Patti wrote:
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


As more of a buyer of jewelry than a maker of jewelry, I am only
snobbish where wear is concerned... as long as the materials are
correctly identified, and they do not pose what I consider a "weak link"
in a piece's wearability (like base metal crimps or jump rings) then I
am not too concerned about how high-profile they sound.