Contact Us and FAQs
I have had a somewhat unusual route into silversmithing and jewellery making!
I did my first degree in Psychology at Birmingham University and then went on to do an MSc at Leeds. I worked for about 12 years in the NHS, primarily with people with drug and alcohol problems. At that time I had just started doing some work with beading, inspired by Janet Coles lovely designs.
When I had my children I did freelance training/research for a while then started a PhD in Art and Music Therapy with learning disabled people. At the same time I was learning to trade stocks and futures and all my creative energies were used up. After the PhD and when my stock trading had settled down into being just a routine, I began to long to do something creative once more and enrolled in a silversmithing course with a wonderful Jeweller and Silversmith called Deirdre Wolgar. I am still learning from her and designing and making my own silverwork and beaded jewellery
My design philosophy is, that as with cooking, you should use the best ingredients and let them speak for themselves. Touching jewellery and putting it on should be a sensuous experience as well as a visual one. I like simplicity in design and jewellery that is practical to wear, there are few things more irritating than getting necklaces, earrings and bracelets caught up in your jumper or hair!
Contact me
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why don't you have your address or telephone number on the site?
A: If you look at the passport on the front of my main site www.stonesandsilver.co.uk you will find my contact details. I do prefer contact by e-mail however, as I can choose when to to answer, it is very difficult to stop to answer a phone call if you are in the middle of making something!
Q: Can you make up jewellery to different specifications?
A: Yes, please ask me for a quote. I'm always happy to make designs in your birthstone(s) or for a particular anniversary etc. Just ask for a no obligation quote.
You can see some examples of work I have done in the past over on www.helenquenet.co.uk.
Q: How soon do you deliver jewellery?
A: Normally (apart from during holiday periods when the date of return will be clear on the site) items will be sent out the next day by Royal Mail Special Delivery Next Day Service,or first class recorded delivery.
The website should always be up to date on whether items are in stock or not. If for some reason you order and an item is not in stock I will contact you as soon as I can. It may be possible to have a similar item made up if you would like.
Q: I'm having problems using the site what do I do?
A: Please contact me by e-mail: helen@stonesandsilver.co.uk
Q: What types of payment do you take?
A: I use Paypal and Google checkout as well as cheques/bank transfers and postal orders, so hopefully there is one payment method you trust there :) I use the very well respected and highly secure Romancart software gateway for payments on the website.
Q: If I order from you what about my privacy?
A: At no time will I ever disclose your personal details to another company, individual or website. It's just not something I would ever do.
Q: Do you offer a guarantee?
A: I am so confident that the jewellery I make and sell is of very high quality (and that you will love it!), that at any time during the first 6 MONTHS of you buying an item from me you can return it to me (in as new condition) and I will refund the money you paid for it (excluding any postage and packing costs). The only exception to this, is for chains and thongs, which because of wear and tear issues are not covered by the guarantee, although I am usually able to repair chains for you. There's no catch and no quibble. I would ask that before you order anything, you check the sizes given with a ruler and make sure that these are what you are hoping for. Check your ring size and the thickness of any chains before you order, one of the most common problems I encounter is "wishful thinking", hoping that something is bigger than it actually is, I always give accurate sizes on the site.
Q: How do I go about returning items?
If an item requires changing or is faulty please e-mail me to let me know BEFORE you send it back. It is important all returns are sent by Recorded/signed for delivery to ensure I know they have been posted and if they go missing they are trackable.
Q: Do you do jewellery repairs
A: Yes for silver jewellery but not for gold or other metals. I can also remodel/recycle jewellery for you. Please e-mail