Boardgame jewellery & dice for the girly nerds & likeminded souls
I’m Lava and I’m just a gal from Sydney Australia who cares about making dice and fun, hypoallergenic earrings (by hand) for your amazing ears!
My creative journey began early, with papercraft at the age of 7. Later, I made jewellery as a teen. After earning my Master’s in Design at UNSW, I launched a five-star wedding stationery business that I proudly ran for over a decade.
Motherhood and chronic pain stopped me in my tracks—but now I’m determined to create again! I love polymer clay & resin with every fibre of my being. There is something so special about creating something unique and wonderful from a slab of clay, jesmonite and resin. Even better is being able to see my art being worn by complete strangers around the world.
I'm fairly anti-AI so you won't see it in my product photos and I try my best not to use it in my workflow.
Wanna know where I’m from?
I was born in India, then grew up in Zealand (yup, I said "Fush n’ chups") and now I live in Australia.
I grew up with TV shows like The Simpsons, Friends, Seinfeld and Dawson’s Creek if you want to get a sense of my sense of humour. Shows I’ve enjoyed as an adult are 30 Rock, Parks & Rec and Schitt’s Creek. In my “spare” time (I have two little kids, so it doesn’t really happen), I love to read, watercolour, play board games, crochet & knit.
I’m a nanna at heart! I’m currently reading the Outlander series (again).
I'd love to connect and hear about you! Message or email me the things you'd like to see me make.
The below testimonials are from my previous wedding business, Lava Stationery. I’m hoping you will get a good sense of my character and work ethic from these words of praise.
“We couldn't be happier with the amazing service we received from Lava! The invitations exceeded our expectations and we are getting very nice compliments from our guests as they receive them! Lava was lovely to work with and very prompt to respond to our queries. Highly recommend this seller! Thanks again Lava!!!" - Dani, SA
“Lava is amazing. Her designs are beautiful and the quality of the product she delivers is second to none. My fiancé actually convinced me to use her services and we couldn’t have been happier. Lava has amazing communication which I know any bride will appreciate it, particularly in our case where we postponed 3 times due to Covid. She was so easy to deal with. Absolutely loved what she created for us.” - Beth, QLD
“Lava was really amazing, super helpful and talented and really easy to communicate with. Talking with Lava feels like talking with a friend. She makes it so easy and so stress free. We would highly recommend Lava” - Julie, NSW
“I have really enjoyed working with Lava to create stationary for my wedding. She is beyond amazing and I cannot recommend her work enough! Lava's professionalism makes the process enjoyable and everything she created has been of amazing quality. Lava captured the tone and style of my entire wedding beautifully.” - AnnMarie, NZ
“Lava was wonderful to deal with. The service was professional yet personable and always reliable. It was a stressful time organising awedding at a location 13 hours away, but Lava's vast experience & easy-going approach made a world of difference ! What a class act!” - Marina, ACT
“OH MY GOODNESS!!! I am blown away!! I knew they [the invitations] were going to be magical but they are truly truly a work of art! Please feel free to use them on your website as a guide to others because they sure deserve to be seen!! I knew straight away that working alongside you was so effortless and your kindness and generosity has not gone unnoticed. I will certainly be guiding people to use your services, I do not have one bad word to say about you, your products or anything! I'm a little sad my correspondence with you has to end. I will get back in contact for some 'order of the day programs' or 'thank you' cards etc. Once again we are flawed by your kindness, generosity and exceptional work! Thank you so so so much! All the best!” - Amanda, TAS
You’ve got beautiful earrings. Let’s keep them that way!
I make a real effort to only use high quality, stainless steel, gold, rhodium, sterling silver and titanium findings for your earrings.
The basics are:
- Keep them out of direct sunlight when not in use
- Do not expose them to saltwater If they do come into contact with water (did you forget to take them off before your shower?), please dry as soon as possible
- Give the findings a wipe every now and then with some isopropyl alcohol
- A plain baby wipe is also really great for wiping makeup off polymer clay, but if it’s stubborn you can use a touch of isopropyl alcohol too! Just be sure to wipe it off afterward.
Polymer clay is TOUGH but it’s not unbreakable… so do not bend excessively.
If your earrings contain any brass charms, they can be wiped with a baking soda and lemon juice mixture to keep tarnishing at bay.
Your skin is unique. All jewellery can naturally tarnish over time, regardless of the quality of findings.
It’s affected by a range of environmental and personal factors.
Exposure to pollution, humidity, and everyday products like moisturiser, hairspray, cosmetics, and perfume can all contribute to tarnishing or corrosion.
Even individual differences in skin pH can influence how quickly jewellery changes, making the process unique to each person.
Here at Lava Makes, I care very deeply about what you put on your ears and I want to make sure you get the best choice for your skin.
304 stainless steel is a type of steel known for its corrosion resistance and strength. It can contain up to 18% chromium and 8% nickel. It’s an excellent option for those with more sensitive ears, but be mindful if you have any allergies to nickel. It can be plated with silver, black, gold and rose gold, making it an excellent choice for more colours.
316L surgical stainless steel has even more hypoallergenic properties which make it an affordable and attractive option for earrings. It contains higher amounts of molybdenum (a trace mineral), creating more resistance to tarnishing. 316L surgical stainless steel has approximately the same amount of nickel as 304 stainless steel, which may not be suitable if you have a nickel allergy. 316L stainless steel can be plated with silver, black, gold and rose gold, making it an excellent choice for more colours.
Rhodium is a member of the platinum group. It’s a silvery-white metal which is resistant to corrosion and considered a rare precious metal. You will find that some of my stainless steel earrings are rhodium vacuum plated which give them a gorgeous, bright and shiny finish. My rhodium plated earrings also give that extra layer of hypoallergenic peace of mind.
Titanium is a very well known, silver-white metal used for medical implants and body piercings. It is non-toxic. I use Grade 1 Titanium, which is completely nickel free. It is incredibly hypoallergenic for those who have allergies with stainless steel findings. Titanium comes in a dark steel colour only with a dull finish.
Sterling silver is a precious metal with a higher price point but one that is incredibly hypoallergenic and resistant to tarnishing. It has a beautiful bright silver shine. It contains 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper. It is completely nickel free, but please be mindful if you have a copper allergy. Another thing to be mindful about, is that Sterling Silver is incredible SOFT. It is very malleable due to the high level of silver. It can dent and bend very easily.
14K Gold consists of 58.3% pure gold, and 41.7% of another metal alloy. I tend to use 14K gold plated with stainless steel most.
Who runs Lava Makes?
Lava Makes is run by ME, Lava! A solo woman who creates the earrings, designs the website, creates the content, runs the social media page, replies to comments and emails, packs and posts each and every order. Thank you for supporting this one-woman-show!
Where are your earrings and dice made?
I make all my earrings in my home studio in Sydney, Australia.
What is your processing time?
If something is in stock, please allow 1-3 business days to pack and post your order. Some semi-custom earrings require an additional day or two. Dice require 1-2 weeks, as I have to cast them, let them cure, sand, polish, ink and varnish. I am not only a small business owner but I have two small children who require a lot of time and attention.
What metals are used in your jewellery?
I use a variety of “hypoallergenic” metals, such as 316L Stainless Steel, Sterling Silver and Titanium. Some metals are plated with rhodium or gold. For more information on these metals, I've listed their qualities above.
How strong is polymer clay?
All my polymer clay is baked for a minimum of one hour to keep it as strong as can be. However if you try to bend it too far it can still crack. Please treat your beautiful earrings with love and care. Treat them like you would a piece of fine art.
How balanced are your dice?
My dice are as balanced as they can possibly be with regard to their handmade nature. They might not be allowed in a casino, but they're perfect for tabletop gameplay! I haven't yet had any feedback about them rolling inconsistently. I also do a lot of testing to make sure they roll well.
How do you work out your pricing?
My pricing is based on materials and time. Certain designs such as florals are more expensive because they require an immense about of time and skill. When you purchase one of my earrings, you can rest assured that you are supporting ethical business practices, ethical material sourcing and the local economy. Plus, you get to talk to me! A REAL person!
Shipping
I currently ship through Australia Post from Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Processing time after an in-stock order is placed is 1-3 working days. Please note that some semi-custom earrings have a production time of an additional 1-3 working days prior to shipping. Dice have a production time of 1-2 weeks. This is noted in the product description.
I ship Australia-wide and to these international countries: Canada, USA and New Zealand. If you’re in Australia, your parcel can take between 1-3 working days via Express Post and 2-6 working days via Regular Post to reach you (after I post it). All postal options include tracking.
Please note that Express Post is not a rush order service. It means I will send your earrings via Express Post through Australia Post. If you’re desperate for your order to be sent immediately, please get in contact with me first to make sure I can accommodate your request.
If you’re in another country, it can take up to 4 weeks for your parcel to arrive.
Returns
In-stock orders that have not yet been packed and shipped can be cancelled with no penalty
In-stock orders that have been packed but not yet shipped can also be cancelled, but with a cancellation fee
There is a no returns or exchange policy on earrings due to hygiene issues. Please choose carefully!
I will happily replace or refund your order if your earrings arrive damaged or they completely do not match the product description. Just send me a photo within 7 days of receiving your order! Please note that colour discrepancies will not be considered a reason for return. Monitor colours and different clay batches can slightly alter the colours. I do my best to represent the true colour of earrings on screen.
As you are purchasing a handmade product, there will be differences between each order. There are no identical pairs of earrings or sets of dice. Not all colours may be present in the batch of earrings you receive. You acknowledge this when purchasing from my store. If you are desperate for a particular colour combination, please check with me prior to purchase. I cannot fix this issue after you receive your earrings.
Metal Care
I do my very best to choose the best quality metals for your ears. I choose between a range of high quality stainless steel, rhodium plated steel, gold plated steel, sterling silver and titanium. If however you still receive an allergic reaction from wearing my earrings, I cannot take responsibility for this.
All metals can still tarnish over time so please take care of your metal findings to make them last as long as possible. For more information on how to care for your metal, please check out the “Jewellery Care” section above.
