Why Bother With Beads?

Many hand-makers start out with beaded jewellery. Almost certainly, that's because it's so accessible. I mean, the skills are relatively easy to learn, little specialist equipment is required and the working stock is fairly inexpensive. It's also hugely fun. There's such a wide range of beads and semi-precious stones available. And, I suspect, it's very rewarding when you turn out that first head-turning design.

Beading's accessibility is great if you are just doing it for fun. If you intend to make it your livelihood, then its very accessibility is definitely not great for you. Accessibility - or low barriers to entry, as an economist would describe it - means competition... and lots of it.

You don't have to be an economist to know that competition drives down prices. It makes you work harder for less.

At this point I should emphasize that I do appreciate that all beaded jewellery is not created equal. Some is better than most and that comes singularly down to great design/ composition.

But, even with great design capabilities, individual artisans will have their work cut out standing out. The old monkeys and typewriters law is going to play havoc with your uniqueness. No idea what monkeys have to do with beading? I should clarify: give enough monkeys a typewriter and eventually, according to the laws of probability, one will type out the entire works of shakespeare word-perfect purely by chance. My point is, with so many 'beaders' out there, how long is your wonderfully original work going to be well, original? And, of course, the monkeys are not smart enough to copy. Figure that in and what hope have you got?

The other bother with beading is that it's so limiting. Can it really be true that you can fully express your creativity by crimping and twisting alone? I didn't think so.

If you're beading now, look at this as period as your introduction. Your rookie period. The hors d'oeuvres or maybe the entree, but not the main course. After all, you're barely getting started. There's a whole world of extra possibilities to cater for IF you're prepared for the next course: silversmithing.

Get some silversmithing skills and your creativity will be unchained. It's an investment in you and your future. Otherwise, ask yourself: "What is the difference between me and tens of thousands of dabblers and hobbyists?" I can't answer that. But, I can tell you the similarity: no real commitment.