more pics and descriptions added

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from "Karen_AZ" :

]Niobium is niobium under the color (which is naturally gray). The color is ]obtained by anodizing with electrodes. It's harder to manipulate because ]niobium is just plain harder. It doesn't anneal to "dead soft" they way ]silver or gold will. ] ]Tool dip is great, but you can use pliers wrapped in a few layers of masking ]tape (or a pass of duct tape) too.

THANKS! i thought it was you that liked using it!

is there a way of "re-anodizing" it to get the color back?????

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

And I think it's hypo-alergenic.

Tina

No that was not mentioned.

I assume that is true but look at all the jewelry you have in your jewelry box

- and I don't mean the things you made yourself. What kind of clasp does it have? I have never seen in a retail store any necklace with a toggle for instance. Head to your local department store and see if you can find any. Maybe they are more popular in some parts of the country or something but around here, spring clasps and the like are standard on jewelry - from costume to solid gold.

I am not at all offended and appreciate your input. I am just replying with what little experience and knowledge I have.

Mary Close To My Heart Consultant

Naive in what way? I simply asked a question. What was wrong with that?

And yes I did look in our Yellow Pages under beads and only found one listing. On the listing you so graciously supplied is a bead store in Michigan (not listed in the Toledo phone book) and a POND supply store that has the word bead in it. Still just one listing.

Mary Close To My Heart Consultant

Thanks for letting me know -

Mary Close To My Heart Consultant

Re: clasps? If so, have them try button and loop closures. Michaels does have some neato buttons-- I'ved used them in some of my wooly worms. Kaytee "Simplexities" on

That's very true. I have a pendant that I bought on a long satin cord; I wanted it shorter, so I got a silver-plated barrel clasp at Michael's. I wear this piece a lot, and within 6 months all the plating had worn off and now it's plain brass. For this particular piece, it's not an issue -- but if you were trying to match silver-colored accent beads in a necklace or bracelet, it would be.

Silver-colored or gold-colored pewter doesn't have this problem, I believe. (If anyone else knows differently, please say so!) But I don't know if you can get findings in those materials.

Celine

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 23:18:59 -0400, Lee S. Billings wrote (in message ):

Wierdly, I like the look of pewter, but it smells horrible to me. I want to ask if I'm just strange, but since we all know the answer to that, I'll ask if anyone else finds the smell of pewter disgusting.

BTW, South Pacific (beading.com) and Rings and Things (rings-things.com) both sell pewter findings. I got some nice stuff at the Rings and Things trunk show, and used it when I had a cold and couldn't smell it.

Kathy N-V

On Tue, 23 Sep 2003 22:51:20 -0400, Christina Peterson wrote (in message ):

Can you give any little scratches a quick hit with a matching Sharpie? For large areas it would look awful, but for a little scratch on a headpin, it should be all right.

Kathy N-V (I love my Sharpies)

There's a place over in the Glendale/Heatherdowns/Byrne area called Beadazzled or something similar. I haven't been there because A) I get everything I want online and 2) their hours stunk.

Thanks - I'll check it out if I can find it.

Mary Close To My Heart Consultant

I agree with you but I, too, have a point to make once in awhile although no one here seems to respect that. I do appreciate your help but I was just trying to state why I thought the clasps I was choosing were "good" enough. I was not trying to be arguementative but geez, am I not entitled to defend my thoughts and preferences?

Mary Close To My Heart Consultant

I have been respectful to you, while you have been a smart ass. good luck to you mary! and good bye!

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Kathy N-V :

]Can you give any little scratches a quick hit with a matching Sharpie? For ]large areas it would look awful, but for a little scratch on a headpin, it ]should be all right.

i'll have to see if i can find some. these are wicked colors.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Well this is the final straw. I was not being a "smart ass" - I was expressing an opinion. Apparently newbies are not allowed thoughts around here. I have tried to express my thoughts in an honest and non combative way while questioning various areas of this hobby and all I get in return is grief and belittling and I have been on the defensive, which is not a place I like to be. I had hoped this would be a good place for insight and constructive ideas from all parties concerned but I see now that is not to be. Thank you to those who emailed me their support - it is much appreciated. Mary Close To My Heart Consultant

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from snipped-for-privacy@aol.com (MBryt1) :

]I had hoped this would be a good place for insight and constructive ideas from ]all parties concerned but I see now that is not to be.

oh, please. after a few months of a project, you've argued with every answer you've received - - with people who have been doing it for YEARS.

you're flat out not listening. you don't WANT to hear. you've made that painfully obvious.

and i rarely do that in this group.

----------- @vicki [SnuggleWench] (Books)

Mary, you are being offered insight and constructive ideas. You are getting answers to what do we think of your jewelry and their prices and salability. We are being honest with you because that is how to be supportive.

We say you need to be more knowlegeable about your product, and more particular about it's quality. Giving honest and helpful answers. But for some reason you seem not to want to hear what you're told and you dis the advise you're being given. You say it's your right to maintain your opinions and preferrences and what you're doing is good enough. Fine, I have no problem with that. But what is it good enough for?

Tina

I never called it artist made jewelry - that is what you all assumed somewhere. Now if the newsgroup was called artist jewelry or some such thing I would understand but it is crafts.beads. Therefore, I can be here if I string nothing but pony beads onto cord.

I have taken people's advice from this group and have said so over and over and over - why do you all choose not to hear that but only hear when I am trying to defend my stance on something. Just because I try to explain why I chose to use spring clasps you all think I haven't learned anything when in fact I have and my recent (yesterday) clasp purchase was nothing but sterling toggles. God, cut me some slack!

Mary Close To My Heart Consultant