Progress...

Not selling yet, but I'm trying to put many things in place toward that end...

During my absence my old domain name (valentineglass.com) expired and some reseller snatched it up, thus I no longer own it (and I refuse to pay a crazy price to get it back). So my new business name and eBay seller ID will be "catherinehowardbeads." I may also have an Etsy shop, we'll see...I have reserved Catherine Howard Beads (catherinehowardbeads.etsy.com) there in case I go in that direction.

In 2006, when I took my leave from beadmaking, the issue of "artist-made" vs. "designed by an artist and produced by a young girl in China" was becoming more of a problem. More and more importers were listing beads on eBay as "artist-made" which was not only misleading, but unfair to customers who may not have realized that they were not supporting a local artisan. To educate customers and protect glass artists, the "SRA" (self-representing artists) cooperative was established - extending memberships once the group verifies that you, and you alone, make the beads you represent as hand-made by you. So I sort of missed the boat on getting an SRA membership when I left, and that's another thing I am catching up on. I applied for membership but it will take a few weeks for that to come through.

As far as a new website, I'm trying to decide how I want to proceed with that...and I really need to make some sales first so I can pay the bills! In the meantime I am gearing up for a re-entry into eBay, as well as offering beads here on this blog for now...once I decide what to offer where I'll add pricing and purchase information here.

These are deep red "nuggets" with fine silver leaf and jet black accents. (SOLD)