When we started the lowly beaders forum, most of us posting in it were into commercial grade pearls of every type and sterling or vermeil findings, as compared with the first class pearls and 14k gold of the venders of high quality pearls.
It was meant to be an encouragement for people who had never tried their hand at knotting pearls or putting together a necklace. Although some of us have done brilliant design work, that is not a requirement for "membership" in the Lowly Beaders Forum.
It also includes simple, basic designs. I for one, have mostly stuck with basic designs, ie garnet, pearl, garnet, pearl for the length of the necklace. Or another favorite of mine is big pearl, little pearl, big pearl, little pearl. I used the former design with gemstones of many kinds, amethyst, peridot and lots of gems ending in "ITE", not to mention turquoise or coral.
I keep doing it because people love them and buy them. I have never made enough to keep them in stock....Using keshi was the province of the commercial grade beaders too and the coins, squares and other odd shapes, not to mention dyed CFWP: Chartreuse, flamingo, ultra violet, blinding yellow, cranberry red-in fact any kind of red and on and on.
I am in fact, in awe of the creative designers, and love it when they post, but I can't let that make me afraid to show my pearl work, too. There is nothing wrong with basic designs.
Lowly beaders should never feel intimidated by fabulous designs nor should they need to make apologies for the low quality pearls and simple designs and carnival colors they choose. Those kinds of pearls reach a huge demographic- the beaders!
Bead shows almost always have several booths devoted to pearls for beading and in just the last few years the Chinese have come up with some subtle and beautiful color dyes.
