Art of Adornment

My tweets

2013-05-24T19:00:54Z

Thu, 17:35: I added a video to a @YouTube playlist http://t.co/jo2bxEJFzC Robot Chicken: Delicious Gummy Bears

New Product: Gothic Cat Cameo Black Velvet Pendant Choker

2013-05-15T01:00:07Z

Buy it: http://www.artofadornment.ca/catalog/valerian-gothic-cat-cameo-black-velvet-pendant-choker-p-713.html

Gothic Cat Cameo Black Velvet Pendant Choker

A large resin cameo of a white cat on a black background with 2 small sparkling dark emerald green Swarovski crystal rhinestones for eyes. Mounted in an absolutely gorgeous 2 1/2 inch (6cm) high antiqued pewter filigree setting, dangling from a band of 7/8 inch (22mm) wide black Swiss velvet by an ornate antiqued pewter bail and black Czech glass bead. Adjustable at the back with silver-plated hardware, or sterling-plated steel connector ends, solid sterling silver chain and solid sterling silver clasp. Clasp hardware made in USA. Although technically a choker, it has been designed to be worn slightly loose.

Fits Neck Size: up to approx. 15" (38cm), adjustable

Mental Candy - Live Radio Show

2013-05-14T19:07:41Z

Join us live Wed. May 15, 2013 @ 10-11pm CT on TMV Cafe's internet radio show Mental Candy, when shop owner Valerian will be talking with host Joan V. Tune in to TMVcafe.com to listen, and even use the chat room to post questions and comments and have them answered live!

My tweets

2013-05-13T19:00:53Z

Sun, 12:50: Did you know that you can shop for only matching coloured items by using our "Collections" menu? Try it out! http://t.co/ns0U1CtOj8

My tweets

2013-05-09T19:01:11Z

Wed, 12:38: You're going to Fantasy Island, and have the opportunity to be any any fictional character in the world... http://t.co/pBSFhCVOL1

New Product: Harlequin Victorian Frosted Cameo Drop Earrings

2013-05-07T01:30:06Z

Buy it: http://www.artofadornment.ca/catalog/valerian-harlequin-victorian-frosted-cameo-drop-earrings-p-712.html

Harlequin Victorian Frosted Cameo Drop Earrings

Gorgeous little bevel-edged resin cameos with black backgrounds and frosted white crystal faces (one left-facing, one right-facing) mounted in antiqued oxidized silver-plated brass Victorian style settings, dangling from glossy round jet black Czech glass beads with antiqued silver filigree caps. Connectors are rhodium-plated. Available with a selection of hook options. Settings made in USA.

Length: 2 1/4" (5.5cm), including hooks

New Product: Cesare's Cross Gothic Pendant Necklace

2013-05-05T21:00:06Z

Buy it: http://www.artofadornment.ca/catalog/valerian-cesares-cross-gothic-pendant-necklace-p-606.html

Cesare's Cross Gothic Pendant Necklace

A stunning unisex necklace inspired by the ambitious and deadly 15th century cardinal Cesare Borgia. An enormous and handsomely detailed late Gothic period style 2 1/2 inch (6cm) high antiqued pewter cross with pointed fluted ends, embellished with a blood red vintage oval Czech crystal jewel mounted on a diamond shaped antiqued silver filigree, and 4 tiny jet black Swarovski crystal rhinestones. The pendant hangs from a sturdy silvertone chain by an ornate antiqued pewter bail.

Length: approx. 24" (61cm)

My tweets

2013-04-29T19:00:46Z

Sun, 12:03: Lots of great sale items left! Up to 30% off select items. Grab a sweet deal before they're gone... http://t.co/UWTu88KS0n

New Product: Nocturne Gothic Venezia Black Lace Choker

2013-04-27T01:00:06Z

Buy it: http://www.artofadornment.ca/catalog/valerian-nocturne-gothic-venezia-black-lace-choker-p-711.html

Nocturne Gothic Venezia Black Lace Choker

An absolutely gorgeous black scroll motif venise/guipure lace applique choker adorned with jet black Czech crystal beads, an antiqued silver pewter bead cap, 7 black Swarovski crystal rhinestones, and a black vintage Czech crystal jewel mounted in a 1 1/8 inch (3cm) high ornate antiqued pewter filigree setting. Centre front measures 3 1/2 inches (8.5cm) high including bead. Adjustable with silver-plated hardware, or sterling-plated steel connector ends, solid sterling silver chain and solid sterling silver clasp. Setting and clasp hardware made in USA.

Fits Neck Size: up to 15" (38cm), adjustable

New Product: Gothic Cat Cameo Rhinestone Brooch

2013-04-24T22:00:10Z

Buy it: http://www.artofadornment.ca/catalog/valerian-gothic-cat-cameo-rhinestone-brooch-p-710.html

Gothic Cat Cameo Rhinestone Brooch

A sweet little resin cameo of a white cat on a hand-painted black background with two tiny black Swarovski crystal rhinestones for eyes, mounted in a 1 5/8 inch (4cm) high antiqued silver pewter filigree setting, which is embellished with 8 more tiny black Swarovski crystal rhinestones. Small locking bar pin on back.

Dimensions: 1 3/8" x 1 5/8" (3.5x4cm)

New Product: Victorian Gothic Rosegarden Black Lace Choker

2013-04-23T06:00:15Z

Buy it: http://www.artofadornment.ca/catalog/valerian-victorian-gothic-rosegarden-black-lace-choker-p-699.html

Victorian Gothic Rosegarden Black Lace Choker

Limited edition of 6. A very dark yet romantic band of 1 inch (2.5cm) wide black scalloped floral patterned lace embellished with 17 sheer organza ribbon roses, with alternating black acrylic beads set in the centres. Sparkling jet black Czech crystal beads with gunmetal (black nickel plated) filigree caps and gunmetal connectors dangle at the centre front. Adjustable at the back with a gunmetal clasp and chain.

Fits Neck Size: 12"-15" (30.5-38cm), adjustable

My tweets

2013-04-21T19:00:43Z

Sat, 22:17: For those of you who have been so patiently waiting, our sterling choker chain is back in stock, so you'll be able... http://t.co/tCiRH4pPPN

My tweets

2013-04-18T19:00:58Z

Wed, 13:15: Who would win this fight: Andrew Eldritch or Nick Cave?

New Product: Nocturne Belle Epoque Black Braid Choker

2013-04-14T23:30:13Z

Buy it: http://www.artofadornment.ca/catalog/valerian-nocturne-belle-epoque-black-braid-choker-p-687.html

Nocturne Belle Epoque Black Braid Choker

Inspired by French can-can dancers of the 1890's. A decadent band of 1/2 inch (13mm) wide silky braid scalloped with 3-strand swags of glossy black satin cord, embellished with a black and silver focal made from a vintage 1980's metalized acrylic button. A clear crystal rhinestone is mounted in the centre, adding to the sheen of jet black pressed Czech glass beads with antiqued pewter caps that dangle beneath. Connectors are rhodium plated. Overall width is approx. 1 3/8 inch (3.5cm), not including beads. Adjustable at the back with silver-plated hardware, or sterling-plated steel connector ends, solid sterling silver chain and solid sterling silver clasp. Clasp hardware made in USA.

Fits Neck Size: 12"-15" (30.5-38cm), adjustable

My tweets

2013-04-09T19:00:56Z

Tue, 02:48: New video! Cabaret & Burlesque style jewelry & accessories: http://t.co/bmIFk3zDlC via @youtube

My tweets

2013-04-06T19:00:55Z

Fri, 15:24: Online Marketplaces & Feedback: Why It's Important For You http://t.co/bwa8zX2YnG

Online Marketplaces & Feedback: Why It's Important For You

2013-04-05T22:24:43Z

So you're making a purchase on Ebay (or Amazon Marketplace, Etsy, or other marketplace or auction site) and as you're doing so you notice that next to the seller's user name is a number, or a percentage, or series of coloured stars. This is their feedback rating, the result of "votes" cast by previous paying customers, designed to show prospective customers how efficient and trustworthy the seller is. Nice feature, huh? Well, if you shop on marketplace and auction sites, it may be more important than you realize.

Trust and Risk
Shopping online means you're buying goods from people whose faces and storefronts you will probably never see. A high feedback rating, obviously, means that the majority of customers have been happy with the seller's service. Wouldn't you feel better making a purchase from someone your friends recommended highly, than some total unknown? Of course! Seeing that high rating left by real paying customers, like you, means less risk for the next customer. It's no guarantee something can't go wrong, but a very good indication that it won't (and that even if it does, the seller will very likely politely and efficiently handle the situation).

Reputation
Feedback is important for sellers too, because it establishes their reputation in the marketplace. When that reputation is good it gives them an edge over their competition, and their business thrives. When it's bad, they know they will have to improve their business in order to survive. And if they don't, they will eventually fail. In a sense, the existence of feedback "culls the herd", silently nudging out bad business from the marketplace site. And in some cases, such as Ebay, there are even penalties for insufficient feedback such as loss of listing fee discounts, lowered exposure in search results, and even restrictions on how many items the seller can list.

Thus for sellers, a high feedback rating is just as crucial as it is to customers, if not even more. So when "no news is good news" (nothing went wrong with the purchase), the seller should be entitled to the best possible rating. If something went wrong, did you talk to the seller and work something out? A positive outcome deserves a positive rating. If they refused to help or didn't respond, an unpleasant outcome like that deserves an unpleasant rating. Just remember to keep in mind things like distance (they may be in another country or state, so shipping time and rates vary) and language (they may not speak your language and are using a translator). Feedback is your chance to step up and be honest with the seller *and* other customers.

Community
But what if some of those paying customers didn't leave any feedback? What if something went wrong with their purchase and they didn't rate the seller accordingly? Or what if everything went right and they couldn't be bothered? And what if only 30%-50% of customers left any rating at all? Clearly, the answer is that the feedback rating you see would not be accurate. If you don't leave feedback for your purchase, you're skewing the seller's rating in favor of those who did. Quite frankly, without your high rating for an uneventfully smooth transaction, you're not telling the next customer that the seller did a good job. Without your low rating for a purchase gone bad, the next customer might be taken advantage of. And that customer could even be you someday. After all, do you memorize every seller's name that you buy from online? Probably not.

Time Flies
On many marketplace sites, there is a time limit for leaving feedback. In other words, you won't be able to leave any feedback after a certain window of opportunity has passed (for Ebay the maximum is 60 days). Depending where you shop, this time limit will be different. Therefore it's important to always leave feedback as soon as you know you won't need to communicate with the seller anymore. Take a few moments to visit the marketplace sites you shop at and look at your past purchases. There will usually be a link or button for leaving feedback beside the item, unless you have waited too long (on Etsy however there is no link, use the top right menu to go to the Feedback section).

In short, it is in your best interests to leave feedback for your purchases if you shop on marketplace and auction sites like Ebay, Etsy, Ebid, ArtFire, Amazon Marketplace, BluJay and many others. Feedback isn't just about punishing bad sellers for poor service, it is for rewarding and promoting sellers who practice good business. And most of all it's about you, the customer, spending your money safely and wisely.

Author's Note: If you shop on Ebay, you might want to read this detailed About.com article about Ebay feedback, there may be quite a bit about how it works and how it affects you that you didn't realize.

Author Elaine Barrick, writing for Art of Adornment ~ Victorian Gothic Jewelry & Accessories, also sells handmade Gothic jewelry and imported costume accessories on Ebay, handmade Victorian Gothic jewelry on Etsy, and "de-stash" craft and jewelry making supplies on Etsy.

My tweets

2013-04-05T19:00:59Z

Thu, 12:27: RT @littlemissrisk: Another old school baby bat photo from @ArtOfAdornment for #throwbackthursday http://t.co/kAN2iyk1GD

My tweets

2013-03-30T19:00:56Z

Fri, 21:39: Photo: Lola Frost by ~ArtOfAdornment Photo: Atratus Model: Lola Frost MUA: Dead Heaven Hair: Shade Louis... http://t.co/6TxFEZRgIF

My tweets

2013-03-28T19:01:00Z

Wed, 22:40: Photo: Gar�on on Flickr. Via Flickr: Photo: Atratus Model: Lola Frost MUA: Dead Heaven Hair: Shade Louis... http://t.co/Zh6OKL7tS3

My tweets

2013-03-22T19:01:04Z

Fri, 11:39: TIME TO CONFESS: Name one song, considered a classic in the Goth scene, that you (secretly?) dislike!

My tweets

2013-03-21T19:00:41Z

Thu, 10:52: Just for fun: name one wearable item that when added, could turn an outfit of all-black clothing into something unmistakably more Gothic.

My tweets

2013-03-15T19:00:53Z

Thu, 13:09: Video: “Anachronautical” Flair ~ Art of Adornment (by artofadornment) A short slideshow video highlighting... http://t.co/7J58LOETBk

My tweets

2013-03-12T19:00:46Z

Mon, 16:26: Hands up: how many of you have ever dyed your hair black?

New Product: Madam Muerte Gothic Lolita Skull Cameo Black Satin Choker

2013-03-08T23:30:10Z

Buy it: http://www.artofadornment.ca/catalog/valerian-madam-muerte-gothic-lolita-skull-cameo-black-satin-choker-p-709.html

Madam Muerte Gothic Lolita Skull Cameo Black Satin Choker

One of a kind. A fabulous Mexican "Day of the Dead" inspired black and white lady skeleton profile resin cameo in an ornate antiqued pewter filigree setting mounted on a band of 7/8 inch (22mm) wide black double-faced satin. Adjustable at the back with silver-plated hardware, or sterling-plated steel connector ends, solid sterling silver chain and solid sterling silver clasp. Cameo is cast from a first generation mold and is as crisp and detailed as it appears in the photo.

Fits Neck Size: 12"-15" (30.5-38cm), adjustable