piece of jewelry?
Yes. Custom, made-to-order work is a large part of what I do. Tell me what you have in mind, whether that is a color, a style, a piece you saw in a different length, or a moment you want to mark, and we will work out the design together before I start.
How long does a custom piece take?
Most custom pieces are ready in two to four weeks from the point we agree on the design. Simpler pieces can be quicker and more involved work can take longer. I will always give you a timeframe before I begin.
Do you repair or restyle jewelry I already own?
Yes. I repair broken or worn jewelry, and I also rework and restyle existing pieces into something you will actually wear again. This applies to handmade pieces and shop-bought ones alike. Send me a photo through the contact page and I will tell you what is possible.
Do you ship?
Yes, I ship anywhere in the United States. If you are local to Hampton Roads, pickup or local delivery can usually be arranged instead. Shipping is worked out with you when you place your order.
How much does a piece cost?
Every piece is quoted individually, because each one is made by hand and no two are the same. The price depends on the materials, the size, and how long the piece takes to make. Ask me about anything in the collection and I will give you a price straight away.
Is every piece really one of a kind?
Yes. Everything is made by hand, one at a time, so no two pieces are ever exactly alike. Even when I make something in the same style twice, the wire sits differently and the beads fall differently. If you want something nobody else has, that is rather the point.
What materials do you use?
Mostly copper, silver-tone and gold-tone wire; crochet thread and yarn; glass and stone beads; pearls; and leather-look cord. If you have a preference, or a sensitivity to a particular metal, tell me before we start and I will work around it.
Do you make gifts and matching sets?
Yes. Matching sets, such as a necklace with a cuff and earrings, are one of the more popular custom requests, and handmade pieces make good gifts for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. Tell me who it is for and roughly what they like, and I will help you choose.
Still have a question?
Every piece I make starts with a conversation. Get in touch and tell me what you are looking for, and I will get back to you personally. — Katrina