Lampwork set question

Oh, I completly identify with this!!! Official me too post. And you know, this is really an interesting topic. Thanks for posting it, Tina. :)

I tried not to read ahead (much). I'm with Tink and Cheryl. A "set" is related items. The first link most certainly is a set, in two related colors. I think adding the eight transparent spacers is a nice touch, it gives you something more to work from than just opaque red and turquoise. I'd be looking for something like that anyway.

The second link shows me 7 nearly identical beads. A group of the same thing, which can also be a set.

The third link was presented as three sets possibly blending into one larger set (the inclusion of the green bothers me, but that's MY own personal taste).

They're each different kinds of sets. The first has a distinct focal, the second doesn't, the third doesn't either but offers different directions to take the sub-sets. It's all about possibilities. You might not find the set to be related enough, but others may. As Cheryl said, it's the artists' vision and pretty darned subjective. I've had customers tell me that it wasn't the focal that grabbed them, but the accents I included...on the same set that someone else wondered why I added them at all! LOL I've seen sets (and put some together myself) where the accents weren't the same color at all, but complementary colors, like cobalt blue and lime green or yellow and gold, etc. I suspect that the artist for the first link felt that even though the spacers in question are transparent colors, they're still red and aqua/turquoise so it felt right to her.

Pricing: Another subjective issue. (Oh if only there were some hard and fast rules!) The first link has some very large and intricate beads. I agree about the price of spacers but even subtracting them, that's only $7 per bead for the remaining 7, quite a bargain for the size and complexity of the beads. Those dotted cubes aren't the easiest to do, either...add them in and the price per bead drops to $5.45. Michael's beads are on the smaller side (of my personal scale) but he's only asking for $3.50 per bead, for reasonably complex, well-shaped beads. Kim's set has 12 spacers. Subtract those and she only asked for $2.40 per bead for her starting price. The set is also on the small side but even the spacers have white hearts and were etched, which takes additional time.

In the end, I think "set" is subjective, and most of those beautiful beads are terribly underpriced. But that's another soapbox for another day.

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

What a great discussion! I have to admit, when putting my "sets" together, I sort of use the "if it feels good, do it" approach :->. I get wild once in awhile, and put contrasting colors (always a risk if bidders don't have the same vision as you do) but mostly try to stay with matching, or close to matching spacers. Sometimes this isn't as easy as it seems. So many variables can affect a color (especially boro), heat, time in flame, atmosphere of the flame, whether the color is cased in clear or not......not to mention how your eye perceives the color when used in a bead with other colors. So, that color in a spacer might look completely different in the "designer" beads. I aim at matching, but many times I have to accept that the closest I will get is the same color family, maybe a bit lighter, maybe a bit darker. Sometimes I use a color of spacer to "draw out" a color that might otherwise be in the background. It's amazing what a change in spacer color will do for a set.

I like putting spacers with my sets because it dresses the set. With boro, it is also sometimes difficult to match the beads with soft glass spacers that the buyer might already have so I like to include them. I figure a bidder will have to decide what value, if any, these spacers have to them.

Mary Ann

Website:

sneaker and a boot, call them a pair of shoes and slap the crap out of anyone who says otherwise. ;-D<

Yep, Katie - I SOOOO agree with you about the bead sets!!

Carol in SLC My latest creation:

even if they have spacers and different beads, as long as they are cohesive in some way.<

Ah, but the problem is, we are seeing many, many so-called sets that, in my opinion, are not cohesive in ANY way. I think some of the lampworkers are "padding" their sets in hopes of getting more money for the beads - but I think it makes all of their beads look tacky instead.

Carol in SLC My latest creation:

And even if the intension is not to turn a small set into a larger, more expensive set by adding spacers, it sometimes looks that way. In a way, that's why I chose the Mary Jarvis' set to use as an example. She's conscientious, and I think she did NOT try to pad her set.

I have to say, this turned me on.

Becki "In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows

Actually, as I was writing, you were one of the people I thought about regarding sets of similar beads. I have a small set of beads you made (from MAWGA) and also a larger set of less similar beads (from Off Broadway). The small set is very unified with a "teeth" bead with teal, two half and half teals, and two all teal beads. The all teal ones don't function as spacers, but as a unifying part of the set.

I haven't decided how the less similar beads should be used yet. Whether to add in a unifying accent or seperate it into small groups. Or even use the beads as lots of small focals. I haven't used them, but the reason is not that I don't know a way to unify them but because I have so many choices, including separating them.

I know matching spacers aren't as easy as it seems. Aside from changes as a color is worked, sometimes the core bead color is not the dominant color in a set, for example.

(Not referring your work and presentation), You mention variables within colors from how the glass is worked. It reminds me that I often experience blues as being muddied or bruised or dirty when purple is added. Sometimes I can't tell if it's a shadow (perceived color) or a different glass. For that reason I like to see a description of colors. Sometimes I can't tell from a photo if an accent line is black, brown, cobalt, purple, etc.

Part of this discussion is in the definition of "spacer" too, I guess. A one color bead in a matching size, for example, when the beads are all a large size or something, is much more an element of the set/matching beads. Or one color beads that are in graduated sizes. As opposed to the additions of a large portions of small one color beads.

A teacher once mentioned that one of the main reason for an education is to give professionals are common language to speak in.

Tina

I have to say, this turned me on.<

Oh Becki dahling, you've gotta come visit, then! Last weekend I caught Mike mid-change....wearing shorts, a long-sleeved shirt, one sandal and one cowboy boot. I stopped, stared and giggled. He barely batted an eye when he told me "this way I'm ready for anything!" Geeeez.

-- KarenK Desert Dreamer Designs

I absolutely agree than none of the sets of beads are overpriced.

Tina

This cracks me up!!! :)

I love this!!!!

Kathy K "KatieLiz11" wrote

Tina,

I think it is definitely a color thing. I also don't think the transparent turq. spacers "go" with the opaque beads. I might could work with the transparent reds, but not the clear turq. I've seen other sets that my first reaction was- but those colors don't match in a any way shape or form!!!!

I love your description of color btw.