an observation about beads and beading....I see the obvious attraction of the craft, but I'm worried that it is almost TOO popular...as a commercial enterprise, anyway.

Rita & I have been coordinators for the crafts area at our folk festival for the last 5-6 years. We have only about 25 booths, and one of our problems in recruiting is that we get way more applicants from jewelry makers than anything else, and in the last couple years, most of those have been from beaders.
As with all crafts, there are wide variations in style and creativity among applicants, and every show we have some beaders show up saying.."my stuff is just as good ..or better..than what you have. Why can't I be in the show?"...and it's hard to placate them.

If all one wishes to go is make stuff for themselves, or as gifts for friends & relatives, it's a great hobby, but it reminds me of the problem woodturners have with many, many makers of wooden pens from kits...(I made some myself for a few years, but now everyone is trying to sell pens to everyone else, and one company is pushing a little automated lathe which requires no skill...and they will sell you pre-made wooden blanks.)

What we WOULD like to find for the show...(and other shows we are in each year)...is folks who actually MAKE the beads they sell, whether glass, polymer clay, exotic woods, porcelain...etc. I know some of this requires more equipment and time than most folks have, but there is a need.

Again, I have nothing against an enjoyable hobby...and *IF* you happen to be the only beader in some general venue, you might have good luck in a small business.


Tricky stuff, huh? I'm sure potters and leather workers have some of the same issues.