I got this response back today:

Hi, I appreciate the work you put into your product and that you took the time to set up your shop and seek approval. Unfortunately, we are focused on “finished” products and do not yet have a place for wonderfully handmade supplies like beads and yarn.

There’s just one thing — they already have approved two lampwork bead artists who are selling actual beads, not just finished products.  There’s also nothing in the terms of service, policies, or anywhere else that mentions “finished” products.  So I questioned the decision. Nothing’s resolved yet in regards to the supplies issue, but I am going to take some decent pictures tomorrow of my “finished” products, post them, and see if I can get approved at least for those.

As far as I am concerned, it is 1000Markets’ choice whether to consider handmade supplies as proper for their venue or not. It’s their site!  I just think there should be a definite policy and they should adhere to it for everyone.  I’m going to feel like a real rat, though, if this pushes Andrea and FormFire Glassworks out of there. I didn’t raise the issue to try to screw them!

If the truth about my stuff was that they didn’t feel like my pictures (they do rather suck), or my work, is up to their standards, then don’t B.S. me about it — that’s REALLY offensive. Tell me the truth, and I can either improve up to the standard or move on.  Just DON’T feed me B.S.!!

Signing up for the latest swap on one of my Yahoo! groups was a mistake, I figured, but I went ahead and did it anyway.  I was right.  It was a round-robin, on a strict deadline, and I do not do terribly well with strict deadlines at the best of times. Right now, with my Muse on hiatus, a creative round-robin was doomed to not go well and it didn’t. No creativity, no motivation, procrastination on the mailings (I really do loathe going to the post office), and no real explanation for any of it — just mental and psychological inability to do anything, or to even talk about it to anyone. So I was dropped from the swap, got my book mailed back to me, and finally got the book I still had into the mail (without any contribution from me, sadly).

Naturally I feel like a total shit, to the point where I have avoided emails and group digests because they just worsened the spiral. I really need to not participate in swaps and round-robins until I can get my procrastination and avoidance behaviors straightened out.  Next time I’ll  listen to the little voice in my head that says, “yes, it sounds cool, but remember, you usually manage to screw these things up despite your best intentions,” and stay out so I don’t piss people off. Just another lesson I’m kind of slow learning, eh?

There’s lots of good stuff out there to read this week when you need a break from the torch!

• At ColorAddiction, Kandice Seeber takes a new look at an old friend, Effetre Light Turquoise.
• Luann Udell continues her “How to Halfway Wholesale” series with a handy research tip to help you find the right markets for your work.
• The Etsy Storque emphasizes the critical importance of communication for Etsy sellers; this doesn’t just apply to Etsy, though!
• Why does Linda Morrison persist with her lampworking? Watch Me Create knows!
• In another valuable Etsy Storque article, jewelry artist and photojournalist Vadjutka shares a how-to on photographing jewelry.
• See the magic Lydia Muell worked with a serendipitous find of some original Double Helix Terra.
• Sarah Hornick chronicles her current journey with making and using murrini in a four-part article. Especially intriguing is her combination of murrini with hollow beads.
• Have you been wishing for a step-by-step tutorial on hollow beads? Lori Greenberg to the rescue, though she doesn’t promise your hollow beads will look like Sarah’s right away.
• Did you ever wonder just what a Bullseye stocking order looks like? Judith Johnson shares hers with us.
• Gwacie is babbling again — but this time it’s not just her thoughts. She also shares a new perspective on the old topic of copying from AngelinaBeadalina.