Anyway...since I am new to lampworking and I play and learn and figure out a style, I am amassing a large pile of beads on my desk:
They might be slightly wonky, but they have decent, non-sharp holes and are made with high quality soft glass and were kiln annealed - just like the pros do!
So here is the question...do you think that there would me a market for "starter beads" that come at a less than "Master Designer" price?
Here are some close ups - let me know what you think - tell me your favorite - and I will pick a winner March 4th. And maybe put the rest in my shop!
I would say, you never know till you try! There are a lot of beginning beaders as well who would love the look of handmade beads but probably couldn't afford to purchase the "masters". I say give it a shot and see what happens!
ReplyDeleteI think that is a totally fair way of doing it! As your skill set grows and you get the beads to where you want them to be then the price should be adjusted. But I am a true lover of orphan beads. No orphan goes unloved in my space! I think that these are a great start, Miss Elisabeth! I think my favorites are the little bubble dot beads, the ones with the orange flames in them and those swirly green tubes! Great progress! Enjoy the day. Erin
ReplyDeleteI totally think there would be a market for them! Back in the day, when there were apprentice programs and such for artisans, it was completely expected for an apprentice to sell his work, once it met certain basic standards. It was marked and priced accordingly. As the apprenticed moved up in skill to journeyman and eventually master, the work would be re-evaluated and again marked and priced accordingly.
ReplyDeleteThe key to this is twofold: first, make sure the work does meet the basic standard (possibly get a second opinion - see if you can send some off to an "old pro" and see what they think); second, periodically re-evaluate and reprice as your skill and artistry grows.
I totally think there would be a market. If you do a search on both etsy and ebay for "orphans" you will see that many do the same! I love the 3rd set of beads the best.
ReplyDeleteAs a 'hobby' beader, I would totally be interested in 'beginner' lampies. Since I'm sure you would already be doing what Salla said, and selling beads that meet the basic minimum requirement, I would totally use them. Especially since there are a lot of 'organic' styles of jewelry out there right now, which would lend itself perfectly to 'wonky' style of bead. And, of course, I'd be thrilled to win some too!
ReplyDeleteOops, forgot to put my fave...the orange ones!
ReplyDeleteJust what I've been looking for! I'm also a 'hobby' beader, and my small market can't afford the fancy lampwork that I've been drooling over. I love the swirly tubes and the blue with what look like gold flames! To an unpracticed eye - these look like a lot of fun to use!
ReplyDeleteI think that there would be a market for "beginning" lampwork beads. My favorites are the blue and orange beads in the bottom photo.
ReplyDeleteAs a beginner myself, I'd be extremely interested...
ReplyDeleteMy favorite ones from the photos are the ones in the 3rd and 6th photo, from the close up photos :-)
I also love the ones with blue, green and yellow that i can just discern form the group photos...
DESPINA
deb_oro@yahoo.gr
To offer the opposite perspective...as someone who has been selling beads for quite a while, I've been pretty disheartened lately by all the people who have begun selling their first tries at beads at a significantly lower price online (I'm specifically talking about situations where a person has blogged/FB'd that they just got their first kiln, share pictures of their first batch of beads, and a couple weeks later have an Etsy shop). In my mind it reduces the value of the medium to buyers in general (not to really savvy buyers but the majority).
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying you shouldn't sell your beads (I think they're lovely!), but Salla hit it right on the head that re-evaluating and re-pricing are key...unfortunately I don't see others often changing their price points. Regardless of the level of skill you feel your beads show, just make sure that you look at your cost of materials, time involved, plus the appropriate retail markup, and don't undersell yourself! Just because you're new to it doesn't mean you should sell them at a loss or at made in China prices.
I am such a sucker for blue and brown, I just love that set of four across the paper with text. They're beautiful. I'm glad you asked the question and in truth, I wasn't quite sure what my answer would be. I started reading the comments while I was thinking and there are some excellent points. My thought, a strategy perhaps would be keep them for now. Share them by all means and then show your next attempts and so on so the work progresses until you are happy to look at one and say - this isn't in any way wonky, it is beautiful, I love it, this is my work, this is how I want to represent myself. I would say those are the ones, those first quality ones that you put up for sale first at a fair price for your skill. Then with that established, ie what you would like to be earning with your skill, then that could be a great time to put all those first orphans into sets and sell them at a fair price for what they are. Beautiful beads but not of the same calibre you have shown. I think this strategy is perhaps a longer term one, so if you need to get the investment back right away then not ideal. But if you can wait I think it protects what you would like to make longterm...
ReplyDeleteI totally understand where you are coming from. I look back at my work and how it has grown and changed over these last couple of years and I am amazed that people liked what I did back then because now it seems so basic. That being said I quite agree with many of the posts above. They are cool beads, yes maybe a bit rustic, but if you price them fairly, explain that they are 'starters' and at least get the cost of your materials back, then you can buy more supplies and keep practicing and as you improve increase your prices. I like things that are out of the box so I would be happy to use any of those shown above, but I most like the brown with a touch of blue in the 4th small picture. Best of Luck!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI think your beads are lovely, and I love buying lampwork beads, but lately I haven´t been able to buy many as their price tag is quite high for me right now. But I have to agree with Mellisa, don't undervalue yourself. You are pretty good at it and in no time you will be making top nocht beads.
Well done and carry on, you are doing a great job!
I think I would buy them as I am beginner myself and can't afford the master prices. THese are all very beautiful designs, and as long as the holes are placed properly, I would totally buy them! (I got some ceramic pendants from a master which had unbalanced holes which basically make them unusable for me, I love symmetry)
ReplyDeleteAnd I have two favorites: pic number 2 for its shape and pic number 5 for the color!
Elisabeth, I own a few of your beads from an earlier give away, and I used them in a memory wire bracelet along with the bead soup you sent along with them, and a few beads from my own stash, I loved those beads! they were beautiful browns, nicely shaped, just not quite the same size, but they were perfect for what I used them for! I would have bought them! and from the pics you provided I have to say you are coming along, I love the colors! with practice comes perfection, I have bought lots of beads on ebay that were "orphans" meaning they either didn't have matching mates or were a little wonky, or were some extras from other sets, I've always found that I love most of them! a few have been kind of funky, but even they work out well in certin bracelets. So why don't you give it a try? selling your odd lots on ebay might work for you!
ReplyDeletemy favorites are the ones on picture nr 3 !
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely a market for unique beads without an outrageous price. I personally like the quirky ones and think they make great dangles and focals for asymmetric pieces and also lariats. They also might do well packaged with a small bead soup. I would buy them.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are the blue and orange.
I would say yes!! There are lots of times I am looking for just 1 bead in a certain color! I am not always looking for some state of the art bead either. Depending on the design and market, it doesn't always call for it! What a great discussion and it looks like you are off to a wonderful start! I like the orange, yellow, and grey ones!
ReplyDeleteI would totally buy an "orphan" set of beds. I think it's nice to have stray lampwork beads to use here and there to compliment focals or other beads. I would group them in bags of 5 - 10 beads, maybe.
ReplyDeleteI have no idea about pricing, but as long as you stated that they were beginning beads or "slightly wonky" (love that phrase), I think most people would understand.
My favorites are the blue and yellow in the blue picture, but all of them look lovely.
I love lampwork beads, but cannot often afford to buy them. I do really like orphan strands, and this would give more people an opportunity to use handmade lampies, even if they are not made by a master. The four blue and brown beads are my favorites.
ReplyDeleteMy two cwnts, though I am a newbie lampworker mayself is to agreee with most of what is said above. As long as you are honest that these are early works of a budding artist I think putting them out there is fine, many people would be happy to have them. I also agree that you still shouldn't sell yourself short on time and materials and remember to rethink pricing strategies as your work progresses. I'm sure even the masters still make a wonky bead now and again, surely they don't all hit the scrap heap.
ReplyDeleteI think your beads look fantastically rustic. I love the swirly oblong ones in the center of the top picture.
Torch on and keep having fun with your art! :)
I love buying orphan bead sets. In fact, some of my favorite necklaces have "wonky" beads. I think it adds character. :)
ReplyDeleteEven though they're "wonky" I think your beads are very pretty... and worthy to be made into jewelry. Maybe taking pictures from different angles (that show the unevenness, flaws, etc) so that folks know exactly what they're getting. My favorites are the turquoise and yellow trio. Very nice combination. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteEven though they're "wonky" I think your beads are very pretty... and worthy to be made into jewelry. Maybe taking pictures from different angles (that show the unevenness, flaws, etc) so that folks know exactly what they're getting. My favorites are the turquoise and yellow trio. Very nice combination. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteEven though they're "wonky" I think your beads are very pretty... and worthy to be made into jewelry. Maybe taking pictures from different angles (that show the unevenness, flaws, etc) so that folks know exactly what they're getting. My favorites are the turquoise and yellow trio. Very nice combination. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI love your beads..... the colors and designs are perfect. For me, Master or Beginner is only a matter of natural process which everyone has to experience in a road to perfectness.....
ReplyDeleteYour beads are very pretty-love the colors. I would buy these beads, so yes I think you should sell them.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are the last picture, the blue and red/orange.
Linda
Idalouisejewelry.blogspot.com
I love wonky! And your beads are gorgeous! I think selling them is a great idea. Also agree that beginners would love them!
ReplyDeleteLove all of them...but the yellow/brown ones in the second picture are my favorite....
I love your beads! I often look for the odd/wonky beads as they suit me the best! I'm not sure on the pricing, but as long as your pics and descriptions are detailed, I think you should absolutely sell them! I would be first in line! I think they are all beautiful, but think the blue/yellow ones in the 3rd pic are my fav!
ReplyDeleteAngi Mullis dj2isme@aol.com
Imho a lot of people sell "seconds" so if you mark them as such that is totally acceptable.
ReplyDeleteNow for me, I am a bead snob and I don't sell my seconds. It's just my preference. I am very picky and want only my very best work out in the marketplace.
xo Genea
Gorgeous beads!!!! I Love the long ones with the lemon, lilac and lime colours!!!! :) Sheri in Vancouver, BC
ReplyDelete