Patti,
I agree with your customer. If everyone is honest about what the materials
are and the dye does not come off,
I see nothing wrong in using something beautiful, whatever it's composition.
KathyH
"Patti" wrote in message
oups.com...
I used to be really snobby about the semiprecious beads I used. I
wouldn't use any that were dyed or irridated or stabilized or whatever
it is they do to them. Then, they came out with those amazing colors in
"Jade" - aqua, purple, lavender, fuschia, orange, which are really
glass. Gem dealers say that they are dyed white jade, but the prices
are too low to be real jade (maybe serpentine?). But, the colors fill
a place in the spectrum which was lacking before, so I'm designing with
them and being very honest about what they are. I also like the stuff
which gem dealers are passing off as "bamboo coral", which is really
dyed bamboo since there is no such thing as "bamboo coral." It's hard
to find a true red in natural gems.
After I explained all this to one of my customers, she said, "If they
are beautiful, I don't care what they are." How does everyone feel
about this? Do you use these or not?

Patti
www.pattiwhiteley.com