December 2005 Archives

Here's a way to while away some time: Bead tag clusters on flickr. Mardi Gras gets its own whole cluster! How can it be that clever?

For no particular reason, I thought I'd look for a good explanation of the quartz-that-isn't-quartz (pineapple, strawberry, etc.) and I found a pretty good blurb at Rings 'n' Things: What's with this quartz?

A few other places state outright that this is man-made stuff (ArtGems, Beads Forever, Fire Mountain Gems and Beads and GemBeads.com, just in the first few pages of a google search). This is not to say that every place I didn't link swears they're actually gemstones ;-) but I think it is irritating that I am still having vendors tell me they are "real."

This has become one of my "trustworthiness" tests. I ask a vendor, "What is this, it's pretty!" and if they say, "Cherry (or whatever) quartz" and they don't follow up with a disclaimer, I will ask if it's a gemstone or if it's glass. There is only one right answer to that question, and the wrong answer prompts an "Oh really, I thought that was just a trade name for this color glass," which gives them one last out. (My favorite recent claim was "sapphire quartz" for some pretty blue beads. Riiiight....)

I do sometimes still buy the beads, if the price is right. In all truth, for myself I don't care if it's glass or not, as long as it's pretty, but I'm not going to pass on bad information if I know better.

Anne Choi makes great beads, and I just love the kitty kisses one.... (Although a google for poezekusjes definitely does not turn up "a lively web presence"....) And her artist's statement is not full of capital-a-art baloney, which is refreshing.

Make sure to check out the photographer's assistant. Poezekusjes indeed ;-)