FAQ

  • What does ViVa mean? ViVa combines the first two letters of my nephew's (Vincenzo/Vinny) and niece's (Valentina) names. They are two of the most important people to me, and being an aunt to them is something that brings me more joy than I can ever express. When my thoughts get dark, it is the thought of them that pulls me back. It made sense to name this venture after them.
  • Where do you get your charms? I get charms from various places, both online and offline. I will always be open and honest about using certain sites. I don't just buy any charms, I am very intentional and specific about what I curate. I think about what people would like, what would make fun/cute/unique earrings, I search for specific things, and I have a running list of ideas. In addition, as someone who is currently focusing on their mental health, I sometimes need to make the choice to seek in places that is going to bring me the least amount of stress (such as Temu). I can promise you though, I will never take shortcuts when making my earrings. 
  • Do you make any of your charms? Not from scratch. However, I use objects that aren't marketed as earring charms (e.g. a bag of dolls heads) or that I need to spend a little more time assembling (e.g. LEGO Pride flag earrings). For everything else, I carefully consider what needs to happen for the earrings to turn out just right (e.g. how deep should I drill? Does it need glue? Which way should the hook face?)
  • What about the 3D printed stuff? I do not have the space, funds, or patience to take up 3D printing, lol. What I do is buy a bulk of already 3D printed items I think would make cool earrings. This comes at a risk to me, because what I buy is random. I have to go through looking for pairs that match (or work well together) and often I am only able to get a handful of earrings out of 50-100 3D printed items.
     
  • Are the hooks hypoallergenic? Yup! In fact I have to switch out a whole bunch after learning some hooks I bought may not have been hypoallergenic as described. I will not take any risks when it comes to safety. 
  • Do you only sell online? Nope! I also vend at bazaars and markets. In fact, I waited to launch this website until after my first time vending. I wanted to see how it went before making the leap! If you are in New England, check out the "Vending Dates" tab to see upcoming shows. Support local!