JPY
Many people dream of creating their perfect piece of jewelry. You might have colors you adore, a pattern you’ve been imagining, or even a completely new style in mind. That’s the magic of a custom order — it becomes a one-of-a-kind treasure that no one else in the world will ever own. オーダーメイドのカスタムジュエリー, or custom-made jewelry, carries your heart, your style, your story. Each piece of ニイハウシェル (Niʻihau shell) jewelry is designed with aloha, turning your vision into something you’ll cherish forever.
If you’ve been dreaming of ハワイアンジュエリー (Hawaiian jewelry) that feels personal and special, maybe now is the time to bring it to life. ❤️
Respecting Creativity
When customers contact me, many times they’ll send pictures along with their request. I always explain with aloha: yes, I can create something similar, but never exactly the same. And sometimes, I simply have to say no. I don’t copy another creator’s design — out of respect for their hard work and creativity. Most of the time, my customers truly understand this and even thank me for being honest.
I’m always grateful for every custom order I receive. Many of those who start with one custom piece often become long-time customers ? That trust means everything to me. But here’s what really happens behind the scenes of creating ニイハウシェルジュエリー (Niʻihau shell jewelry)…
Behind the Scenes of a Custom Order✨
The very first step is double-checking my inventory before I can even say yes, I can create that for you. Finding the shells in the exact color and size is not always easy. ハワイ貝殻ジュエリー (Hawaiian shell jewelry) depends so much on size, color, and quality. With a custom order, I must be sure I have enough shells in the right shades and sizes to finish the project.
Once I know I have what I need, the next step is lots of back-and-forth with the customer. Emails, pictures, questions, confirmations… sometimes it takes many messages, I mean many...lol, before we finalize everything. That’s how it goes when you’re doing your very best to create 手作りハワイアンジュエリー (handmade Hawaiian jewelry) that matches someone’s dream.
And here’s the truth — you think you have enough shells, until you start working and break a few in the process. Suddenly you’re in trouble, and now you have to dig through every box of shells, hoping to find just a few more to match.
Small vs. Big Projects
Here’s the part customers may not always think about ➡️ When I start working on smaller custom orders — like earrings or a tiny pendant — it’s usually much easier. Not too much can go wrong with something small.
But bracelets or necklaces? Ahhh, that’s where things can get very challenging ✨ With bracelets, I almost never run into trouble I can’t figure out. But leis or necklaces — that’s a different story. You might be stringing along a necklace, 18" long with Kahelelani shells, and you’ve already made it 9–10" in. Then suddenly — oh no. A shell back at the 5" mark broke.
When that happens, sometimes you can carefully undo the string and continue. But many times, you have to start over completely from the beginning. That’s no fun — you almost want to cry T_T My husband knows the sound by now. The moment he hears me say, “oh no, oh no!!!” from my workbench, he knows exactly what happened.
And of course, whenever you take a necklace apart, more shells break along the way. Which means… back to searching for more shells. Can you imagine if you can’t find the color or size you need? That’s the kind of challenge that comes with long custom orders in カスタムジュエリー.
✨ Custom orders always begin with so much excitement, but they also come with real challenges behind the scenes. If you’re curious about the next steps — the hidden calculations, the commitment I give to every piece, and why I still say yes even when it’s stressful — you’ll love my follow-up post.