Agh - the pink has gotten to me.....

I buy color combinations I wouldn't have thought of, or things that I CAN do but don't want to, or just as a memento from a beadmaker I like or admire. OR as inspiration for different ideas.

KarenK

After looking at the replies of the lampworkers, I'd have to say they buy beads from other lampworkers that the rest of us do.

Tina

They don't always scream. Sometimes, like the "Atlantis" bead I just purchased from Tink, they just sit there whispering your name over and over and over.

I've recently come to the conclusion that I Must Have More Lampwork Beads. I'm thinking maybe I should come up with a monthly budget. Then if all the fabulous artists here would start a bead-of-the-month club, I could subscribe.

Think about it :)

Cheers, Carla

vj wrote:

Okay, what would be the bead of the month club? I'm interested in new ideas.

It was just a comment I tossed off, then starting thinking "Hmmm, how would that work?"

First, I think, you'd need to round up a bunch of artists who are willing to make enough beads for the subscribers; and, I guess, limit the number of subscribers so as not to make the artists go insane :)

Let's say, 50 people subscribe at $5.00/month. That's $250 bucks a month that the artists get to split. One artist per month will send beads out to the subscribers at no additional cost (maybe just shipping). As an artist, you get paid even when it's not "your month" to make beads.

As a subscriber, I ("we"! I mean "we"! ) get a cool new bead coming in every month to increase my..um, *our* stash; and more affordably, probably (and certainly less stressful) than auctions.

Okay, so probably not feasible. I just want more beads :)

Cheers, Carla

starlia wrote:

While this idea sounds interesting and fun at first, I have to think about the logistics. I personally would go nuts if I had to make 50 of the same bead in one month. I don't like making 10 of the same bead. And a $5 bead is pretty small and basic, so I can't see a subscriber being satisfied with one small, basic bead per month. Also, Shipping out beads to 50 people at once would be a nightmare. And the shipping cost for one single $5 bead is pretty high. It costs me a couple of dollars to send out something that light - if I count the packaging supplies and such. It just doesn't sound like it would work for me. But hey, if other artists like the idea, they might want to participate. :)

I think it's a cool idea but $5 couldn't do much. I'd guess more like $25, at the least, (that number would include shipping). It just wouldn't seem worth it to do less than that....especially if splitting with other artists.

While that price might sound high to some, take into consideration the payment fees (paypal, cc, etc), time to organize, package and ship, etc. Like anything else, it's a business thing, not a favor...otherwise it would be more of an exchange or a swap.

I probably wouldn't go nuts making 50 (or even more) of something once a year. If you could get 12 artists, one for every month, you'd know it was coming and could work on them over time.

I'd be game.

Okay. I'm going to start a list of interested parties. I have a poll on my website right now collecting data...I hope. I'll put more info up once I have it organized to a point where I can make a reasonable presentation.

With $25 a month that would give each artist about a hundred a month to participate. Does that sound reasonable? I'm more than willing to organize and present this to other artists if they are interested. I think 50 beads over a few months is very doable. Or if someone would go nuts like Tink they could make 50 beads of anything they want. It doesn't have to be 50 of the same bead, just of the same caliber.

Now that sounds more like something I might do, but I am not so sure there are enough people that would pay $25 per month for one bead per month. They would have to commit for the whole year for this to work. Or we would at least have to have an average of 50 people participating each month. Is that feasable?

I would say that we would have them set up on a yearly basis. I think it's feasible, plus a $25 bead would be worth it to me. I'll subscribe. :-) Many folks can't afford most artist's beads and this might be a way for them to get one.

Anyone else want to comment? I'm looking for feedback.

Wouldn't it be glorious to do a Bead of the Month Club for $80 -- with the beads NOT having to be the same? The artist could do whatever her/his heart desired, just turn out enough beads to cover all participants. Say, within one color range. It would be so cool!

And there have to be people who could afford it -- just look at eBay. People do spend money on lampwork (just not always us....). ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

See, I wouldn't be interested for one reason -- I don't much like focal beads. I like sets of smaller beads. (I tend to make bracelets.) ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

See? Yeah! ~~ Sooz

------- "Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance ~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links

I'd be up for it.

-Kalera

Wait wait! Are you talking $80/month? There's no way I could afford that :( I know I suggested $5.00, which I'm sure is way low for most of the folks here. But someone even mentioned $25 a month, which is even further than my budget would stretch at this point.

For me, the idea was a way for those of us, with limited finances, to stock up on beads.

Cheers, Carla

Dr. Sooz wrote:

Instead of 50 of the same, what if it was 50 red, or 50 flowers, or 50 something similars? They wouldn't have to all be the same bead, but the same idea.

Cheers, Carla

Kandice Seeber wrote:

:) Understandable, we would have to meet somewhere in the middle. I am not sure we could come up with something 50 people would sign up for and 12 artists would agree to. One bead a month isn't really stocking up on beads, though. I understand the limited finances - I am there too. But the artists also need to be paid what their beads are worth. Starlia, have you had any answers to the poll on your site? For those who haven't voted on the idea, here's a link to Starlia's poll:

Unfortunately, $25 a month is beyond my budget. I wouldn't be able to subscribe.

Cheers, Carla

Lori Greenberg wrote: