Artisan-Made Focal Bead Swap

A focal bead is a beautiful bead that becomes the central part of a piece of jewelry. It's so amazingly pretty that all you really have to do is string it or put an earring hook on it. These are typically a little larger beads, and for this swap are made by hand. A focal bead is NOT:

• mass-produced
• a plastic pony bead
• a gemstone chip
• an "E" bead
• a seed bead
• found at your typical Craft Box Store, like Michael's, Hobby Lobby, or JoAnn's

The beads for this swap will be found at your local specialty bead shop, at an art faire, or on Etsy. I am serious - please do not sign up for this swap thinking you can send in even the nicest bead you can buy at Michael's. So please make sure you understand the nature of this swap; read the description below and make sure you REALLY want to participate.

RULES:

Participants will select three to five focal beads to send to one partner. The total value of these beads should be at least $20. Try to pick beads based on your partner's profile.

If you make glass beads, you can sign up and send your handiwork! That would be great!

Participants should have a 4.8 or higher, and should have at least ten completed and rated snail mail swaps. Please contact me if you feel you have been unfairly rated. If you're new to Swap-Bot, you will have plenty of time to build up your rating before this swap begins. I do reserve to right to ban anyone with no or very little profile information, an inactive account, or other signs of flake-itude.

This is a USA-only swap, simply because I don't know what sort of customs issues may arise from sending more pricey items overseas. I f you like you may start an international version.

Please send with Delivery Confirmation and use padded envelopes and wrap these carefully.

I will be taking my Prelim exams in August, so I won't be very active here from August 6-15. Messages left for me at that time will get answered once I'm available.

(Please note that I've never purchased from the artist who made the bead shown here, but I thought the work was a good illustration of the sort of quality beads this swap is about.)

Feel free to PM me or to ask questions and discuss here.