tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post3522660930630440653..comments2023-10-17T06:24:17.213-04:00Comments on Art Jewelry Elements: What I have learned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-88883082546141589402013-03-19T14:50:37.220-04:002013-03-19T14:50:37.220-04:00I did the same except I went crazy at FMG. I still...I did the same except I went crazy at FMG. I still shop there but now I know what to expect. I find that they are great for some things but avoid others. Shai Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625514249141386180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-8497465253364394802013-03-14T13:08:26.653-04:002013-03-14T13:08:26.653-04:00I wish someone had pointed this out to me when I s...I wish someone had pointed this out to me when I started all those years ago!<br /><br />I still have piles of rather rubbish beads that got left at the wayside once I realised the need for quality over quantity. I have many many many czech druks and 4mm swarovski bicones that are still useful as they are good quality despite being fairly cheap. <br /><br />But the commercial lampwork beads that crack after a couple of wears? The lumpy bumpy indian beads that look like they've been run over? The really cheap tibetan spacers that look like bits of molten slag? Or cheap chinese gemstones that are horridly dyed and cut? <br /><br />What was I thinking?? I guess at that time I just didn't know...Jess Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446419759153926480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-2149970989310920082013-03-14T09:47:32.930-04:002013-03-14T09:47:32.930-04:00I'm with Linda - I had no idea when I first st...I'm with Linda - I had no idea when I first started stringing beads that there was a wonderful world of quality 'art beads' out there to be coveted! I have tons of things I started out with ages ago that still sit in my bead bins because I'm not that impressed with them. And my beautiful Artisan Beads,..well they sit there too because I hoard them like precious gold or something afraid I won't be able to afford to purchase anything similar or as good. Great post Kristen!! Shelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11087293577550452789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-2335687524718021932013-03-14T08:38:30.320-04:002013-03-14T08:38:30.320-04:00That is awesome that you even had issues. You hav...That is awesome that you even had issues. You have such an amazing design eye it is hard for me to see that you started somewhere. LOLAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-42933119138182058042013-03-14T08:37:07.821-04:002013-03-14T08:37:07.821-04:00Renetha that is so true! When I was a quilter I d...Renetha that is so true! When I was a quilter I did the same thing and all that work wasted because the fabric was not the quality it needed to be.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-85519047065289583962013-03-14T08:36:09.877-04:002013-03-14T08:36:09.877-04:00Yes Yes Yes exactly!Yes Yes Yes exactly!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-24562613195193358892013-03-14T08:35:34.472-04:002013-03-14T08:35:34.472-04:00That is true too Vera. I did learn alot when I st...That is true too Vera. I did learn alot when I started but some of those learning pieces would still be around if I had known better.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-31908347204785015372013-03-14T08:34:36.167-04:002013-03-14T08:34:36.167-04:00You are so right Erin. Treasures can be found any...You are so right Erin. Treasures can be found anywhere. I just wanted to make sure I could help someone who is just starting out not to get caught in the traps. Awareness is the key right?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-59428180955583052222013-03-14T00:52:56.367-04:002013-03-14T00:52:56.367-04:00When I first started out, I didn't even know t...When I first started out, I didn't even know there was such a thing as art beads. And I thought the beads I was buying were quite pretty. However, once I discovered art beads, there was just no comparison! I certainly use lots of Czech glass, even now. But I've ditched all the Indian glass I used to have. Our town holds an "Artists Garage Sale" once a year, where artists sell off supplies they no longer want or need. It's my annual opportunity to destash in a big way!Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14013223342802270728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-29387074188385820542013-03-14T00:22:11.438-04:002013-03-14T00:22:11.438-04:00It is so great to read that beaders appreciate the...It is so great to read that beaders appreciate the artisan lampwork beads for their quality and uniqueness. Great points you made and thank you. Lara Lutrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09804031120081114877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-61422065166677418642013-03-13T22:24:17.819-04:002013-03-13T22:24:17.819-04:00I went through the same process. I remember closi...I went through the same process. I remember closing my eyes and throwing out tubes of those wonky beads, once I discovered my first bead shop. I also went through the same process with fabric. Some companies care about what they put on the market and others only care about how fast they can get their products out. lamplight craftshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17757319153037678617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-24810264371504605652013-03-13T21:41:45.848-04:002013-03-13T21:41:45.848-04:00Great post! I try to explain to others how using c...Great post! I try to explain to others how using cheaper materials can end up costing more, and your post did so perfectly! I also had similar experiences early on...when i first starting buying lampwork, I thought it was just a cost of business that you would get some broken beads in the bunch, or that some would just miss bits of stringer. I cringe now when I think about it!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17031641754764966375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-17286225629892621622013-03-13T20:41:53.338-04:002013-03-13T20:41:53.338-04:00Great post!!! I agree with everyone above. But we...Great post!!! I agree with everyone above. But we all have to start someplace and some how and for me...the cheaper helped me get started, but now I am moving to the better beads!Empty nester at lasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10149346471303680325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-61634118137447137732013-03-13T16:00:15.612-04:002013-03-13T16:00:15.612-04:00I know and being so budget restricted I know that ...I know and being so budget restricted I know that the money I wasted not knowing any better could have been put to much better use!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-49055779905763901182013-03-13T15:59:06.717-04:002013-03-13T15:59:06.717-04:00That is one of the reasons I wanted to share this ...That is one of the reasons I wanted to share this Francesca. I have been so lucky have been able to use a number of artisan components and also see the processes involved in creating them. I was able to learn fairly quickly the differences and save me budget loss. LOL<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-59691861580673736082013-03-13T15:56:22.463-04:002013-03-13T15:56:22.463-04:00Yes that is key and that is why I say that sometim...Yes that is key and that is why I say that sometimes the big box stores can have some treasures you just have to think and check them carefully.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-47537441699322705432013-03-13T15:55:01.329-04:002013-03-13T15:55:01.329-04:00Thank you so much Patti I really thought this need...Thank you so much Patti I really thought this needed to be said and shared.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-49313380042392040652013-03-13T15:54:35.016-04:002013-03-13T15:54:35.016-04:00And that is a great adage to follow!And that is a great adage to follow!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06000223877502634308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-42980350813879434202013-03-13T14:37:33.565-04:002013-03-13T14:37:33.565-04:00Great post Miss Kristen! I remember that someone e...Great post Miss Kristen! I remember that someone early on told me to use the best that my money could afford. Truer words were never spoken. I do use things from big box stores, just like I do from hardware stores, thrift shops and my own burgeoning jewelry box, as no bead goes unloved or wasted. I am very much not a bead snob, but an equal opportunity beadist. But that is not the same for art beads. Those mini masterpieces are totally worth it. I have quite a lot to prove it is true! The downside is that they are so precious and special and one of a kind usually that I don't want to use them! I would also say this is true of tools and equipment, buy the best you can afford, but don't overlook the lesser priced for other uses! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the day. ErinTesoriTrovatihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12771359288546654791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-81865901206960993042013-03-13T13:46:26.603-04:002013-03-13T13:46:26.603-04:00Great post, Kristin! I think many of us have been...Great post, Kristin! I think many of us have been in your boat when we first started out! I still have a bunch of crap I wasted money on from ages ago! jessememanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07029583785041602239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-64274565926205129072013-03-13T10:49:55.953-04:002013-03-13T10:49:55.953-04:00Great post, Kristen! I have a good friend who got ...Great post, Kristen! I have a good friend who got into jewelry-making at about the same time I did, and last year she and I did a "purge" in our studios of all the stuff we bought early on before we knew any better. It's all a learning process - we thought, like you did, that we were saving all kinds of money by buying the less expensive stuff. But like those brass brushes I mentioned in my post yesterday, some of those "savings" wind up costing you extra - for the original purchase, and then the cost of the good stuff when you finally break down and buy the stuff you should have bought in the first place.<br /><br />And I LOVED Jennifer's comment: use the best materials you can afford because it elevates the piece. So, so true. <br /><br />(Thanks for including that gorgeous beaded piece with my enameled focal in your favorites! Made my heart glad!)Francesca Watsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17920874381365947474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-27527549021454132592013-03-13T09:35:27.129-04:002013-03-13T09:35:27.129-04:00Thanks, Kristen, for the good insights. I do my p...Thanks, Kristen, for the good insights. I do my purchasing at a combination of local chain crafts stores, bead shows and quality online stores. Just like anything, you have to know what the product is going to be used for and know what you're looking at. <br /><br />There are some times you can get away with less expensive items and times when you've gotta have the best you can manage. Knowing the difference is key, imo. :-) sandysewinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11510529475226821571noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-86864182819418561812013-03-13T09:13:52.715-04:002013-03-13T09:13:52.715-04:00I could not agree with you more! Wonderful articl...I could not agree with you more! Wonderful article! Patti Vanderbloemenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14899971311953499881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7271508841165439447.post-17710420086515451222013-03-13T08:57:12.083-04:002013-03-13T08:57:12.083-04:00Absolutely! When I returned to beading and making ...Absolutely! When I returned to beading and making jewelry after the first part of my career teaching full time - I had the good fortune to work and take classes at the Shepherdess in San Diego. Thats where I learned peyote, spiral rope, fringey things... And the seed beads were stunning. While I dont use them often - one adage that was frequently spoken in SD stays with me forever: No matter how simple a piece might be, use the best materials you can afford. It truly elevates the piece. Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08577867087004709820noreply@blogger.com