About/FAQ

Osteal Blossoms

About/FAQ

Welcome! My name is Kayla. Osteal Blossoms is a one-woman-run business specializing in ethically sourced bone and taxidermy jewelry. 

WHAT DOES YOUR NAME MEAN?
Osteal; of, relating to, or resembling bone also: affecting or involving bone or the skeleton (osteoporosis? same idea, osteal is the word that comes from the prefix osteo-)

DID YOU KILL IT?
Never! Nothing is ever harmed or killed for the sake of my artwork. I use roadkill as well as spare parts that would otherwise go to waste. 

WHOSE TEETH ARE THOSE?
I don't know, but they are not ripped out of anyone's mouth without their consent. They are not from jails. They are not from the black market. Most of the time they come from dental schools. The buying and selling of human teeth is 100% legal, as they are not considered remains. (Human bones differ from state to state.)

IS IT NICKEL/LEAD-FREE?
Yes! All earring posts and ring bands are hypoallergenic. All necklace chains are stainless steel. I offer surgical steel posts for earrings, just let me know in the comments on your order and I'll switch them out before shipping! I also offer an upgrade for titanium hooks, you can purchase this separately.

CAN YOU USE MY TEETH?
Yes! I happily take custom orders, including jewelry made out of your own or your pets' teeth! Please use my contact page or email me at [email protected].

CARE INSTRUCTIONS
These items are made to last. However, I do not recommend wearing any of my jewelry while sleeping/swimming/etc. Water exposure may cause wear to the metals and sealants. Sleeping in them may cause them to bend or break.
I coat the metal findings in enamel so they don't tarnish, but if they do, I recommend soaking in 1 part lemon juice mixed with 1 part water for 20 minutes, rinsing cold, and buffing dry with a cloth.

SHIPPING
All items are shipped out USPS first class within 1-4 business days. Shipping times for the US is 2-5 days. I am not held responsible for shipping delays that are out of my control. Everything is packaged and shipped very carefully due to the nature of the items I use. On the off chance that anything arrives to you damaged, please contact me immediately. If an item is lost in transit by the shipping company, or marked delivered and has not shown up, I will not send another package unless you have purchased shipping insurance. I apologize for any inconvenience, but I cannot cover the cost of a lost item out of pocket. It is HIGHLY recommended you purchase the insured shipping option at checkout. Uninsured packages ship free in the US, and there is only a small upcharge to have it insured. Rates differ by items ordered and shipping location.


BIRDS
The only birds I handle are sparrows, starlings, and pigeons. It is unlawful to handle most birds even if they are found already dead due to the MBTA. The Act makes it a federal crime to “take” birds or bird parts, including feathers, or to kill birds without special permission from the Secretary of the Interior.  The MBTA also prohibits any person from using bait to take migratory birds, or for someone to hunt in areas they know or reasonably should know are baited. Please do not contact me about bird-related commissions unless it is a species listed here.


INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING
I will not be replacing items lost in international shipping unless you have purchased insured shipping at checkout. I apologize for any inconvenience, but I cannot cover the cost of items lost by USPS out of pocket. I ship mouse parts, human teeth, denture teeth, and other domestic animal parts world wide. I cannot ship raccoon, snake, coyote, etc. pieces worldwide because it is against the law. Thanks for understanding. Legal-to-ship species below.