Vintage Plastic Jewelry
There are a lot of mediums that are undervalued and disabused by the jewelry
community in general. I started making Friendly Plastic jewelry, and was told
not to do plastic any more. I participated in an earring swap on AOL and was
kicked out because my beads were not "high quality" (I was buying mostly from
the craft stores then). When I first started buying lampwork, THAT wasn't good
enough either. I was "taught" -- read smacked into submission -- that only
glass (but not india glass), real silver and gold and other "real" materials
were worth working with. Then I found out that many of the semi-precious beads
that I work with had been dyed, heat-processed and otherwise dressed up to take
what was one thing and make it look like another. A lot of the material I use
today still falls under that category.
There is another thread on Ian St. something, the guy who sells under the
Stanley Hagler line. He does wire on brass. Brass is considered a "costume"
jewelry item, no matter how much these pieces sell for. There is a lot of
snobbishness in the jewelry community. There is snobbishness right here on the
recc.crafts boards -- try going to the Jewelry board and tell them you string
beads. That is NOT making jewelry in a lot of people's opinion. Metalwork is
considered jewelry-making there. Some of the snobbishness is taught and some
of it is popular opinion; most of it needs to be thrown out the window. Shoot
I bought some vintage plastic (yes I said plastic) flowers for a friend
recently and paid more than I have paid for vintage glass flowers in the past.
Mostly, I can't imagine anyone telling me what I meant or what I think. I am
not a "lampwork" person -- haven't even bought any in a long time, don't own
much. If I am anything these days, I would guess it is a "jade" person or
maybe a silver person? Those are elements that have been consistent in my
jewelry from the beginning.
I also reserve the right to backpeddle from any or all things I wish. I am not
sure I am all that coordinated, that I can manage to backpeddle nicely and in a
straight line and all, but I still reserve the right to do so.
Any comment?
It seems that finally the buying audience has found out how good material
polymer clay is. Oh well, its not news that plastic beads used to be/are
considered less than glass beads, no matter what they are. People used to be
uneducated and think clay is "just plastic." If they thought that as
"ceramical material" like earthen clay or porceline, they would not have
such a problems understanding the popularity - and success. Most of the
earthen clay or porceline is only based on some natural particles, but
nowadays (at least in Finland where I am from) I see a lot of factoru
manufactured "natural" materials in craft field. The material is not the
only thing that matters on how "interesting" a bead is. Some sell old chiken
bones dipped into acid and paints and drilled as beads: some eat the chiken
and toss the bones to trash.
Lately some really really good bead makers have been selling on justbeads.
There have been some really stunning works for sale there. No wonder the
prise of them has risen over 20 and more ! The general guality of
workmanship in polymerclay has risen a lot, and JustBeads might be the
reason: if the audience appriciates the beads, it is more rewarding to work
"better". (What ever that better is here)
Besides, even as a polyclayer, I sometimes get surprised from how much
people are willing to pay from a single bead. Made from ANY material.
Nothing to do with the admiration of any material, just simple "huh, so
people will spend THAT much for a single bead on their jewellery.
Whadduyouknow".
Sometimes value of items is odd thing. Watching Ebay has made me realise it
does not have to have nothing to do with estethics or artistic values of a
piece. Even the most hideous thing can be a hot sale, and even some really
high end items might end up non sale. Ebay has been and still is a place
where people both sell quality crafts like it was fleamarket old junk - and
also sell low end stuff as high quality crafts. Its odd market, and I cant
say that I understand the logic of it