more pics and descriptions added

I can't speak to the strange :-) but I can smell pewter as well. While I don't care for the smell initially, I do filter it out after a while. But I've not used it for anything other than charms on cards. :-)

Kar>

first of all, I did not "put down" lobster claws in my post, I explained why I didn't use them, and why lots of other artists don't use them. anything with a mechanism can fail. I did not say they were completely unreliable, I stated it was like the lotto.

and I disagree that mary was listening, she apparently stopped listening after the first few posts. I wasn't rude to her, I didn't jump in here to defend sooz, sooz doesn't need me to do that. I posted my experiences, and I thought I did so in a nice informative way. the people at the bead shop she was shopping at didn't even bother to tell her about plated finishes wearing off, even after she questioned them about the clasps. that is when I decided I should post to her. and I have reread my posts to her 4-5 times now, and I still don't see what I said that deserved the flippant reply from her. she replied that way to me because she was mad at someone else. I gave her good information in a nice way. I do not apologize for that!

kellie

(click on "view seller's other Items")

Pewter isn't so bad to me, but tarnished silver is one of the more awful smells in the world. Pheeuw!

awful smells in the world.<

And sterling has gotten so inexpensive that I often see pewter clasps that are more expensive than silver ones. Go figure!

Carol in SLC eBay auctions:

(click on "view seller's other Items")

I was thinking the same thing as I was reading this thread. The only reason I buy anything other than sterling or gold filled at this point is when it's a tried and true, very pretty thing that I can't get in another form. Like the Tierracast stuff. Yum!

Bobby Bead, one of my LBSs in MN, carried an extensive line of charms and findings in silver-colored and gold-colored pewter. So, they do exist.

I can't speak to the other question -- does the surface wear off easily -- because I don't have direct enough direct experience using them to act as a test.

Deirdre

This is an interesting observation. And on the whole, I would rather have something made with one of my favorite varieties of jasper than some of the pricier faceted gemstones. As you say, the design is likely to be more mainstream for the higher-ticket stuff, and more individual for the stuff where people can afford to take a chance, be more expressive.

Deirdre

LOL. I agree it has a distinctive smell, but it doesn't utterly repel me. But then, I don't have that acute a nose.

I wonder if you could seal it somehow, or soak it in a baking-soda bath until it smelled less obnoxious to you. Or is it just an aspect of pewter that is there and won't go away, no matter what?

Deirdre

And I share that perspective.

Do people *have to* choose certain things, think a certain way, know particular information, use particular materials and have some standardized attitude toward them in order to be allowed in the door here?

Is this like an exclusive sorority, where only certain people are 'good enough' to make the cut and get to pledge? And those who don't are treated disrespectfully until they get the hint and disappear?

Cuz -- if so, I really don't -want- to be part of the club. And that would be sad, because of how many people who -are- in the club ... are people I like, and want to hang with.

Deirdre

vj found this in rec.crafts.beads, from Deirdre S. :

]Bobby Bead, one of my LBSs in MN, carried an extensive line of charms ]and findings in silver-colored and gold-colored pewter. So, they do ]exist.

i picked up some pretty copper colored pewter in a store in Sacramento. but they're still sealed - i haven't used them yet.

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

's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you;it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis

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

]I do it because my TIME is ]valuable. I spend my time, by my choice, making an object of beauty.(to me, ]anyway). That is worth good quality, precious metal findings. *I* am ]important enough to to use the best I can.

bingo. i think you've just pointed out why i do it, too.

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

's not what you take, when you leave this world behind you;it's what you leave behind you when you go. -- Randy Travis

That's interesting. How would you compare the complexity of the design-work in each? Comparable?

Deirdre

well...that may be your take on it, but my take on her response to ME is different. I was nice to her and she got an attitude with me, both on this NG and then in email. like I had done something wrong. I am not talking about her response to you, or anyone else. only her response to me, and I have a problem with her smart ass remark after I shared with her. I actually thought her work looked really nice, especially for a beginner, much better then any of the first stuff I made, and I had my mom to teach me right there in person! I think mary has a knack for it and should continue. I did not criticize her at all, I just gave her some information that her own bead shop failed to give her. which is pretty piss poor customer service in my book, but that is a whole nother rant.

and again, that may be your feeling, but I didn't come after her with hurtful words. I made it clear in my post to her that that was not my intent. and pretty much every one that has posted about it agrees that my post was not rude or hurtful. but she still had attitude towards me. why? cuz she was pissed at someone else. I guess. I don't usually post here, but after I read how her bead shop didn't give her good info, I decided to post to her, and I spent a long time writing it to make sure it didn't sound rude, cuz I knew she was feeling abused. she made that clear. next time I will keep my damn mouth shut. she thinks she learned a lesson from this NG, but I also learned a lesson, from her.

kellie

Well, I'll be jiggered. I wonder why?

Because a higher demand for silver brings its price down, perhaps? Or because more of it is worked by lower-paid workers?

Deirdre

more of it is worked by lower-paid workers?<

I'm guessing the latter. And there's a lot of competition out there these days, too.

Carol in SLC eBay auctions:

(click on "view seller's other Items")

I know you didn't. And I don't know what Mary said in email. Just here.

I just wanted to put myself in her shoes just a bit, and see how things looked and felt from there. To understand -why- she might feel the need to continue defend her findings -- as if they were her personal honor.

Does that make sense? Didn't mean I thought you were persecuting her. I don't.

Deirdre

FWIW, I haven't replied on the subject of your jewelry but I did look at the work when you first posted -- and I didn't see any major problems with it. I often use something other than sterling when the component is in a place that's hard to polish, and needs to be silver-colored. To be perfectly honest your work looked like beginner work but it looked like you're using crimp beads correctly from what I could see. I think as you continue to devote yourself to the work, you will develop an increasing sensitivity to beads, materials, color, and all that stuff that comes with experience, nothing wrong with being a beginner as long as your styles have been road-tested for durability.

To be perfectly blunt, I've been on the receiving end of some of Sooz's rapid fire highdrama-nastygrams in private email, but fortunately I don't get them any more. I didn't understand her reaction/response to you since there's actually nothing wrong with your work as far as I can see, other than I think if you look at those pieces in a year, two years, five years, you will see a difference in your design sense. Also, your prices seemed reasonable to me, in local galleries I see similar prices even for strung work with sterling clasps.

Mary T. 8-)

Aunt Molly's Bead Street

and JustBeads: seriousbeader

"MBryt1" wrote

I do think this is where the confusion lies. The above is a quote from your post, though in your post just previous to this one I'm respondong to you say you "never called it artist made jewelry".

I'm trying to explain to you why you're getting some of the replies you get. You keep sending out mixed messages.

You say you are just getting into artist made jewelry. That means to me that this is what you are doing or trying to do (or at the very least aspiring to do). You ask about selling, which also indicates a desire to make things at a level of artistry and professionalism.

And then you say you never called your work "artist made", and it really sounds like you are dissing the advise you hear. Everything is "yes, but".

At the moment, I'm not really talking about your intention, but rather I'm talking about how you come across. And why you're not getting a good reception.

I have real sympathy for you because I think you do want to learn, and I'm pleased that you do keep on asking and are staying. But you are sending mixed messages, and it confuses and frustrates people. Including some very easy going folks.

Tina