• Returns - only accepted when the item is not what was ordered.  The item MUST be returned in the SAME condition it was sent in, must be returned clean and not smelling like cigarettes or other offensive odors, torn or damaged.  This will create a situation where the product cannot be re-sold.  Also, every item that is made, is made with TLC, and inspected again, to be sure that there are no imperfections.  Online orders are inspected a 2nd time, prior to shipment.  Local pickup orders are again inspected, but it is up to the client to determine their satisfaction upon pickup.
• Upon canceling an on-line order that has not yet shipped, there will be a 20% cancellation fee, with a minimum of $25.00.  With special requests/custom orders where a down payment is made to start the job, there will be no refund.
• Cancellation of a special order forfeits the return of your 50% deposit and payments made to date.
• Rush Order cancellations of a special order or alterations, mending, and all other sewing work - customer forfeits their complete payment - If customer decides to cancel, any materials the customer provided will be returned if they pay for return shipment, unless already used in the start of the project.
• Cancellation of a custom/special order, once the project has started or been completed, there will be no return of deposit or any and all materials, dolls, etc., in order for Laura to recoup her costs.
• Completed custom orders where customer refuses to pay for services, where quality services were provided, according to the agreement - no return of deposit, materials, dolls, etc., will be made.  Laura reserves the right to sell custom work and/or doll where applicable, and/or use materials towards recouping her costs.
• In the event Laura, of Davina Dawn Sewing Specialties, chooses to return a doll after a client refuses to make payment of custom work, the customer must make a $25 - $50 payment in the form of a USPS money order for the cost of shipping and legal documentation stating their refusal of agreed contractual work.  The deposit is not refundable and does NOT apply to the costs involved with their return.  If a client harasses or chooses to NOT follow the policies stated, this option will be cancelled.  
• Once order is shipped, there is no cancellation available.
• No Returns for special orders, or any doll accessories (ex: please be sure of your doll shoe size), or sales items.
• There are NO returns for items purchased during the heavy holiday seasons.
• No refunds for expedited and shipping fees.
• Return shipping costs are not reimbursed.
• Exchanges will be considered for inventory on hand only if the item you received is not what you ordered, as noted above.  I will not be responsible for customer error in ordering.  All items are custom made by Laura (except where noted), created with quality and care, and packed by Laura.  Extra attention is given in the shipping process, to be sure the customer receives exactly what they have purchased, and are inspected one last time for quality.
• In the situation where someone requests that I mend or alter an item nationally, I will send pictures of your item prior to shipment to verify approval.  I cannot be responsible for situations where complete details or wrong measurements are provided.  I will provide the work based on our conversations/emails.  National mending and alteration services are provided sparingly, requiring that the client provide "exact" details and measurements.  Reworks will have additional charges.

Custom Doll Clothing: It is recommended that you submit your doll for a personal fitting as it guarantees a better fit.  I do have a variety of dolls on hand, so depending on the doll you need a specific outfit for, it is possible you will not need to send your doll for the personal fitting.  If you opt to supply doll measurements, due to the value of your doll or personal choice, I will provide you a list of measurements needed.  If you have an older garment you are trying to replace, please send this garment along with your doll measurements.  Working from measurements cannot guarantee the same personal fit, but I will do my best to provide the fit you are looking for, based on the measurements you provide.  If it does not fit, there will be additional labor costs for reworking the garment.

• Question answered:  Yes, I will make matching daughter/doll dresses and/or outfits.
• NOTE:  If you provide a pattern, please know that the size you purchase in the retail environment will not necessarily be the same size of your pattern.  Please check measurements accurately on your pattern that you provide.
• All materials provided must be clean, pre-washed, and smoke free

1. E-mail your inquiry, photo's if available, or links to photo's.
2. I will e-mail any questions I might have, and continue to further communicate, until the final plans are set.
3. Once communications are complete, I will give you an estimated start time of your project along with an estimate cost of your order. At this point, I will then request you to submit your non-refundable 50% deposit, along with any other requested items, and a signed agreement.
4. Once deposit (50% is required, yet some customers opt to send a full payment) is received, I will e-mail you a confirmation of its receipt and confirm the start date. Please keep in mind, I place my special orders, in the order in which deposits are received.  I also limit the amount of specials orders in my schedule, to be sure I have time to create other items for the web-site, have available time for alterations, as well as meet family needs.
5. Rush Orders - 100% payment is required up-front, and is not refundable.
6. Once your project is ready to start I will confirm, via e-mail, that your order has been started. I will continue to e-mail with questions and the status of your order.  I will also provide pictures during the process where needed.  You are free to ask, via e-mail or phone call, any questions you feel are important.
7. Once your project is complete, I will scan or take digital photo's for your viewing. I will notify you of its completion and any balance due.
8. While waiting for final payment, I will add photo's to my website, in which I may request a personal note that you might like to include (in the case of special gifts, such as wedding dress replica's, christening outfits and first communion dresses).
9. I will e-mail you once your payment balance has arrived, and give you the ship date.  You may make payment with the preferred method of a USPS money order, non-credit card paypal payment, or personal check (needs to wait for check clearing)
10. Once your payment has cleared I will ship your order.
11. The day your order is shipped you will receive a shipping confirmation from USPS or myself if shipped via UPS.

• All materials must be clean, pre-washed, and smoke free
• Preference is for the customer to provide all materials as I have learned over the past years that many customers have a specific idea in mind.  If I purchase fabric based on your description, and you decide it is not what you want, you will be charged for this material along with the next purchase.  Please keep in mind, the customer is responsible for shipping fees for fabric purchased on line, and/or travel expenses for materials purchased locally.
• For custom made clothing for a child, it is best that you provide the pattern, notions and fabric selection.  Please make sure you measure your child accurately, and purchase the proper pattern and yardage for their size.  Pattern sizes are not the same as you would purchase in a store.
• I will shop for particular fabrics needed for your project, but I highly recommend that you provide your own fabric of choice to save the expense of my shopping time along with the cost of materials.  I rarely have on hand what you are looking for, and do not carry large volumes of fabric for resale.  I do reserve the right, however, to decline from working with materials of poor quality or fabrics that are unsuitable for the garment being made, although this has been rare.
• I do not carry a supply of vintage fabrics for those looking to reproduce vintage doll clothing. This is a very time consuming process, to research and purchase (if found), that it could be quite costly. You are welcome to provide the vintage fabric you are seeking to have your vintage doll dressed in. This material will need to be in quality condition.  I do have a few vintage infant clothes online, and if you wish that I use them for your custom doll outfit, you are more than welcome to purchase them to use towards your custom doll outfit.
• Custom orders, for specialty replica doll clothing, are made from patterns, designed by Laura, from the details provided by the customer.  These patterns are just drafts and are NOT mailed to the customer.  The labor cost involved is charged upfront to the customer.
• You are welcome to supply the pattern of choice. When providing your personal pattern, please mark which garment you are seeking to have made, along with any details you are seeking to obtain.  Although some customers do not want their purchased patterns returned, so unless I am instructed to do otherwise, I will return their purchased pattern when their order is shipped.  

• Miniature wedding dress replica's and large special orders now need a $35 deposit prior to providing an estimate.  This covers a fraction of the time involved in putting a quote together for your specific need.  This is not an expense I like to charge, but due to the time involved in preparing these type of quotes, I would like to be sure you are serious about this venture.  This is not refundable, but if you choose to follow through with your order, I will put this expense towards your final bill, reducing your final cost.
• I require a 50% deposit on all special orders prior to your order being started. The balance will be due upon completion of the project.  This is NOT refundable.
• An "Estimate" is provided for your custom order.  This is NOT a contracted price, but rather a guideline to what your costs will be.  Please read below what is considered an "Estimate".
• Your final bill will include the cost of the following services and materials that are used: Fabrics, trims, notions, appointment time, shopping time, pattern cost or pattern draft costs, pattern preparation, layout, cutting, sewing, fitting, finishing, pressing of your garment, etc.
• Orders will be shipped USPS Insured Priority Mail. I will provide UPS delivery upon request.  If you live locally, you may schedule to pick-up your order.  I will provide limited local delivery, at a rate of $35.00/hour, plus mileage, within a time frame that works well within my business hours and family needs.

What is an "Estimate"?

An estimate provides you a basic guideline to what your costs will be.  Following are some things that could cause an estimate to change:

• The actual labor time is slightly longer than planned in the estimate.  I will try to keep you notified of this, but when I am in the middle of beading, etc, this can be an inconvenience due to the turn-around time a customer may take to respond.  If I feel that the time will be more than 2 hours, I will email and let you know but will continue with the work.  In the event it does take extra time, you will be charged my hourly rate.
• The material costs are higher than estimated - this can be caused by the cost of materials having gone up since I was last shopping.  Material costs include notions, trims as well as fabrics.  I am strongly recommending that customers provide their own materials, as it makes the customer know for certain that they are getting the proper fabric that they desire.  In some cases, it is still best that I provide the materials.    Please keep in mind that your doll is a smaller scale than a human, and the size of the pattern design in the fabric, as well as trims, need to be taken into consideration, as well as the thickness of the fabric.
  • Also, just a side note:  Fabrics sell on average of $8.50 on up to over $15.00
  • Upholstery and specialty fabrics will run much higher.
• The weight of the end product is heavier than normal, causing a higher shipping cost.
• The customer makes changes to the design, the trim, etc.  Everything that is done, is done based on the time involved.  I want to be sure you are getting the desired finished product, and will adjust to your needs, but will have to charge for that time.  This is generally the reason a job will cost more than the estimate provided.  If you make changes along the way, the customer understands that the job will run higher.  With this in mind, I will not stop to re-evaluate my estimate, as the customer understands that they will incur a much higher cost.

Will it Arrive in Time?

• An approximate time frame for completion will be provided with your estimate.  The actual time it will be completed will be dependent upon when your deposit is received and the orders that are already in the schedule ahead of you.  This is an approximation and not a guaranteed time frame.  Items can be completed earlier or later than your requested delivery date.  Everything is done, within my power to meet or exceed your request but unexpected delays can happen so please do not wait until the last possible moment to order.  Allow yourself breathing room - and time to alter if necessary.

• Include your requested delivery date on your order.  If it is a rush order, there will be rush order fee and expedited shipping charges with your order.  I cannot guarantee delivery dates, so again, plan accordingly so that your order arrives in a timely manner for your needs.

• Watch your email in case I need to contact you.  

Is it Returnable?

• A custom order is made specifically for you.  It is not returnable or exchangeable.  If you provide accurate measurements, you should be very happy with the results.

• Refashion work is done to your specifications.  There is NO refund for labor or material expense, hence being non-returnable.  

• I will provide digital pictures throughout the process.  The pictures provided by email provide you the opportunity to make comments and changes (knowing that changes can incur additional fees)  Please watch your email to see the work-in-process.  If you do not respond, I will continue with the work as I understand your expectations to be.

Will it Fit?

For custom doll clothing - it is strongly recommended that you send your doll.  If you can't possibly send it due to its value or delicate stage due to age, you will need to provide measurements.  Doll clothing that is made from measurements do not have the same guarantee of fit, and time involved to adjust will be charged.

A size chart for custom clothing, from ready made patterns I alter to your specifications,  is on any pattern you purchase.  Please measure carefully and use the size chart shown with the pattern you are ordering.  Each manufacturer of patterns can have a different standard - some even vary by style!

Adult fashions - these custom orders are taken into consideration, as I prefer to work with the doll fashions and the fashion needs of the young person (infant, toddler, etc.)

I do provide adult fashions, but it is best that you set aside some time for a consultation, so that I can clearly understand your need/desire.  Consult fees are possible.

Success depends on the accuracy of your measurements.  Use those measurements to select a size from the size charts provided with your pattern choice. The garment you receive will fit the measurements on the pattern size chart.  Understand that formal items may require alterations for a perfect fit and if you are ordering from out-of-state, you might have to hire a seamstress for alterations.  

Also, keep in mind that even if you normally purchase a size 8 garment in town, the pattern might actually be a size 12 for your specific measurements.  You might want to consider paying someone to do your fitting if you are out-of-town or out-of-state.  Also, to confirm your measurements, consider re-taking them on your own.  It has been known in other settings, that sometimes problems resulted from having someone else (who would make money on alterations) take the measurements.

The final decision will be based on pattern selected and time available in my sewing schedule.

Or, another sizing option:  From time to time, women need to be fitted for a proper dress size.  I will provide this service for you at a cost of $15 paid in cash.  You can use these measurements to order your dress online or at the store of choice.  These can be used as a guide and are not a guarantee of the size shipped from your store of purchase.  Please know that all manufacturers do not necessarily use a standard size anymore.

ADDED 7/20/2010:  Resizing:  Some have requested I make a dress larger by providing material or another dress with the same fabric.  This can be done and I have had great success, but there is a $50 non-refundable cash consult fee.  If I determine that the available materials and size that needs to be made, can be done, there will be an additional $200.00 non-refundable deposit, with the labor costs incurred at each fitting.  The customer understands that there is no guarantee that the dress will fit the way it was originally intended to fit.  Customer must be honest with their size.

ADDED 7/20/2010:  Resizing a Garment that is too small:  There is NO GUARANTEE a dress will stay together if you request that I let a dress out beyond it's recommended 5/8" seam allowance, Laura will NOT be accountable for the garment fit.  If Laura sees that the garment cannot tolerate this type of alteration, she will not take the project on.  There will be NO refund of deposit or consult fee!  If you insist that I do this service, and I take this service on, you will pay an upfront $150 non-refundable deposit, and payment at each fitting for labor time incurred, at each step of the way.  You will have to sign a waiver, accepting any structure issues prior to the work being done as well as the time of your final fitting.

Delivery Dates
While every attempt is made to meet or exceed your requested delivery date, it is not a guaranteed delivery date.  Please allow proper time for processing your payment, ample time to create your custom order, along with necessary time it will take to ship from NH, USA. 

Upon Delivery
Please open your delivery and check it thoroughly upon arrival, before removing any tags or packaging.  If there is any problem, please contact me by email  within three (3) days. Contact should be made by the purchaser only.