Not really an AD, but an announcement

Good grief - what is up with people?? You got nasty emails about this?? That's crazy. You are an artist that needs to do what YOU need to do, not a bead making machine. (and if that's what they are looking for there are places that do production lampwork!)

And I hope you have a wonderful and restful vacation!!

Not nasty really, just people who are irritated that I decided this right before show season. You're right - I am not a beadmaking machine..... that's exactly it. I have felt like a machine lately, not an artist.

People who don't make beads or jewelry (or any other functional art) may not understand that production work is ten times more draining on some artists than creating originals. I am still happy I decided this. I will be happier, and my beads will get better. :)

I am so glad you've made this choice for yourself, Kandice! It's difficult to disappoint people in the short run, but think how disappointed they would all be in the LONG run if you got burned out and quit altogether...

For a while there, I thought you were thriving on the production work, which made me SO envious. LOL! I have NO patience with it, and simply cannot do it. Though I know this was a difficult decision for you, I'm glad to see you're mortal ;-)

Tink Rent-A-Tink Info via snipped-for-privacy@blackswampglassworks.com Latest Work is here:

On Thu, 15 Apr 2004 21:48:21 -0400, Kandice Seeber wrote (in message ):

Not. Your. Problem. They don't own you, and besides, having you crank out production work would suck all the joy out of your art. A lot of the beauty in your beads is the joy showing through.

I can't believe that some people don't understand that. So what if it's show season? If they were that concerned, why didn't they buy the beads a long time ago, when they were available? Hmmmm? Learn to make your own freakin' beads, if you're that concerned about having an endless supply available. (Oh, you don't have the talent? Too bad, so sad. Want a cookie?)

I know why I only bought some a long time ago, and I'm saving up for the next generation of Kandice beads. BTW, all you RCB lampworkers - I may give a lot of things away, but I have _never_ parted with any of your beads. I hoard them like a miser hoards gold, and only DD and I know where they are. They mean too much to me to give (or sell) them to someone who might not appreciate them.

I think of each of you, twirling your mandrel over a flame, touching the hot proto-bead with a glass rod or a stringer until it's just what you want, and slipping it into the kiln. Then I imagine each of you opening the kiln the next day - sometimes thrilled with how the bead came out, and sometimes saddened that it wasn't what you hoped it would be. I'm not sure I could communicate that appreciation to someone who didn't know you, and I'm not taking any chances.

Happiness is what counts. You didn't start making beads to be miserable. If anyone has a problem with that, you can send them to me, and I'll have a little chat with them.

Kathy N-V (all bitchy tonight because she's in enormous pain)

I'm so sorry you're in pain, Kathy. ((((((hugs))))))

Your post was really nice though and made me feel better. All the support I get here makes me feel much better, and for that I am very grateful. More than you all know!

I'll trade beads for homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, with Extra Nestle's Tollhouse Morsels (and made with pasturized eggs - so you can eat your fill without worrying about the 'evils' of raw eggs)!!!!!!!!!!!

Did I mention that I managed for Mrs. Field's Cookies for a number of years??? :)

Okay, I just have to ask. How do you pasteurize an egg without cooking it?

Celine

Drroooooooooooollll

Let me preface this by stating that I whole-heartedly support you in your decision.

I do have a couple of questions, and figure I can't possibly be utterly alone in this wondering, so I'm posting them here so others can see your answers if they're interested:

I find it inspiring to see that you, and several others here, can support yourselves doing what makes your soul soar. I might envy you that, but do not for one moment begrudge you it!

Most kind regards, Alison

No problem - I am happy to answer questions. :)

To be honest with you, I really don't know the answer to this one. I don't know when I am going to feel like making custom orders again. It could be a few months - it could be never. I would like to eventually do some shows, and I absolutely cannot do that if I am taking orders - custom orders generally completely fill my time up. I would have time to occasionally make a set for ebay, but certainly not enough time to make enough inventory for a show. I also really like the idea of offering beads on the site for immediate purchase. And I like ebay. Most people don't, but I really do.

No, actually, this is my least favorite way to take custom orders, because more often than not, I have to re-make the beads a couple of times before the customer is satisfied. I don't like doing that - especially with such high demand. It pushes back all the other orders, and everyone has to wait longer. I'm dealing with that right now. On occasion someone will really mean what they say when they tell me that anything goes, as long as it's in the right color scheme. But most of the time I hear that the beads are too small, too large, the wrong design, etc. I would rather have clear-cut instructions. This is what's so exhausting about making custom orders. The customer has in mind exactly what they want, and sometimes it doesn't happen.

:) Thank you! I'm sorry I couldn't be more help.

So... does this mean you might actually make some of those lovely plum cubes with geometric designs, like the ones that were in your "grab bag", and put them up on eBay? When *you* feel like doing it, of course!

Yes, I see your point. When I've made commissions, I generally try to give a bit more direction than that -- something like "these colors, this size range, this general shape, transparent/opaque/cased, no flowers." That seems to be enough detail that I'll be happy with whatever I get.

Celine

This kind of thing always shocks me. It's like when.....

wait, I don't want to open a big can of worms, and have people tattling to other people "That bitch Sooz said so-and-so about you!" So if you want to know what I was going to say, and about whom (not a poster here), email me.

divaocean AT aol DOT com ~~ 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

You KNOW you have my support, any and all the time, with all my heart, babykins. SMOOCH. ~~ 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

What I have to say about this:

2) I LOVE Victoria! I know you do too!! What a fantastic choice!

------- "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

Self-interest is always SO charming.

BTW -- just because someone here samples a quote from the not-original post (as I have done here) does not make it "obvious" that the OP is being killfiled. As you probably can guess, I do not killfile Kandice. Marissa (USA), don't jump to conclusions..... ~~ 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

Me too. ~~ 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

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 19:03:29 -0400, Kandice Seeber wrote (in message ):

That kind of gall amazes me. If someone came to me with those conditions for a custom order, I'd tell them to shove off. I always thought it was like 'Pretty Please Kandice, could you make me a set of chartreuse beads? Here's the money up front, because it's a custom order."

I figure that you're the artist, and if I had that specific a vision, I'd make the damn things myself. It sounds like the people want "Beads by Me, executed by Kandice." Feh.

Wow. I'm slack jawed with astonishment. You're the artist, and I know why you were saying you felt like a bead making machine.

Double Wow.

Kathy N-V

On Fri, 16 Apr 2004 21:07:18 -0400, Dr. Sooz wrote (in message ):

Sooz, I know you'll know what I mean when I say this. I hate being in pain, but it is what it is. It's not going to go away, and I'm not going to let it run my life. There are days it will win, but even on those days, I won't let the pain define who I am. I can be me, even if I'm in pain. (I'll just be a version of me with foul language)

Thanks guys, for all your support. I can't begin to say how much I appreciate it.

Kathy N-V

So... does this mean you might actually make some of those lovely plum cubes

Yes, because I really loved doing those. :) And I haven't done them over and over, so I'm not sick of them. I *am* sick of certain things, but those aren't it. :)