Treasures, Aikos, Delicas, etc. vs. "regular" seed beads

The Aiko beads are wickedly expensive. They fill a niche, as do Delicas, regular Toho Antiques and even irregular chinese and czech seed beads. Japanese seed beads are pretty uniform, fwiw. I can't see any one store narrowing down to one type of seed bead, especially the most expensive one on the market.

Barbara Beader and Polymer Clay Junky

Hi Monique,

Actually, the Chinese and Taiwanese have been producing seed beads for many years. But they never come very highly recommended. Not just because of the severe lack of uniformity in shape and size, but also because the colors aren't very consistent. The process the Taiwanese, for instance, have used to create their seed beads doesn't allow for a proper melting temperature for the glass, and so the beads tend to be very "drippy" looking with lots of cracks and fissures in the glass that cut through beading thread like mad. There is a little "thru the grapevine" going on that the Chinese are working on perfecting this, but so far I haven't seen it.

I think cylinder beads are often more preferred for pictorial pieces in Peyote and other off-loom stitches. Mostly so that the picture is legible. But any seed bead type, from any country can be used for a patterned off-loom piece of beadwork. The end result will just have a different "feel" to it. I think it's all about preference.

I think it's pretty unlikely. Seed beads have been around for 1000's of years. They morph over time, and new versions surface, and some disappear again. But there is always a place for most kinds to remain in constant use. Some countries have still not ever had an opportunity to work with Japanese seed beads at all. Or maybe in a limited supply that is gifted to them by a visitor. The Hoichol Indians for instance will continue to prefer Czech beads for their style of beadwork. The Saraguro woman prefer size 10 Czech seed beads. Many tribes in Africa have perfected their seed bead work based upon the shape of a Czech seed bead, and I can't see them changing that now after the 1000's of years of doing it. And then there are all the contemporary beadwork artists who's style or type of beadwork works best as well with Czech beads. Bead embroidery is a good example of a newly resurfaced style of beading that is best suited to using beads that are not always completely uniform.

That's possible. Actually, I think most stores with limited space have a lot of decisions they need to make about what they can and cannot stock. And I think their best choices for what they carry are based upon what their local market dictates.

We stopped carry Czech seed beads about 6 years ago. It broke my heart as I use them often. But my local customers stopped buying them and my Internet customers had other sources, which made the competition too great for me to justify stocking them. It was all about the business decision, rather than a personal preference for me. Actually...I'm such an addict that my personal preference would dictate that I stock every single bead ever known to man....it's my bank account that doesn't seem to agree with this! LOL

I think, if your LBS isn't carrying something you would like them to, you should let them know. They'll never know these things unless their customers communicate with them. This doesn't mean they'll be able to get everything everyone wants in stock, but it may help them to make their buying decisions. And if they aren't able to supply you with what you need, consider the many reasons this may be. You may be the only one asking. Their budget may not allow for it at this time. They may have limited space. Their competition may carry something similar and they have agreed to not cross over too much. There are about a dozen more reasons as well....

I love talking about seed beads!

Beki

Oooh, thanks for the good info. That's exactly the sort of insight from a shop/site owner I was looking for.

My LBS is just starting out, and I've given the owner lots of hints about what I'd be likely to buy, but I'm not everybody. I know she's got to please the majority. For the unusual things, there is always the internet. (I must have been a terrier in a former life; eventually I will dig up what I'm looking for.)

Maybe we lovers of Czech seed beads ought to put together a bead-lover's tour of the Czech Republic--get a tour of a factory or two and come home with some very bulgy suitcases? As long as Eastern Europe remains off the Euro, it's very cheap to travel/eat/lodge once you get there there. (It's the airfare over that'll eat up the stash money.)

Cheers, Monique in TX happy because she just won a second chance auction on e-bay

And we like to hear! You're so informed about them, even someone who knows a bit about them learns something new from you. Wanna get coffee so I can pick your brain? lol!