Is there a Q%A to this newsgroup?

There isn't one...but that sounds like something I'd volunteer for. ;-)

Everyone let me know if it's a good idea ok? I'm not too sure what questions are asked here most often, or what questions should go into it, but I'm up for compiling a FAQ and putting it on my site.

Valerie Website:

Good questions! LOL! Although I don't have answers for some of them. ;-)

Valerie Website:

I was just about to suggest a FAQ;o)

I think some rules about spam would be helpful. On some of my groups, even asking for a supplier, or a source, is frowned upon, but I'm a little unclear about the rules for this group.

Also, *I* would really like to know what the difference is between Swarovski and *others* is. I mean, I can *see* it, but I really don't think that I could tell the difference unless the two were right next to one another.

One more; I would really love love love to see a directory of all of the rcb members' galleries/websites. Maybe it exists, LOL, but I don't know where to find it:o)

In my sig. :-) I've already thought about that! And if anyone here in RCB (members only please, you must post to be a member!) would like to add their site, please let me know. I have professional, personal and auction link pages. Send me a link and a short description for EACH link you send me. Also specify which page it should go on. Take out the spam blocker to reply. :-)

Valerie Website:

To me, remembering that Swarovski is best known for lenses and other optical/scientific glass is the key to recognizing their beads. Precision. The glass has a high lead content, and I believe the colors are all achieved through mineral interactions rather than dye. So the colors are predictable and very clear -- optical quality. The cuts are very precise, even to the point of being sharp where there are fewer facets. You know how if you look into a diamond you can follow the flow of light and some times even see a picture transmitted? That's a different facetting pattern, but Swarovski has the same kind of transmition. So think of precision and optical quality when you look at a "crystal". Especially the uncoated ones.

Tina

Ok I've started compiling a FAQ that will be convered into HTML in a few days. Anyone else have any questions they'd like to submit to me that are asked here frequently? Please post them to the group, not e-mail. I'll let you all know when the unveiling is once it's complete. :-)

Valerie Website:

I would really like to know what all the abreviations stand for! People have been talking about BABE, but no one has said what it is, and there are many, many more. I'm familiar with most of the typical online chat shortcuts like LOL, ROFL, BTDT, etc...but would like to know the bead/lampwork specific 'alphabet soup'. Thanks,

Jez

Thanks Jez! That will be addressed in the FAQ. And BABE is a very large bead show btw. :-) I'm not exactly sure what it stands for myself, although I'm guessing it's Bay Area Bead Expo or something.

Valerie Website:

Hi Jez,

I'm really bad at acronyms too. Usually I forget and have to ask all over againg, so I just ignore them. I see IIRC, and haven't bothered to ask what it means.

I'll answer any question I can. And most every one here has answers to something. It's fun.

Two common ones here are BFNR, and LBS, and they are pretty much our very own here. BFNR, or Beads For No Reason, happen when someone sends a gift (most often beads) because something strikes them as just right for someone. Or somebody has a type of bead they just don't use and they hear someone wishing they could try it. Basically, beads for no reason.

LBS is Local Bead Store, as opposed to the on-line sources that you have to wait for.

BABE is Bay Area Bead E(xpo?). It's being held in Oakland, where not only my son and I, but also my father were all born. I'm coming down from Alaska for my mother's 80th birthday, and will also go to the bead show. A great and rare treat for me. It will be my first. It will also be a treat for me because I get to spend time with Sooz, whom I love dearly. I met a few more beaders from last time I was in Calif, and will have the privilege of meeting some more. As well as meeting people I have purchased beads from.

I am so jazzed about that!!!

I have never worked with PC (Polymer Clay), but I have on occassion been Politically Correct, and I also have gotten the two PCs mixed up.

Last spring I took classes in Precious Metal Clay (PMC), and I really love it. I hope to work with a couple RCBer (rec.crafts. beads) with it when I'm in Calif too.

Hope this helps. By the way, where do you live (area)?

Tina

Sure thing - I started one, but don't have time to finish it. Feel free to take whatever you need from here:

If I Recall Correctly, that's what it means! Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

Here are some I think I have seen fairly frequently (not necessarily worded very well, and maybe not all appropriate for an FAQ, definitely in no particular order):

1. What do bead sizes mean? Do they always mean the same thing (across types of beads)?

1. What is the difference between jump rings and split rings? When do you use each of these?

2. How do you tell if something is really silver? (/gold)

1. What is Bali silver? How do you tell if something is truly Bali silver? (I know this will be a source of contention :) ).

2. How do you use crimpers?

1. What is the difference between micro crimpers or regular crimpers (not sure I have the right wording here). Which one do you need when?

2. some kind of question about finishing off stringing materials that don't require crimpers (I don't know the right words since I don't use these, but I know it always involves someone explaining something about knots and glue)

1. How do I finish off string within a beadcap (again, not sure I worded that correctly...)

2. How do you decide how to price your work?

1. What are good auction sites to purchase beads?

2. What are good auction sites to sell beads?

1. What are good auction sites to sell finished works?

2. What is a Dutch auction?

1. What is PayPal? (there are a couple of other payment services that I am not familiar with but people have brought up here. They could have a "what is..." question too).

2. How do I use a scanner to take pictures of my finished work? (To go with Sooz's question)

1. How do I post pictures of my finished works? (DON'T post them directly on the newsgroup, some people use Yahoo pictures but not everyone can view there, etc etc)

2. Where can I get official RCB merchandise? :)

1. What is the difference between silver/gold -filled and silver/gold -plated?

2. What is the difference between Sterling silver, 925 silver, (? other types of silver)?

1. Are there similar questions to the above for gold and other useful items?

2. What is lampwork?

1. What is pressed glass?

2. What is a cab? What is the difference between a cab and ... [what is the thing people always get cabs confused with?]

1. How do I clean beads?

2. How can I tell if a bead is stone, glass, or plastic?

1. What is a hank? How many beads are in a hank?

2. How do you use [what are those special split-ring pliers called?]
3. What does annealed mean? How important is it that a bead is annealed? How do you tell whether a bead is annealed?

1. What does work-hardened mean? How do you work-harden wire? Why do you need to work-harden wire? (A better way to ask the first question is something like "do I need to do anything special with wire when I bend it to make a ring, clasp, etc").

2. Can I make my own eyepins/headpins? How?

1. Can I make my own clasps? How?

Wow...I thought I'd only come up with 2 or 3... I might think of some more later.

marisa2

Valerie wrote:

On Thu, 6 Nov 2003 12:52:31 -0500, Marisa Exter wrote (in message ):

I can answer a few, while I'm waiting for my meds to kick in.

Originally, beads were sized in "oughts," which we normally call zeros. A smaller bead was "two ought, six ought, eleven ought, whatever. However, writing the size of a bead as a bunch of zeroes (00000000000) is unwieldy and consfusing. Therefore, the numbering system changed to 11/0, 6/0, etc. (barring some wierd ones like 33/0 beads, which are huge)

Now do these "oughts" have anything to do with how many beads to the inch, meter, mile or anything else? Not really. You can reasonably say a 6/0 is much bigger than an 11/0, but not all beads with the same stated size are equal. Some treatments, like etching, make small changes in the size of the bead, which means very little on an individual bead, but really adds up in a beadweaving project. Cylinder beads, like Delicas and Toho Treasures, are pretty small, even though they are sold as an 11/0 bead.

In general, Japanese seed beads are more cylindrical and Czech seed beads are more doughtnut shaped. Seed beads from other countries can be quite irregular, and can't be categorized so neatly.

Split rings are a small coil of wire, and look like a teeny little keyring. Jump rings are a simple ring of wire, and can be either welded into a solid ring or left open. Both have many overlapping uses, and it's largely a matter of choice what you use.

Split rings, like keyrings, are pretty strong, and items attached to a piece of jewelry are unlikely to pop off without some real effort. Jump rings, especially the unsoldiered ones, open up when pulled, which can be used as a safety feature: the piece of jewelry will break open when pulled, instead of the wearer getting hurt.

Jump rings are also used extensively in the craft of chainmaille. Chain maille artisans usually make their own jump rings for purposes of economy.

Easiest way: only buy from trustworthy sellers.

If you don't know or trust your seller, there are test kits available online to see if the item you bought is what you think it is. Only problem with the kits is that sometimes you need to destroy the item to prove it is what it is. To me, it goes back to the first step: only buy from trustworthy sellers.

Stick around the group, and ask questions. Trustworthy sellers are out there, and people will be happy to make recommendations. In general, you get what you pay for - if a price seems too good to be true, it's probably not true.

Bali silver is silverwork hand made by artisans on the island of Bali, in Indonesia. It is the standard by which all the similar "Bali-style" items are judged. Similar beads are made all over the world, particularly in countries where the cost of labor is low. Some are equal in quality to Bali silver, many are not. Items which are cast from an existing bead are decidedly inferior to handmade beads. Again, buying only from sellers you trust is the best and easiest way to get the beads you want.

Finally, any item which has a disclaimer: "German Silver," "Mexican Silver," "African Turquoise," "New Jade," etc. isn't what you think it might be. Those items are not the genuine article: German and Mexican Silver are white colored metal alloys, New jade is a dyed cheaper stone than the minerals Nephrite and Jadeite (real Jade), and from what I can see, African Turquoise can mean just about everything.

There are many free or low cost site upon which you can post photos of your finished works. First, check with your own internet service provider. Most provide some amount of free storage space as part of your monthly fee. Otherwise, a search engine is your friend. Search on "Free Web Servers," and you'll find dozens of options. Most free servers have significant drawbacks, since someone else is paying for your web space.

Silver and Gold plated items are usually electroplated, which means a thin layer of precious metal is electronically deposited on a piece of base metal (or plastic). When I say thin, I mean it. Plated items are notorious for wearing quickly, exposing the cheap base underneath the precious metal.

Gold filled items are completely different. The layer of precious metal is much thicker, usually 5% of the total weight of the item. A 1/20 14K Gold filled piece has a 5% thick layer of 14K gold. Under normal circumstances, gold filled items will not expose the base metal layer for years, if ever.

Vermeil is another story altogether. Vermeil items are made of Sterling Silver washed or electroplated with gold. The gold, as in gold plated items, will wear off with abrasion. Under some circumstances, the vermeil can be acceptable, if care is taken to design the jewelry in a way in which the vermeil beads will not be exposed to any abrasion.

Sterling Silver and 925 Silver are essentially the same thing. 925 parts of the precious metal we call silver and 75 parts of some other metal per 1000 parts of the finished material. When people talk about silver, this is usually what they mean.

Fine Silver is darned near pure silver: 999/1000 parts of elemental silver. Jewelry and components made of fine silver are not easy to find, but they are essential to some types of jewelrymaking - lampworking requires fine silver, not sterling, for example.

Precious Metal Clay, a relatively new material, is fine silver in a binding slurry. The clay is modeled as normal clay, then fired in a kiln or a torch. The slurry burns away, leaving behind fine silver.

Again, Mexican and German Silver are not real silver. They are alloys which contain minimal silver at best. Items made of these materials should be significantly cheaper than similar items made of precious metal.

Lampwork is a process by which items are made by melting glass rods around a metal mandrel (like a knitting needle) by means of a torch. Lampwork in the US and Australia is usually produced by individual cottage artisans, and each item is unique. A great deal of lampwork is mass produced in third world countries as a commodity, and is not the equal in artistry or durability of artisan made lampwork.

In Europe, lampwork is considered a skilled craft, and high quality, uniform items are the most prized. Lampworkers learn through an apprenticeship program and are considered most skilled when they can produce identical items every time in the manner of their mentor.

Hot glass pressed into molds to make beads and other useful items. Much pressed glass is made in the Czech republic, which has a glass industry dating back nearly a thousand years. Czech pressed glass is considered to be of very high quality.

Aside: Druk simply means "press." When people talk about druks, they normally mean Czech glass spherical beads without further adornment. (It's pronounced "Drook," BTW)

Lots of ways, depending on the material. Most glass, plastic and semi-precious beads will benefit from a nice swish in soapy water, while still on their temporary strands. Silver beads do well when wiped with a silver polishing cloth, as do gold ones. Bone beads can be cleaned with an overnight soak in denture cleaner. However, the dye on many bone beads will come off during a soak.

In most cases, sacrificing a few beads to the cleaning goddesses is a good idea. If in doubt, I throw a few beads in a light bleach mixture and allow it to sit overnight to see what will happen.

--------------------

That's all I have the strength to answer right now. Once I'm feeling better, I'll add to the effort.

Kathy N-V

Most of those are Bead Notes questions. The FAQs for a group usually are about posting practices.

Tina

silver/gold -plated?

By the way,...........

silver/gold -plated?

"Gold filled" is a comparitively thick layer of gold, usually bonded to brass. "Gold plate" is a thin plating of gold, over brass or other base metal. "Vermeil" (vur may') is a somewhat thicker plating over silver -- but still only a small fraction of the gold in "gold filled".

Tina

silver/gold -plated?

Thanks.

Tina (PS, I'll probably forget again)

Aw. How sweet.

Tina

"KDK" wrote

Thanks for the definitions!! I live in Kennesaw, Georgia - but the rest of the family is in northern Iowa, and outside of Seattle in a town named North Bend. I've recently 'discovered' beads, and have been to a couple of bead shows north of Atlanta. I have actually made several bracelets for family members - and will soon branch out into eyeglass holders and earrings - now that I have findings for them :-) Jez

Yes! I was thinking the same thing. I've covered (so far) the most typical questions, with short explainations. But most of the answers for questions like these are in Bead Notes. I don't want to tell the world about beading, just the most frequently asked questions we see ALL the time. And how to post, and what kinds of posts are allowed and not allowed (without some kind of was to filter them).

Valerie Website: