"Are My Beads Good Enough to Sell?"

I've heard this question more times than I can count in the past several years. Everyone has a different opinion on this topic, and it can even be considered a tad controversial. Many think that a bead is a work of art, and that there's no such thing as a "good" bead or a "bad" bead. Only you can really decide if your beads are "good enough", and remember that down the line, you want to look back and be proud of the work you sold from the beginning. No matter where you are in your journey of lampworking, you will probably look back and think, "Wow, I thought my beads were so great, but now I can see how much I've improved". Everyone improves - if you ever stop improving, it might be time to move on to something else. :)

While I agree that beads are like beauty - it's all in the eye of the beholder, I do think that there are some guidelines to whether or not a bead is "technically sound" (or good enough to sell). Of course, this is just my opinion, and doesn't necessarily mean that I'm "right" - it's just what I believe.

That being said, if you'd like to sell your beads, I believe that these are "musts"...

Puckered holes, nice round edges - no sharp edges If there are dots on the bead, they should be melted in well enough - not undercut As few as possible/no bubbles, unless it's part of the design Beads must be annealed in a kiln No streaks/cloudiness in the bead Bead release must be cleaned out No visible chill marks (unless it's part of the design)

So there you have it - it's a short list because so much of a good bead is a matter of opinion. I hope that those of you who are considering the jump to selling their work will find this helpful. :)