Customer Education

Do you know the difference between a true artisan glass bead and an import?  Let me tell you several different ways you can tell the difference.  First of all, look for websites that show the SRA logo.  This means that the artist is a "Self Representing Artist" and is only selling items that they themselves have made.

If you are seeing large strands of lampwork beads selling for $3.00, chances are, it's imported, not annealed, and definitely not made by one artist.

Annealing is the process an artist uses to slowly cool the glass bead to ensure strength and durability and to keep the bead from sudden thermal shock.  Beads are placed in the artist's kiln and cooled over time. 

Customer Scenario:  If you purchase beads to make jewelry to sell, what service are you doing yourself to purchase true artisan pieces?  Well, picture this... Let's say you purchased a set of non-artisan imported lampwork beads.  You make a divine bracelet and sell it to an unsuspecting buyer.  The buyer receives the bracelet and within a few days is writing to you complaining that several of the beads are cracked and the holes of the beads are dirty, sharp, and scraping her wrist.

I bet that customer will not buy jewlery from you again.

I ensure that my beads are all properly annealed to combat cracking and thermal shock, my bead holes are cleaned, even, and will not scrape you or cut your beading thread, and each and every single glass item on this website is handmade by me, excluding metal clasps and hardware.

I am proud of the time and conscientious effort I put into making my creations, and I want you to be proud to wear them and make jewelry from them, and know that these items were made by a true artisan.

Don't settle for anything less!

...oh and one more thing... whatever you do, please pass the word along!