FAQs
We hope this answers some of our most commonly asked questions, but if you do have a question that isn't answered here please feel free to contact us via this website or email and we will aim to respond within 24 hours.
How can I be sure that you are using my inclusions?
This is a relationship based mostly on trust. From the moment you send your inclusions to me they are securely labelled. I work on one order at a time and your piece will stay with the labelled inclusions until they are packaged in your pre-prepared box. Each clients’ inclusions are marked with their name and address, plus their order number. Each client is an individual and having lost four babies and my father myself, I fully understand the importance of treating every piece with the utmost respect, love and attention it deserves. I feel extremely privileged to be invited to create these special pieces. I take my reputation and my integrity very seriously.
Please contact me at any stage if you have any queries at all.
How do I send my inclusion?
Following your order, you will be sent an inclusion kit, which is sent out 1st class with Royal Mail which will usually arrive within 1-3 days, during busier periods e.g Christmas/New Year these time frames can be longer. Kits are sent out same day if you order before 12pm. After 12pm kits will be posted the next working day - excluding weekends and bank holidays.
For breastmilk inclusion kits, this will contain a tube for you to send 5ml of breastmilk. For other inclusions, you will be sent a small tub. The kit will contain full instructions.
These kits can include a ring sizer if you are unsure of your ring size (please return in your inclusion box), or one can be purchased separately.
You can email me with your order number and confirmed ring size if you requested a ring sizer in your breastmilk collection kit.
The inclusion kit is a large letter size box, please open this box carefully as you will need to reuse the box when you return the kit to me.
You are responsible for the return postage of the inclusion pack, it is recommended that you send this back tracked, however this is your choice. We include a return label to be used on return, this is not pre-paid.
Once we have received your inclusions safely we will send an email to let you know. Sometimes emails from me can end up in your spam folder so check there if you think you should be expecting some form of communication from me.
Kits can take 7 working days to arrive with me depending on the postage chosen at the post office.
Please don’t worry about your breastmilk during transit, it will be fine.
Also, please be aware that you must accept full responsibility for posting your own inclusions to us and accept that should they go missing, Beyond the Bluebell are not liable in any way.
You can send your inclusions directly to us without a pack. Please place a small amount of inclusion (see below for more details on amounts) into a suitable container and label these clearly with your name and order number.
How much inclusion should I send?
Breastmilk:
The minimum amount to send is 5ml in the inclusion tube (approximately a teaspoon).
The milk can be frozen or fresh.​
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Ashes:
Please place a small amount (around a teaspoon) into the small inclusion jar and named bag.
This will be more than enough to make 5-6 pieces of jewellery. Any ashes that are not used in the jewellery making process will be returned to you.
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Locks of Hair:
Hair can be any length, around 1-2 toothpicks wide. If the hair is very fine and separates easily you can bind it together with hair spray and then place into the inclusion bag.​
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Flowers:
Flowers or petals must be dried and pressed, Please put them in between some piece of kitchen roll or tissue paper and in a separate envelope to keep them flat.​
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Teeth:
We can use any kind of tooth. The tooth is broken down to put into your jewellery piece, but we do have some designs where the tooth can be kept whole if this is preferred.​
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Fabric:
Only a very small amount of fabric is needed, no more than 1"x1". Please don’t send the entire item. Place the small piece of fabric into the inclusion bag.​
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Pregnancy strips:
Please remove the strip from its plastic casing and pop it into the inclusion bag. Only the section of the strip showing the test result will be used.​
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Umbilical Cord:
Please place approximately a 1cm piece of dried umbilical cord in the inclusion bag.
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​Soil/Earth/Sand:
Please send approximately a teaspoon in the small inclusion bag.
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​Dried Placenta:
This should be in a capsule, one capsule will be enough for 5-6 pieces of jewellery.
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​Embryos:
We can encapsulate embryos either by cremating the straw and contents or by preserving the contents using our chemical preservation method which produces a light powder that can be combined with a colour in any of our designs. We can work with as many straws as you have left or would like to use.
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​Semen:
We can preserve a semen specimen using our chemical preservation method. The resulting powder can be combined with any colour in any of our designs. One specimen is necessary.
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​Blood:
Blood should generally be left to dry and we will use small flakes of dried blood within your piece.
Please do not send us the last of your inclusions. Always reserve some just in case.
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What is your current lead time and will I be updated on the progress?
Normally my lead time is 4-8 weeks from receipt of components. At busy periods however this may change. If a bespoke piece will take longer to create, I will endeavour to keep you informed of any changes.
Please allow up to 10 weeks from the date of us receiving your inclusion kit.
Many items will be ready before then, however as stated above, please allow UP TO 10 weeks. This is because of the handmade nature of the items, and many settings are ordered as required from an external source.
With bespoke orders, an indication on timescale will be provided when we discuss your design.
Although we are very busy all the time, I feel that good communication is imperative. I will send you photo/message updates along the way as well as a proof/detail check photo on completion.
International Delivery
We deliver to certain countries outside of the UK. Please contact us by email to check whether we can deliver to your required location. Orders to outside the UK may be subject to import duties and taxes. You will be responsible for payment of such amounts which are not set by us but set by each location. Please contact your local customs office for further information before placing your order.
What happens to my inclusions when you have finished?
Any ashes that are not used to make your jewellery are returned with your finished piece.
We store preserved breastmilk indefinitely, so if you would ever like to order another item using the same milk you can do, or if you lose or damage your piece we can use the same milk to remake and repair your piece. We always make a small sample up that we store alongside your milk to ensure the preservation has been successful. We cannot return any preserved milk or samples to you at any point sadly.
What happens if I lose my stone, or I break my setting?
At Beyond the Bluebells we understand how precious your keepsake jewellery is, and how upsetting it would be should you lose your stone. Like any jewellery, your keepsake piece is likely to suffer wear and tear over time, you may accidentally have it come in contact with a chemical, or may scratch or knock the stone out for example.
Understanding how important these pieces are, where possible I make a spare stone. This is often the case with rings as the stone is set within the ring. The spare stone will be sent to you, and you can keep it safely should it be needed in the future. Where this is not possible, which is the case with most charms, necklaces and some rings, I recommend you keep back some of your inclusion, e.g. your loved ones ashes or hair. This would enable the stone to be remade in the future. With milk, I keep the remaining preserved milk in case of failures with the product. In the unlikely event your jewellery becomes damaged and we are satisfied that all care instructions have been closely followed and it was through no fault of your own, we will be happy to make free repairs or, if necessary replace jewellery for anywhere up to 8 weeks after you receive your finished order. Past this date, all repairs will be charged and any replacements accordingly depending on the replacement required.
I can't find what I'm looking for.
Custom design requests welcome!
We entirely appreciate the sentimentality behind the many items we produce, and whilst we try to offer something to suit everyone we understand that sometimes, you may not see quite the piece you're looking for.
We are more than happy to work with you to create and source the perfect jewellery piece or ornamental keepsake to preserve your precious memories and in some instances can design and create keepsakes from scratch. Don't hesitate to get in touch to discuss your perfect piece, we will endeavour to design and create it with you and for you!
How does a gift voucher work?
When you order your gift voucher select the amount you would like to purchase and leave in notes at check out the following details:
To:
From:
(Optional: Message to be written on separate card to your gift recipient
The expiry date on all gift vouchers is 3 years from the date of purchase.
Gift vouchers are not transferable.
Please read carefully the expiry date as we are not legally liable to honour the expired vouchers.
More info here: https://www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights
•You can not purchase a gift voucher with a gift voucher
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