"Handmade, US Lampwork"????

*snickering* I don't care who made them--they're butttttt ugly. *waiting for the beating to commence cause I dared to say it*

I'm not really sure what to say about the auctions. One of them did look like it had a lot of Indian glass but also looks like there might be some non-mass produced beads in there too. I don't quite understand.

The large beads do look like the style of some imported glass I've seen, but never in that shape, with the smeared looking murrini and more organic feel of the colors and twisties being random, but who knows? Could it just be a style or lack of? Dunno. I'm not going to judge what it is because if they can do it in India, why couldn't they here?

I guess one could test it and send them through an annealing cycle and see if they explode. Or drop 'em on the floor and see if they crack or shatter.

I did notice when clicking around the other auctions is that one of them for some gold toggle clasps actually had the wrong description left from another of the kitty clasp auctions.

So, whatever the deal, it wasn't checked over very closely.

Some people just make it easier for me to keep my mouth shut. ;o) Know what I mean?

It does look suspicious but like Lori said it's hard to tell.

I agree - it's hard to tell. No matter what, hopefully the low selling prices will force this seller to either stop misrepresenting beads, or to get better at making them.

Well, color me skeptical but there are a LOT of beads that she (?) seems to be claiming are handmade but I'm seriously doubting it was on this continent. The ones you mentioned are definitely Indian (I've seen them in my LBS). There's a green set (skinny barrels with red & white bars) that look distinctly Indian (aka bad Italian copies) as well.

If so, that's just sad, IMO. They're not terrible Indian beads, but claiming them to be handmade is sleazy.

KarenK (professional cynic)

I would agree that they look like cheap Indian beads. I'm 99.5% positive all of the "wedding cake" ones are. But the others, well, I think it's possible that she's just new to lampwork, hasn't been exposed to much variety, and is just making what she knows. That seems pretty far fetched, but it's possible. With the seriousness of the craft, I find it hard to believe anyone could "do it on their own", without knowing or seeing other lampwork(ers). But, that's just me....lampwork is such a huge thing, I couldn't imagine just seeing some beads at the LBS, buying a kit, and going at it. Did that make sense? ;o)

There is somebody on eBay selling beads in this catagory, and "confirming" the

96&tc=photo This set has very distinct pressed beads (you can see the seams).

Is there Italian Dichroic Boro?

..Stephanie..

search RCB

Well, to give the seller some credit, in some of the auctions she says the jewelry is made by her and some of the components *may* be made by her, but she does say she uses some imported beads.

" All jewelry is handmade by me in my studio in Northern Florida. My designs are made using Moretti-Effetre Lampwork beads, Precious and Semi-precious gemstones, Sterling Silver, genuine Swarovski Crystals, Czech and German glass. I use only Sterling Silver components , Gold, or Gold plated brass and/or findings. "

hmmmm...i think she is on another of my groups. but she has good taste...she's bought beads from this character named "saucybeads".

we at least know she BUYS U.S. made lampwork...what she does after that, who knows??

I saw that! You've got to find a way to pay for your fix of Saucybeads. Don't I know that!

..Stephanie..

search RCB

On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 15:21:43 -0400, Kandice Seeber wrote (in message ):

Take a look at this other item, being sold by the same "lampworker."

500896 Uh, okay. Unless the photo is of something else entirely, then the person is either misinformed or lying. Considering that (s)he knows all the jargon, I suspect it's the latter.

Kathy N-V

I like the way she calls it "Effetre and Moretti" lampwork. If she were a real lampworker and bead person, she'd know that those are the same thing. Also in another auction she refers to the beads as "lamps".

-Ellen

On Wed, 8 Sep 2004 17:13:38 -0400, Barbara Forbes-Lyons wrote (in message ):

A lot of the things I saw were base metal or pewter, not sterling. She might make the jewelry, but she's not being honest about the origin of her components. A lot of that stuff is Indian pressed glass and lampwork. The only stuff that looked like US-made lampwork was priced a lot higher than anything else.

Kathy N-V

On September 3, she got a negative feedback that points to the fact that silver wasn't used. Her response is that she never said it was sterling.

Sheesh.

Tink Check here for available work:

Wonder how she'd reply to a potential customer, asking about it???....

Hmmm...

The Blessed Fiddy, Patroness Saint of the Disorganized LC in Sunny So Cal Personality Development Specialist (Full-Time Mom!)

Nevertheless, the bracelet is a jumbled mess. It might have a pretty saucybead in there somewhere but it's covered in a lot of crap. I'm shocked she got a bidder, unless they're just planning to take it apart and make something a little more pleasing to the eye.

Cheri (Bubbee to Emily and Nathan)

Yeah. There are some handmade lampwork beads in that bracelet - at least I am pretty sure. There might also be a few sterling beads. But there are also a lot of base metal, pewter, pressed czech glass, imported lampwork and such in there, too. A bit misleading to say the least. And the pics are screwed up - there are pics of parts of two different bracelets, and there are no pics of the whole bracelet, even though they say there are. Several of this person's auctions contain imported lampwork I have seen elsewhere - especially the wedding cake and encased florals. Some of the beads look like they might be handmade, but it's hard to tell. Claiming you have made something when you have not is fraudulent. I am wondering how long their auctions will be allowed. I am not sure I am brave enough to report it - especially if we are all wrong! But I don't think we are.