I kind of thought that the topic would have been chewed up in all it's facets by now, but alas, I still think it's necessary to add one more comment....Noel Holub, one of the "big bidders", posted a comment on LE (here is the link) that received many views and many replies...I have to admit that I quit reading after two pages of "Bravo, Well said, I so agree with you" (honestly, I am usually much more interested in reading what the people who DON'T agree have to say...including my own opinions...) - so, there might have been some kind of controversy after all...but I also don't quite get what Noel was getting at. Yes, she is right, it wasn't particularly nice to use the word "undeserving" - because who is to say who DESERVES what....so, yes, I apologize for saying that...but I also realize that all those people who so readily agreed to the opinion of the person who determinates the value of the art didn't really get my point. They all think that my chat was about "sour grapes" - but hey - do you really think I am THAT stupid? I mean, of course anybody who dares say something to the regard of my chat is in danger as being judged that way (hey, I even ADMITTED that there was a certain amount of envy...) - but what would be the POINT of me bringing up a topic that would make me look like an inferior soul - if there hadn't been some kind of larger topic in the back of my mind?! I had hoped that maybe the big bidders might also realize that it's not ALL fantastic the way they are spreading their money around. Here is a "real life" example what that kind of spending might do to people:
I've got to keep this (relatively!) short as I'm just about to rush out the door, but I just wanted to give you my opinion on your 'big chat'. I'm not going to go into my personal opinion of what I think about the price some beads are going for, other than to say I totally relate to the response you received whereby the person started to question their own abilities. About a year ago I had two of my bead sets go for almost $400.00 on eBay, and after that happened, I had exactly the same fears - i.e. how can I ever top that? My beads aren't that good.. why am I getting those prices? What are my peers saying - eg "Her beads are not worth that?", etc. etc, and all of a sudden, the pressure of HAVING made such big $$$'s (well.. big dollars for me anyway!) weighed so heavily on my shoulders that I seemed to 'lose' the ability to even make basic beads.. and this is still continuing - a year later!!!
I don't know exactly why this happened, all I know is that it DID, and I know it started at the very time I received all that money.. this has been a real 'double edged sword' for me.. I wanted the big dollars, and then when I got it, I wished to God I never had, because I lost my way.. and am still recovering.. it's awful.. a nightmare, and sometimes I just want to quit beadmaking for good because I wonder if I'm ever going to move past it. Everyone keeps saying 'It'll pass'.. but it's still going a year later.. so ultimately, was it worth it for me? No.. I'd give back that money ten times over if I could feel confident in my abilities again.
I know that this kind of "event" is extremely rare - but it happens. And it might happen to more people in a lesser degree... When somebody tells me that it's their money, and that they can spend it they way they want and that the art society should be happy that there are "patrons" out and about who value the art so much, we should all be grateful - it kind of reminds me of the way we humans treat the planets...we do what pleases us, we think we are doing great things - but we don't look around us and think of the things that get destroyed in our wake...
No, it's not sour grapes, trust me. I make enough money to live a beautiful and exciting life. I have people in my life I dearly care for, and I know that they care for ME - and that's what happiness is about - not money...but you all know that yourself, right?
Well, this little chat might become so extensive that I decided to put it on a page of it's own, to be archived or deleted as needed.
So, on Monday I am putting the topic "to rest" for the time being, it seems there are some threads up on LE, but I have obviously been banned from even READING threads, so, I don't know what those are about. I just wanted to add one more response which I think sums things up quite nicely:
Long time no visit! I'm really happy to see you back and I check your blog most every day. Still love your beads--I'm always drooling, but haven't been buying much lately. Your discussion really hit a chord with me about what big bucks are doing to the bead biz as a whole. I'll keep my feelings about Kim to myself, been there, done that... I think you just meant her--"for example..." and that was a good name to pull out of the hat...but it's really a general problem and I really think it may be a problem or at least a mixed blessing---here's why--
There are probably 5 buyers that I can name off the top of my head who are consistently spend a lot on beads, and several others who do now and then--good for them. There have always been a few bidders who paid handsomely for exceptional beads, with good reason...but lately it has changed--with $1200 to $3000 for a set---that's a jump I didn't see coming. Even the big spenders have had to up their spending habit with the entry of a couple of new "got to have it" gals mixing in the frey--okay that's life, I can handle it...I just don't bid on anything they bid on, because I know that no matter what I bid they will overbid me...so I don't bother. For the primo sellers that's okay because the discriminating buyers are willing to get in a bidding war...but for some of the lesser known lampwork artists, I think they are actually getting lower prices for their work...because when one of the recognized "got to have it" gals has placed a bid the rest of us take it off our list and move on...of course lately, there's been barely a place to "move on" too...because at least one of these ladies seems to be hell bent on buying all the even semi-decent lampwork on eBay or at least it's seemed so to me---since almost everything on my watch list has been purchased by her lately. This latest phase seems different from the rest--often the purchases are not very discriminate like the big buyers in the past..and seems like a "pissing match" of "she/he who has the most toys wins" or "I can pay more than you can" kind of game--of course I've seen that lots of times on eBay before...the bidders just blinked earlier and I guess that's what the auction format is all about, and why I avoid it as much as I can.
Anyway out of curiosity (nosy, if you will) to see if one, in particular, was really buying a lot of beads or if I was just being grumpy-- I went through the last 30 days of auction wins for beads and bead related findings---over 25 pages(600+ purchases) and $87,000 (outspending her two next big competitors by about $80,000) spent in the last 30 days! Wow...No wonder I think she is buying up everything. I noticed big bucks paid for some things, but a lot of auctions were won for the opening bid--$10, $60, $45, etc...no one on these less famous artist's radar is willing to bid against her and the seller probably made less than they would have with their regular customers duking it out...so is it good for those sellers?!? Probably not, but it must be flattering to have such a patron buying your lampwork...no? And maybe it will kick them up a notch in some buyers minds...
My curiosity leads me to wonder---is this buyer a high end designer---probably not, or she would not be buying seed beads, gemstones and findings on eBay, but have some custom and high end vendors she works with, not eBay sellers...does she own a high end bead store...probably not for the same reasons. With over 600 auctions purchases a month, she must have a full time cadre of designers working for her, picking up mail and unwrapping the packages...let alone have any time left for anything herself...since bidding must take up most of the day. Could she be putting together a lampwork museum...possibly..but it seems if that was the case, she would be purchasing more selectively over a long period of time, just the finest examples of a wide spectrum of styles and technics..which doesn't seem to be the case. Perhaps she is just a "patron of the arts". I hope it is fulfilling and makes her happy...she may be doing wonderful things with the lampwork she purchases, I haven't a clue, but inquiring minds would love to know. There does seem to be a pattern of buying lots of work in succession from one artist until the appetite is satiated and then moving on to another. . So I am wondering if she will get her fill of lampwork and move on to another sport in a few months.
It's really none of my business, but because it's become almost impossible to purchase a good bit of the lampwork in certain styles that I am be interested in for my designs...I can't help but wonder and speculate...and foolishly, I've let myself get a bit frustrated a time or two.
As for your question of whether it is good or bad for the lampwork artists---it seems to me to be a mixed bag...it's a fine craft...only time will tell whether this latest craze will help it flourish, burn it out or just be a blip on the radar and quickly come as it went.
So now that I've discussed it to death, I for one am putting it to bed...I don't want to fret over what I can't do anything about....life is too short and "the world is so full of a number of things, I think we should all be as happy as kings"--too many lovely things to ruin a good day complaining over something so trivial in the real scheme of things!!! I've spent too long the last few weeks fretting over this silliness--hoping "the ladies" would take a vacation, so I could get a few treasures again, ha!...so thanks for letting me express myself and get it out of my system...I'm giving myself permission to be over it!!!!
First of all, here is the "Original Chat", as posted on my website on Saturday the 20th of May. Further below are reactions and additional commentary....
(Saturday evening chat) I have been thinking a lot all week - and from a variety of emails and phone conversations I know that I wasn't the only one to be "puzzled". There are recurring topics in the (oh so tiny and oh so ridiculous) bead-world that have most of us "on edge" for a while, like "copying" - "tools" - "bead prices" etc... and of course, the latest theme was "big bucks beads". Or, rather "big bucks bidders". Here and there one or the other bead-maker gut lucky (?) and "hit the jackpot", so to speak, but most of all and recurringly it was Bluffroad who got the attention of 3 or 4 women who not only had the desire to own a set of her beads, but also the deep pockets to back that desire up and spend close to $ 3000 for one strand of beads. We all shook our heads, Kim probably rubbed her little hands in glee-ful pleasure, and the rest of us didn't know what to think. I for sure didn't. There are so many ways to look at it - if one bothers to waste the time - so, here is my take on it: (and I am sure that someone will feel the need to "alert" Kim that I am mentioning her on my website...so, yes, I am aware that she will probably read what I have to say, oh well, most people know already that there is no love lost between the two of us, I don't have to sugar-coat it.)
1. question: Am I envious?
Hell yes! Who wouldn't be? I mean, since my little "exodus" last years I have entangled myself in a web of financial obligations, and yes, one auction like that would take care of it all for a month. Is there any beadmaker out there who can say in good consciousness "Oh, I am SOOO happy for her, more power to her, she is such a fabulous artist and such a nice person, she deserves every penny of it..." Yes, we all WANT to be able to think that way, for my part, I'm just human and it bugs me that it's not ME who is raking in that kind of money every month. Which brings me to the next question -
2. question: Would I want to be in her position?
Hell no! Yes, getting lots of money for relatively little work must be fantastic - but this kind of income is usually followed by a less welcome side-effect: envy and jealousy. Bad feelings. Some people might not care about how their peers think about them, but I rather be loved by lots of people for my contribution to their personal happiness then being "hated" for standing out in an undeserving way. Or?
3. question: Is that kind of money adequate for the artistic value?
Of course, only the buyers/bidders can answer that question, in my personal opinion no bead is so beautiful that it's worth several hundred dollars, unless it's a REAL piece of art (?), like some of the real artists among us beadmakers produce... I just happened to look at Kate Fowle's website earlier, and she has many beads listed for over $ 300, but they are meticulously shaped, coldworked, copper plated...there is so much love, expertise and time involved in making those beads, $ 300 is a bargain. Kim's beads are often pretty, but they are not THAT great...and I doubt that Kim herself would stand behind a booth at a bead-show and put a price tag like that on her beads...
4. question: Do high bids like that "advance" the value of lampwork overall?
No way. I remember when prices went over the $ 500 mark, and people were all excited and commenting that it was about time that the world realized the true value of our art. The current high bids have NOTHING to do with the value of art, it's all about who had more money to spend, and who is going to "get them". Either the beads, or the other faceless bidder who outbid her the last time. I happened to get fairly friendly with one of the "high rollers", and she told me the reason why she was spending so much money on beads. She even admitted that her bids were completely ridiculous, and that she gets "carried" away - as stress relief for a hard situation in her personal life. Well, that explains ONE person's motivation - but what about the second and third person needed to get prices up so high? No matter how one looks at it, it is ridiculous - and it is very SAD - because why can't these women find stress relief and satisfaction from donating money for a good cause. I am not saying that they might NOT be contributing to a larger cause as a side hobby as well, but chances are, they don't give one damn about homeless kids in Latin America, or babies with Aids in Africa....that's nothing they can brag about with their girlfriends when they are showing of their beads that cost them more than a diamond at Tiffanys. If you ask me, it's downright a slap in the face of the needy people in the world to be throwing money around like that....Let's hope that Kim has a lot of common sense and donates most of that crazy money to dog shelters or to help the people in New Orleans... speaking of common sense...it's kind of sad as well that a beadmaker who has a wonderful following isn't really catering to the "little people" who enjoy her beads anymore...her last special was a year ago... but you are right, that's none of my business.....
5. Do I have anything GOOD to say about this topic?
Yes, absolutely. Because there are lots of people who make wonderful beads - and who are not secretive about their art and their technique. Just a little while ago I discovered this lovely set by Kerri Fuhr - she used the same glass that Kim used in her latest bigbuck auctions - and Kerri doesn't hide it behind "glamerous" and "Mysterious" words - she calls it what it is: Glass - and she even gives us common folks lots of cool hints about how she achieved the effect. Kerri - you MIGHT not get $ 2000 plus dollars for these beads...but you will get a million dollars worth of thanks and admiration from the world of lowly beadmakers out there! Good'onyamate!
(And not to forget my dear friend Jelveh, who also used Olympic Rain in her latest daily specials....she even posted a link to the website where you can buy the glass!)
The first response I am quoting is from a dear friend of mine...I have edited a few comments that are very personal and don't necessarily relate to the issue...it's always hardest to receive criticism from friends - but even friends don't "know it all"...just because the THINK they know you means they actually do.
I got up this morning and decided to visit your site. Boy, how I wish I hadn’t done that! It seems to me that you are absolutely hell-bent and damned determined to continue your “saga” regardless of the consequences. I was absolutely appalled by some of the things you had written. I am more than happy to point these things out to you.
(Saturday evening chat) I have been thinking a lot all week - and from a variety of emails and phone conversations I know that I wasn't the only one to be "puzzled". There are recurring topics in the (oh so tiny and oh so ridiculous) bead-world that have most of us "on edge" for a while, like "copying" - "tools" - "bead prices" etc... and of course, the latest theme was "big bucks beads". Or, rather "big bucks bidders". Here and there one or the other bead-maker gut lucky (?) and "hit the jackpot", so to speak, but most of all and recurringly it was Bluffroad who got the attention of 3 or 4 women who not only had the desire to own a set of her beads, but also the deep pockets to back that desire up and spend close to $ 3000 for one strand of beads. We all shook our heads, Kim probably rubbed her little hands in glee-ful pleasure, and the rest of us didn't know what to think. I for sure didn't. There are so many ways to look at it - if one bothers to waste the time - so, here is my take on it: (and I am sure that someone will feel the need to "alert" Kim that I am mentioning her on my website...so, yes, I am aware that she will probably read what I have to say, oh well, most people know already that there is no love lost between the two of us, I don't have to sugar-coat it.)
1. question: Am I envious?
Hell yes! Who wouldn't be? I mean, since my little "exodus" last years I have entangled myself in a web of financial obligations, and yes, one auction like that would take care of it all for a month. (I edited out a comment that is too personal, but my response is: you don't know it all!)
Is there any beadmaker out there who can say in good consciousness "Oh, I am SOOO happy for her, more power to her, she is such a fabulous artist and such a nice person, she deserves every penny of it..." Yes, we all WANT to be able to think that way, for my part, I'm just human and it bugs me that it's not ME who is raking in that kind of money every month. I, for one, can honestly say that I am tickled to death that she is getting the prices she is getting for her beads. Would I love to? NO! I’ve not put the time and labor into bead making as much as she has. I’m sure for every bead she sells, there’s 3 or 4 that didn’t make the cut. Which brings me to the next question -
2. question: Would I want to be in her position?
Hell no! Yes, getting lots of money for relatively little work must be fantastic - but this kind of income is usually followed by a less welcome side-effect: envy and jealousy. Bad feelings. Some people might not care about how their peers think about them, but I rather be loved by lots of people for my contribution to their personal happiness then being "hated" for standing out in an undeserving way. Or? Undoubtedly, you are talking to a “circle” that is full of envy and jealousy. I’ve seen many posts that reflect the happiness of others. If you’re surrounding yourself with this kind of negativity, STOP IT – it’s not healthy! And, while you’re at it, mention them ALL. I seem to recall that some “people” were recently getting high dollars for their very few beads – sometimes, even ONE bead. They all looked the same, all came from the same place. Why not comment on THAT???? Or, is this where some of the envy and jealousy you’re referring to comes from???? Is it okay for SOME to get high dollar and others not?
3. question: Is that kind of money adequate for the artistic value?
Of course, only the buyers/bidders can answer that question, in my personal opinion no bead is so beautiful that it's worth several hundred dollars, unless it's a REAL piece of art, like some of the real artists among us beadmakers produce... I just happened to look at Kate Fowle's website earlier, and she has many beads listed for over $ 300, but they are meticulously shaped, coldworked, copper plated...there is so much love, expertise and time involved in making those beads, $ 300 is a bargain. Kim's beads are often pretty, but they are not THAT great...and I doubt that Kim herself would stand behind a booth at a bead-show and put a price tag like that on her beads...This one really confuses me. Are you saying that Kate is the only “real” bead maker among “you all”? Do you have to cold-work and copper plate/electroform a bead to be a “real” bead maker? Are you saying making intricate and detailed cane and murrini isn’t an artform? I don’t get this one.
4. question: Do high bids like that "advance" the value of lampwork overall?
No way. I remember when prices went over the $ 500 mark, and people were all excited and commenting that it was about time that the world realized the true value of our art. The current high bids have NOTHING to do with the value of art, it's all about who had more money to spend, and who is going to "get them". Either the beads, or the other faceless bidder who outbid her the last time. I happened to get fairly friendly with one of the "high rollers", and she told me the reason why she was spending so much money on beads. She even admitted that her bids were completely ridiculous, and that she gets "carried" away - as stress relief for a hard situation in her personal life. Well, that explains ONE person's motivation - but what about the second and third person needed to get prices up so high? No matter how one looks at it, it is ridiculous - and it is very SAD - because why can't these women find stress relief and satisfaction from donating money for a good cause. I am not saying that they might NOT be contributing to a larger cause as a side hobby as well, but chances are, they don't give one damn about homeless kids in Latin America, or babies with Aids in Africa....that's nothing they can brag about with their girlfriends when they are showing of their beads that cost them more than a diamond at Tiffanys. If you ask me, it's downright a slap in the face of the needy people in the world to be throwing money around like that....And here, you talk about the “needy people”…….I distinctly remember that YOU gave a ton of money – OTHER PEOPLE”S MONEY – to a dog!!!!!! Why didn’t you use YOUR money to do that? Why did you have to sell something in order to give to a cause? How much money from your bead sets that you sold on ebay went to help the “needy people”? Or, did you spend it on new cameras, chairs, mattresses, a radio station, etc????? This is, to me, calling the kettle black!!!! Let's hope that Kim has a lot of common sense and donates most of that crazy money to dog shelters or to help the people in New Orleans... speaking of common sense...it's kind of sad as well that a beadmaker who has a wonderful following isn't really catering to the "little people" who enjoy her beads anymore...her last special was a year ago... but you are right, that's none of my business.....Maybe she doesn’t have specials, BUT, I actually emailed her after seeing her first bones. I thought they were beautiful – very graceful. It was a very short, to the point email. She responded by a simple “thank you”. Two weeks later, I received a package in the mail from her. She sent me TWO of those graceful bones. Mind you, she had some searching to do to find my address, because there was no communication between the two of us. How do you know that she’s not done this – MANY TIMES?????? My point is, YOU DON’T! How long have I known you? What all did I do for you?????? And you care so frigging much it’s not even important enough to you to send friggin glass and PMC you promised months ago????????? I don’t get you, Corina.
5. Do I have anything GOOD to say about this topic?
Yes, absolutely. Because there are lots of people who make wonderful beads - and who are not secretive about their art and their technique. Just a little while ago I discovered this lovely set by Kerri Fuhr - she used the same glass that Kim used in her latest bigbuck auctions - and Kerri doesn't hide it behind "glamerous" and "Mysterious" words - she calls it what it is: Glass - and she even gives us common folks lots of cool hints about how she achieved the effect. Kerri - you MIGHT not get $ 2000 plus dollars for these beads...but you will get a million dollars worth of thanks and admiration from the world of lowly beadmakers out there! Good'onyamate!
(And not to forget my dear friend Jelveh, who also used Olympic Rain in her latest daily specials....she even posted a link to the website where you can buy the glass!) A name in the bead world takes time. You, of all people, should know that. You have to work hard to have a following. How many years have these artists been making beads, getting a lot less for their creations? I sure as hell don’t expect to enter the “bead scene” and expect these prices within one, two or even three or four, years of bead making. It’s absurd to think that way. If you want to set yourself up for failure, go ahead, expect it. If, on the other hand, you want to realistically enter the world of bead making, know that it isn’t an easy task. There are MANY talented bead makers out there – a LOT of competition. I’m in the real world. Perhaps these people you’re talking to should get in there, too! And, by the way, the name of the glass is Kronos, NOT Olympic Rain! Kim mentioned it in her first auction she used with it AND told where it came from. You must have missed reading that.
So, this is how I feel. Imagine waking up to this!!!! Just take it easy; don’t be too quick to judge. You honestly don’t know the entire story unless it’s YOUR story, do you? And, if you think you have to make these assumptions, try to do it in a “fair” way. Call them ALL out, don’t just pick on the few that you repeatedly pick on – it doesn’t look good, on your part.
Assumptions – they’re easily made, but nine times out of ten, they’re wrong.
Do you see now why I created an extra page for this topic? Looks like I have stirred up lots of emotions, which I think is a good thing! And just in case you are worried about my mental health - NO, I am not on one of those distructive streaks I was on during my manic phase, I am a good girl, taking my meds - and I have always been outspoken in the past...remember that there was even a time when I had a "bitchometer" on my website, letting readers know ahead of time what the chances were of them getting really upset while reading my chat? That was well before I was diagnosed as bipolar, so, I guess I accept having to live with that as part of my character. I am trying to be honest - that doesn't mean that I am RIGHT or that I am perfect, and yes, many times I am wrong, and I don't mind if someone points that out to me. There is always more growing to do in life! So, Kim sent out free beads to my friend, good for her! For both of them! And no, I honestly didn't know that Kim identified the glass she used in her first auction, I guess I don't follow her auctions all that closely. Again, good for us! This chat was not meant to be a character study on Kim Neely - I have heard many nice things about her - and many not to nice things - some people told me that they emailed Kim and got very nice and supportive replies, while others told me that they emailed her a question about a technique and got a very rude response along the lines "How DARE you ask me a question like that". I am sure a lot of beadmakers get questions about "How did you do that?" - and it's our own choice how to handle that. We can ignore the question - we can give them a "hint" and send them onto the way of exploring - or we can turn it into a mini-tutorial. How we deal with requests like that is our choice, and it doesn't mean we are a good or bad person - this is not a judgement of character! Some of us like to teach - others don't, nothing wrong with that...
So, onto the next comment - this one came from Germany, from someone I don't know at all (other than a few emails):
Dear Corina,
I was really surprised to read your comments about Kim's beads on your page
today. I am also afraid that this mail will probably spoil the good
"relationship" we started to develop recently, but you asked several
questions and somehow I feel like I want to propose some answers. One of my
biggest disadvantages is probably that I can't lie - I've just never learned
it - so my honesty is most of the time not diplomatic at all....
Jealousy is - in my opinion - one of the biggest diseases of the bead
community (or women in general?). And it is so useless, such a waist of
energy!!! Not at all that I am free of it, but being aware of being jealous
(=having so much (negative) energy) opens new possibilities and
oportunities. You have the choice, let this energy make you ugly and eat
yourself up or take it as a challenge, turn this huge amount of energy 180°
around and create something beautiful from it. Energy has no direction, it
is absolutely neutral. It is just your choice HOW you use it. I know, you
admitted being jealous, but whatever you wrote just evaporates jealousy
("...rubbed her little hands...")...??? Das hast Du absolut nicht nötig!!!!
In my humble opinion, your beads are technically 1000 times better than
hers, maybe this is what bothers you? At the same time - isn't everything
just a matter of perspective? I guess 99,9% of all bead makers (besides some
enlightened beings among us) are jealous of you! You have been the princess
of bead making and you still are! Probably as many bead makers would give
their left hand to be only half as successful as you are and getting only
30% of the prices you are getting. So "what the heck!" are you commenting on
somebody you obviously feel is getting more than she deserves?
I remember all you postings about your corvette, your motorbike, your 150$
blanket and so on... evidently, money is a big topic to you. But having
written all that in the past and writing now that she should donate her
money to homeless dogs really sounds hypocrite. I really like you, but if I
wouldn't, I'd just think - well, why didn't she drive a smaller car and a
bicycle instead of a motorbike and wrap herself in a cheap warm blanket
instead and sent the money to the tsunami victims? I am really sad to see
you writing something like that. Why don't you just ignore her???? Giving
attention to her in this way, just gives her energy, takes it away from you
and challenges you in a way (wanting to be better), that your EGO (have a
look at your fridge ;-)) must be the one at the torch making beads. You are
starting a circle like this. Ignore her again, you are better and you know
it, so just forget about it, go back to letting the spirit of life make your
beads - which is a gift and a blessing to able to receive this beauty from I
have no idea where from. Go back to your centre and everything will be
perfect again!!!
Do you hate me now and have I succeeded in landing on the spam list?
Lots of love, light and positive energy!
I'm kind of glad that my own "spending" last year was brought up - when I wrote my little chat I realized that I was opening myself up to that kind of criticism - but it's also good to have a chance to talk about that...First of all - when I bought my FIRST Corvette, which I gave myself to my 40th birthday, I was still fairly sane - I thought about it for a long time before I bought the car, and it was the fulfillment of a dream I had for many years - I just LOVED that car, for me it was a beautiful scultpure with a purpose (I guess being German and raised in a country where there is no speed limit cars have a little bit of a different meaning for me. ) Anyway - I bought the car through ebay (for $ 17 000) - and I enjoyed it for about one day, then I thought to myself "gee, I guess I should have test-driven one before I bought it", because in reality Corvette's are rather uncomfortable, they are hard to get in and out of, they rumble on the road - and living on an island where the speed-limit is 45 a car with 325 horse power doesn't make that much sense. The car has been for sale for the longest time now - and I can't even find anyone who is willing to pay $ 14 000 for it. The SECOND Corvette I bought during my manic phase, that was nothing but stupid, the car is still sitting in Georgia, and I am paying $ 1400 a month for my car loan. THAT was stupid - and I had a few offers on it, the highest one was $ 45 000 - that would mean a loss of over $ 20 000 for less than 3500 miles driven. Yes, that was stupid, and I still don't know what to do about it...
As for ignoring Kim - it is NOT about Kim! It is not about one person (or actually more than one) getting lots of money - my chat was more about the question: what is this phenomenom doing to the beadworld in general? So, in that regard, here is one comment from a friend of mine who has actually received ONE of those super high bids herself. I asked her what this did to her, and here is her response:
Hi Corina, please keep this anonymous. When the bidding went high, I had
several emotions. I will list the positive ones first and then the
negatives.
-pleasure at the idea of having some $ with which to pay bills
-the feeling that after years of eBay pain, I had suddenly been recognized
as a bona fide "artist"
-the overhwhelming fear that the high bidder would not feel the beads had
such a high value when she received them
-embarrassment and concern that my peers would be saying, "Well, they are
nice, but not THAT nice!
-concern for others who were struggling just to get noticed
-fear that this success would now become expected, not only BY me, but OF
me.
It is interesting to note that the second positive was not the case. My
next sets "wallowed" around the $500 mark or lower and, although this is
relatively good, proved disappointing to me.
Now, every time I list and my auction finishes "low" I feel self-doubt,
disappointment, concern that I will never again reach the heights (I had
another auction do very well...)
I do not agree that lampwork beads should not command top $ as artforms
simply because they are "just beads." Whatever your chosen art is, it
should bring pleasure. I believe that it is this pleasure that people are
paying for, not the actual canvas/statue/paperweight/bead. If it's OK for a
person to pay top art $ for a lump of clay that has been molded, or a piece
of canvas that has been painted, then it's fine with me if they choose to
pay top dollar for an object formed from glass. In fact, it makes more sense
to me as you can carry your art piece with you in the form of jewelry and
feel pleased by it all day.
My only concern is that the very concept and nature of eBay does not follow
the generally accepted premise that you have to be significantly better or
more original than others in order to achieve some status. I have seen top
sellers copy beads almost to the last dot and get huge bids while the
originator wallows in AH-surrounded mediocrity. I have also seen lesser
sellers do very well with a particular style or form, to have it blatantly
copied by a top seller who claims the idea was in her head all the time
(with a lovely little story to suggest this). The fact remains that style
would not have found its way out of her head had the originator not done
extremely well with it. This is what is wrong...not the actual dollar
values that bidders choose to pay when genuinely wanting a specific set of
beads.
This is actually what I thought would happen. Especially the part of the expectation. Do we all of a sudden "judge" our own art by the appreciation of a few people? Do I have to feel ashamed that MY beads are worth "only" $ 28 a piece (my recent auction) - rather than $ 250 per bead? Does that make me a "lowly beadmaker" who isn't worth the attention of the "blessed few" who have been setting new standards on eBay? A friend of mine from Australia had an interesting comment on that:
Hi Corina,
Just like to let you know I enjoyed reading your chat today. Hope you don't get flamed by people who don't share with your view. I try not to be so 'blunt' on my website after an incident last year. I thought I was being honest, but obviously not everyone thought that way. Anyway, I think you are really brave and honest!
I don't list on eBay anymore (I seldom visit the forum and check out beads on the bay for this reason too), because I find myself 'competitive'. I look at others with the higher bids and then question myself why I am such a bad beadmaker whose beads don't attract nice bids... Why do I bother making beads? Blah, Blah.. I feel like someone is setting a standard for me, rather than enjoy creating beads. So I stopped. Maybe I am too much of a chicken, but at least I am happy this way.
And one more comment from a friend of mine:
Hi Corina!
I read your post last night, and thought about it over night before writing you. You asked if anyone was genuinely happy for people when they got such high amounts for their beads. I just wanted to let you know the answer is YES. I am happy for her, the same way I was happy for you getting such great prices on your gorgeous work. NO, I am not envious of the prices. I guess I am just happy with making the beads, and if people want them, that's great. If they don't want them, I get to keep them, or give them to my friends, and that's great too.
I have always liked you, from the moment I met you I could feel an energy coming from you that made people feel good, just because you were there. I would not ever think to tell someone what I thought they should do, but I am telling you that your post of last night made me feel like I had a rock in my stomach, and made me very sad. And if you are wanting to market any more products to the lampworking industry, making people sad, angry, upset, will not further your cause. They bought more of your products when they were envious of you, jealous of your talent, because they wanted to be like you, just like now, they want to be like Kim. If she sold a book tomorrow, people would snap it up!
Take care, and I hope things are going good for you. I look forward to seeing more of your gorgeous beads.
Which brings me to an entirely different topic - something that my friend in the first email touched on. What makes a REAL beadmaker? That's someone who makes beads. Period. Maybe my expression was a little sloppy in that regard. Let's rename it - what makes a FAMOUS beadmaker? I went through my mental list of famous beadmakers (Andrea Guarino, Micheal Barley, Jim Smircich, Kate Fowle, Pati Walton, Kristina Logan, Larry Scott, Sharon Peters, Kimberly Affleck, Leah Fairbanks etc...), trying to figure out what they all have in common. Most of these have been already famous before I was born. Well, before I was born as a beadmaker, at least (I was quite surprised to realize that Kristina Logan is actually a couple of years younger then me...). Most of these people have been published in magazines (Bead&Button, Lapidary Journal, Ornament) - they were featured in books, or had entire books written about them (the Jim Kervin series) - and they all TEACH. Do they teach because they are famous and people want to learn from them, or do they get to BE famous because they teach and their names appear all over the world? Either way, teaching is an important part of what they do. Kate Fowle's beads are not special because she takes the time to electroform - she INVENTED the process for beads, she even has a tutorial on it on her website - she is the MOTHER of electroforming. She also developed the enamels with Thompson that are compatible with Effetre...just like Jim Smirich developed a bunch of tools that help make our lives easier. All these people didn't get famous because they made a lot of money with their beads - they got famous because the contributed to the development of our art as a whole. They make all of us better beadmakers. That's what fame is about, for ME...am I a famous beadmaker? A lot of people know about me, because of PASSING THE F(L)AME - because I took the time and the energy to put the few things I have learned myself into a form that makes it accessible for someone on the other end of the world. I hope that other people will get the same enjoyment out of doing something similar, if that's what makes them happy. Kim in particular has LOTS to give to the beadcommunity. She has an incredible sense of design, she is a phantastic photographer and a gifted writer. If she writes a book - I'll be the fist one in line to buy it!!
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