What's Going On ...

Okay, I will answer some of your questions. Yes, beads do begin to look the same. I like new, different beads. I do look for GOOD beads with nice ends, etc. But, I think some people just don't know those things. They haven't made beads, they don't realize what is really good because they have not seen really good. People think my beads are really good. They are not. They are okay...but I have a LONG way to go in making great beads!! I don't have perfectly balanced beads with perfect ends. I am still working to perfect those things, but the untrained person does not know that. I think the artist in you HAS to create and do new things...but I also think the business side of you has to create the things that people will buy. So, I guess you have to find the right balance for you. I go to Eric Radar website also. I think he constantly struggles to maintain that balance. My hubby gets on me all the time to spend more time perfecting on thing like dots rather than trying new things all the time. But, new things are swimming in my head and I just want to try them. Therefore, I don't think I am making the progress that I should be because I am trying new things. Just a few of my rambling thoughts...

As a fairly new beadmaker (couple years) I do use others beads for inspiration but I'm trying to find my "Style" and I think so many beadmakers are trying to find their unique place that when it's all summed together there are a lot of beads looking the same. I am trying in all this to develop my quality as well. When it comes to Ebay my reasoning for listing them is that they are nice beads (I wont list poor quality) and I can only wear or give to my family, so much before they are sick of my beads. So, if someone wants to buy them go for it. If not....Oh well. When I sell something it is my best selection of beads. I think when it comes to beads selling for huge amounts I wonder who is buying them but it's probably someone who doesn't know how to make them.

I guess there is a little truth in that a lot of beads have very similar styles and I think about that alot too as someone just getting into all the beadmaking business. I like to see beads that are well executed - nice finished ends, no bead release and designs and colors that are unusual and exciting. I love to see what other people are doing and even though everyone is doing florals or dots or swirls, whatever the design element, everyone has a different spin on it. I don't think its death if you try something different - I think its genius!! Its really hard to come up with something that hasn't been done before! The fiore massiccio and the stellas are excellent examples, I think! I sure haven't seen anything like them anywhere else. They are adorable and show so much imagination! Keep on experimenting!

I've been lurking around your website for a while now ... hope I didn't give you the eckky creepies or anything ... haha. I am amazed by your 'different' beads and creativity. I too am always looking for something different, its hard to be original, one's ideas have to be inspired from somewhere. Dana, your so right about people just not being educated. I just took up bead making (one class) and have been playing on my new torch for about 2 weeks. NOW I notice all those flaws that I would never have before ! Now I appreciate looking at good work ! AND now I have to go buy some oranges .... my new inspiration after seeing those fresh oranges ... even if ours are trucked in from Cali into Canada !!!

I totally agree with you, Donna. I check newly added beads several times a week and am seeing the same things. Raised dots with indents in the middle to make flowers, raku stringer, dot variations and the list goes on.

When I have an idea, I always check to see how many similar ideas are already out there. Then, I try and come up with neat twist on my original plan. I recently made a set of pink and orange beads (without checking first), and once I listed it I noticed that there were about 3 or 4 other sets similar to mine. :( It's mainly because those two colors are hot Spring colors according to fashion.

Anyway, regarding talent and cleanliness of the beads, I pride myself on being a perfectionist. I make sure my ends are puckered, beads centered and designs are as flawless as possible before selling them. Unfortunately, not too many people know my name yet, so my beads don't sell like some other peoples'. I've seen sets sell as high as $300, with undercut dots, terrible stringer scrolls and mis-shaped beads. Like Dana said, a lot of people really don't know what to look for in beads unless they're a lampworker themselves. But at the same time, these same people like to buy from "big" names regardless of how the beads are. I've bought beads from several "big" names that I would have never had sold if I had made them. One set had nicks all over the beads because they had stuck together in the kiln and the other set had hard silver encrusted around the bead hole where silver foil met the mandrel (it would have sliced through wire for sure, so I spent 30 minutes cleaning the holes myself).

Anyway, I like seeing new and fresh bead ideas online. It's great eye candy and inspires me to try new things myself. Bottom line: I don't think it is a kiss of death to try something new. If you have a large enough fan or customer base, anything you make will sell. People love your beads for a reason, so they'll keep coming back regardless. So...experiment away and show the bead-community what new ideas you have! :)

I agree that most of the beads out there are rather samey--the price variations depend on the individual talent and the people making better versions do tend to get higher prices for their work. (Unless they're very new to eBay and haven't been "discovered"--but that never lasts long!) I bought lots of beads over the past few months but have really slowed down recently because, except for your fiori, there hasn't been much except a few expensive items (Michael Barley beads, for example) that really caught my eye. That's part of the reason why I'm really excited about the fiori, and a little worried about your doing encased florals with CZ (which I don't even much like anyway) instead of more of your really original stuff. It is a matter of balance--and from a jewelry designer's point of view, it would be nice to know there'll always be a supply of a particular style of bead that goes well in my designs--but it's beads that don't look like all the others that I'm more likely to buy!

Sue the ex-enamel freak

Donna, I agree with your observation and I too noticed this just recently. I saw a certainly style of beads for the first time on someone's website and after that I saw everyone making the same style. At that point the only thing separating these beadmakers is the quality and use of color. I love to have different beads, not a lot of the same thing and I look for quality in what I buy. Unfortunately sometimes before you actually get beads in hand you do not know the quality. Once I find someone that have the type of quality that I prefer I shop their sites and check out their work on e-bay. I have a few favorites (you included) that I watch for specials for quite frankly I cannot afford those some beadmakers once they hit e-bay. I am thrilled that someone's beads bring $800 and as an artist I think that they are probably worth that however I could never justify buying a set of beads for that amount of money or the the $1000 plus that I saw a set of Corina's beads sell for. Keep doing what you are doing and keep the individualism in your beads.

Well first let me tell you that (and this may just be me personally) but I've looked thru many other bead makers sites and your beads are the only ones so far that jive with me. Sure other beadmakers have similar florals and twirlies (as you can tell I am not familiar with beadmaking terminologies, I just enjoy the finished product) and also may have similar color combos. However, there has to be a certain je ne sais quois about how these colors are put together on a bead and in turn, which beads are strung together to produce a strand that clicks and hits the spot for the eyes. So that is why I love your old sets of beads but also look forward to your new sets. So keep discovering and trying out new and fun things. But keep in mind that your previous sets are just as unique and comfortable. (like coming home) But of course this is just my humble laymans opinion.

Hi, Donna!! Here's my take... Yes, there are definitely lots of beadmakers/beads out there, but FEW of the highest quality :)! I can certainly tell the difference in the quality of beads, and I've never made a bead in my life (maybe someday)! I was just mentioning to my mother the other evening how amazing your, Corina, and a couple others' beads are. The design, technique, precision, etc. You're the best! I know how you wish to move on with new designs, techniques, shapes, etc., but your beads stand out from the others. They're "marked" with your touch/special talent!! Everyone is entitled to their own opinion/choice/personal preference. Your beads are the quality I wish to purchase, wear, and resell in jewelry for others to enjoy :)! Okay, have I said enough :). Rock on with what you're doing, sistah!!

Different, but the same.... there are certain styles that seem to be identified with certain artists. Your precision and the unfailing beauty of your beads, Karl Tseu's swirls, Krista Tseu's florals, Heather Trimlett's dots, Malcom Potek's fused pendants, Corina's everything.... among many other talented artists. Each of you create your art based on your choices and knowledge, therefore, each bead is unique and has a part of you in it whether it's the same shape and color scheme used by another artist or not. The 'bulk' beads on e-bay for $3.95 versus the $800 dollar set you saw are different by leaps and bounds. When I first started buying beads I bought some of those cheapo beads.... the quality of glass is terrible, they crack and shatter easily attesting to the fact that they aren't annealed, the ends aren't clean and have the traditional dip in- I've even had ones that had glass poking out of the end! The beads aren't balanced, they're rarely cleaned and, because they are made in bulk, they're not unique and there really isn't any artistry that goes into them. I would much rather spend more and purchase, what I consider art, from you because of the workmanship, beauty and quality rather then 'save money' on many of suppliers and sellers you see online these days. You're doing what you love and it shows through in your beads, but at the same time you've also taken the time to perfect techniques whether they are formally learned or self taught before you begin to sell pieces. By having the knowledge and your own unique creativity to go with it makes you formidable. People who have the creativity but lack the knowledge or vice versa aren't in high demand. Look at how fast your beads are purchased and the prices you can command. People want your beads for a reason and are more then willing to pay for it, if they weren't they would go elsewhere. Your glass sells and sells well for a reason- you.

Sorry this was so long and tedious!

I think there is something about certain bead artist's that attract certain people. I don't remember how I stumbled upon your website, but I have been reading and looking for several months now. The thing that attracted me to your beads were your color combos and you precision with you beads. Some people just don't have that. yet. I agree with Katie that I don't want to buy bulk beads, I like to buy beads from an artist. I would rather pay for quality and originality. I don't buy beads to look like everyone else. I like them because they are different and unique. I buy art of others kinds as well. Not as an investment, but because I enjoy it and it is unique. I guess I tend to be a perfectionist because I say my beads are not that good. I think they are fine...I just look for them to be better. However, I have only been making beads for 8 months. I have improved dramatically. I have not attempted to sell beads on ebay or a website yet. I have sold them to friends and their friends. I guess I said all this to say, YES, I care about quality, artistic beads. And, you do a fabulous job!

I've been lampworking for about 2 years and I have to agree with you Donna feeling crowded is so true I've recently been off the torch for about 5 months because I'm pregnant and since I've been going through bead withdrawl I've been visiting a lot of other lampworkers sites and I have to say originality is REALLY hard to come by it seems everyone is doing the same old things over and over again and I find myself see a lot of artists that must go to ebay and see "bigger name" artists who's work sells in the hundreds and then a day later they have tried to copy the same set hoping to bring in the same type of cash is what I'm assuming and I find it sad I have my set of favorite artists bookmarked (Like you donna!!!) who's sites and work I enjoy seeing and chatting with because you always seem to keep things original and new and fresh and I like that you do your own thing. I look forward to getting back on the torch and shying away from my "comfort beads" so to speak and instead to venture into new designs and really strive for originality and I'm really glad you posted about this subject you're terrific!

I see my same thoughts and agree very much with both Linda's and Katie's posts. I'd like to add that part of the draw to you, your work and your website is your fun personality. That personality comes through in your artistry. You are creative and fun and many of those "copy cat" and tired old styles don't have personality. You are creating art. Others imitate it. You can see the originality in the designs and creativity of each true artist. Those are the artists from whom most prefer to buy but sometimes only a few can afford it. The rest of us admire it and wait patiently for another opportunity.

I spent part of the day looking through old Ornament and Lapidary Journals. There were many beads that I haven't seen before. It seems that people are better at the techniques of making beads now but everyone learns to do the same thing. Maybe people need to experiment more and take fewer classes. I buy less beads than I used too because they all seem to look the same.
I enjoy this site and check every day to see what's up. Love the cats.
Lori

Hi Donna,

Your beads are orginal and top quality. I agree that the personality has a lot to do with the draw to keep coming back. It also is a reason for the unique designs that show in your beads. Have confidence and courage in your work...you will continue to excell. Of course it will just get more difficult to get the pickings, gotta love the law of supply and demand.