Glass pendant

[Sheltie19]

Here is a glass pendant I am very proud of... I also have this pendant for sale on my etsy store.

[HOSS]

I like it, except that clasp looks weak to me I'd break it in no time.

[jusbag]

That thing would sell for 40-50 retail pretty easy around here. Especially if it came with the chain.

[β]

I like it, except that clasp looks weak to me I'd break it in no time.

+1

[ShttrdSpctrm]

I like it, except that clasp looks weak to me I'd break it in no time.

+2

[Ruskin Designs]

Here is a glass pendant I am very proud of... I also have this pendant for sale on my etsy store.
It is cool but I have to agree on the bale portion. It needs to be just a bit sturdier.

[Cosmo]

That thing would sell for 40-50 retail pretty easy around here. Especially if it came with the chain.

Must be nice. Around here, I'm lucky to get $15 for things like that. My coldworked pendants with opals bring $20 if I'm lucky...

[Sheltie19]

Actually that clasp is very secure... I have another pendant very similar.. and I wear it all the time.. On the motorcycle.. to bed... that has to be a great test... and actually ,,, think the clasp on that pendant I showed you... is actually a bit stronger,.

Sheltie

[somewhere]

I love your little dragon beads!

[HOSS]

Actually that clasp is very secure... I have another pendant very similar.. and I wear it all the time.. On the motorcycle.. to bed... that has to be a great test... and actually ,,, think the clasp on that pendant I showed you... is actually a bit stronger,.


I wouldn't doubt that, boro is amazingly strong stuff (assuming thats what this is), and since theres not really any reference for scale its hard to tell just how thick that thin portion is. I guess the point is, it LOOKS weak, and whether they say it aloud or not some of your customers will be thinking the same thing. Not knocking your work I really do think its a nice piece, just pointing out that in many buyers minds Glass=Fragile, and especially with wearables the stronger you can make it look the more likely they are to buy it.

[Pilgrim]

odd but nice , i like it well enough......

[Tristan]

its a nice pendant, but the hook is sketchy, especially with a chain
I wouldnt sell it... until its warmed back up and gets a thicker hook

[UmaJulz]

It's interesting... but not sure if it is a bird (parrot?) or something more abstract than that.

I do think the loop looks like the weakest part with the variations in thickness and some of the angles in it. but it is hard to tell in the pic. I guess you'd need to see it in person to know for sure.

[massvegas]

LOOKS PRETTY JANKY,
the red color is nice but overall its pretty amatuer.

[Tristan]

LOOKS PRETTY JANKY,
the red color is nice but overall its pretty amatuer.

way to be encouraging

[JANKYglass]

nothing wrong with telling the truth when asked.

[jusbag]

It's just different when you are actually a lampworker looking at something rather than the general public. Most people wouldn't know that the thin spot in the hoop was a weak spot. Really it doesn't look all that weak to me though, this is jewelry it can be fragile. But even in that mind set I bet it would hold up to some abuse.
I am sure it would be hard to get more that 15-20 for the thing if you were to try and sell it at a craft show or farmers market type setting. I seem to have the best luck with pendants in a gallery setting. A place where the general customer is willing to dump 300-1000 on a vase or plate. In a setting like that putting a 40-50 dollar price tag on a pendant is an easy sell. But that means you will only see 20-25 for it. I tend to like the idea of letting other people sell the glass though.

[Tzonis]

nothing wrong with telling the truth when asked.

Preach on! I admit I am confused and would recommend different angle photo's of the work. It doesn't fit the typical pendant styling's I like (non symetrical and very hard angles as mentioned) but if you can pump it out of etsy then all the power to you. Not the biggest fan if you couldn't tell.

[ebonysglass]

the pendant looks ok but nothing ground breaking, could i get an email or contact for people that will pay 40-50 for that, i would like to make em some work, i would say you would max at 20 for that, keep working and make more, better glass. isn t that how this works?

[Sheltie19]

WEll... I guess we like to be brutally cruel here... I have showed this pendant to others on another site.. and was told it was lovely.. and one person even dropped their jaw.. and that person is a very outstanding lampworking artist... I guess everyone has their own opinions... but to be so blunt and cruel... why would anyone want to try to make more when you guys say such horrible things... makes you want to just give it up.. instead of trying to make it better.
and... to just let you know.. I have to people on esty that have marked this pendant as their favortie

[skip]

honest.

[PyroChixRock]

WEll... I guess we like to be brutally cruel here... I have showed this pendant to others on another site.. and was told it was lovely.. and one person even dropped their jaw.. and that person is a very outstanding lampworking artist... I guess everyone has their own opinions... but to be so blunt and cruel... why would anyone want to try to make more when you guys say such horrible things... makes you want to just give it up.. instead of trying to make it better.
and... to just let you know.. I have to people on esty that have marked this pendant as their favortie

I'm curious...did you post this pendant on other forums as a poll? Because the way you've worded it here looks as if you're asking our honest opinions. No one here has been cruel to you, in fact it seems to me they have been very careful in choosing their words for the most part as to help better you as a glass artist. It takes no time at all to go around and give people compliments, but giving honest, constructive criticism takes thought, effort, and time. Imho, you should thank them for being honest enough to want to see you produce better work, instead of just blowing smoke up your ass.

[Cosmo]

WEll... I guess we like to be brutally cruel here... I have showed this pendant to others on another site.. and was told it was lovely.. and one person even dropped their jaw.. and that person is a very outstanding lampworking artist... I guess everyone has their own opinions... but to be so blunt and cruel... why would anyone want to try to make more when you guys say such horrible things... makes you want to just give it up.. instead of trying to make it better.
and... to just let you know.. I have to people on esty that have marked this pendant as their favortie

I don't believe anyone was trying to "say such horrible things". It's different when a someone in the same field looks at something than when just anyone looks at something. We see things and potential problems that others don't see.

For example... my day job is running a printing company. When I look at magazines, or brochures, or the newspaper, or whatever, I see problems. I see things they should have done differently. The average person has no idea what I'm talking about.

The same is going on here, I think. Nobody has said it's ugly or anything. In fact, I think people complimented it. If you posted this on Lampwork Etc or Wet Canvas or something like that, you probably wouldn't get anything but "ohh, I love it" or "that's beautiful" or whatever. That's not saying they are lying to you. But nobody on there would dare to post something that isn't 100% positive because of all the politics and other crap that goes on on those boards. If they post something that can even remotely be considered negative, all the "popular people" on the board will jump on them. I've seen it first hand many times.

So, my point is, yes, people may have criticized your pendant. But, I believe it was constructive criticism. Most everyone I've ever "talked" to on this board is very supportive of other glass workers, and will always offer their opinion for a way to make something better. Nobody is judging your taste, or your style, or anything like that. They just want to make sure that before you go selling things, you are aware of potential pitfalls.

Honestly, I wish I had found people to do that with me when I first started selling stuff. It would have saved me a lot of headahces.

So, back to the situation at hand...

The glass around the chain looks like it could be thicker, and because there are thick and thin parts of it, that creates weaknesses in the bail/loop/whatever you want to call it. You say it holds up fine, and I believe you. But, my advice would be to have more glass all the way around where the cord/chain goes through just in case. It's better to spend a few more seconds in the flame than to have a problem down the road.

I do think it's pretty. I think it's a neat idea, and honestly I haven't seen anything like it before (which is good). I just would honestly be wary about the thin glass at the loop.

But, that's just me. Take it for what you will...

[Sheltie19]

cosmo... you were the best to give me some advice... I still think the others were rude.... I wrote that I don't think that loop will break... but no one would listen... I maybe a little emotional.... Things aren't that great in my life... but it sure would be nice to see some say it like you did... You have always been nice to me... and I appreciate it..
the pendant is unusual.. and I wanted it to be that way... it is abstract art... it can be whatever anyone wants it to be.

[Alfred]

CC:Your loop/bale looks unfinished and kinda janky(uneven,lots of acute angles,bad/cold seals)The pendant would look much better and more finished if you'd made the bale smoother and more even.The color combinations are good and it's a unique design.

You should definitely look around and check out the work of some of the people who have commented here and given you CC.There are some top notch artists here that know what they are talking about.Remember when you come in here asking peoples opinions on your work,like Misha said,your not gonna get any"smoke blown up your ass".People here can be blunt and sometimes a little harsh,but that comes from their desire to see you excel as a glassblower and make your best work. Comments like "Oo thats beautiful" don't really challenge you to do better work.

PS: Love your Frog beads!

[HOSS]

cosmo... you were the best to give me some advice... I still think the others were rude....


I take exception to that, I think I was very helpful and polite, explained exactly what the problem was and how to avoid it in the future. If you feel that was a harsh criticisim, this probably isn't the best place for you to ask for critiques.

[Kalera]

I think almost everyone was pretty nice and constructive, save the guy who said it was "janky and amateur" and didn't give you any tips. Several have even pointed out that even if the thin portion of the loop probably won't break spontaneously, it is still a thin spot and may likely raise questions in the minds of potential buyers.

Please remember that liking something is different from not being able to see how it could be improved. I like the design, and I think it can be improved, pretty much in the same way others have suggested. If you want your work to improve, learning to separate your ego and emotions from the criticism of your work will help you tremendously.

"Art and soul" aside, you can charge more money and make more sales with work that looks really professional and finished... an irregular loop is equivalant to crooked ends on a bicone bead, in that most buyers won't really notice WHY it doesn't look as nice as Jo Blow's pendants, but they still feel like spending more with him.

Imagine how amazing that design will be after you work on it a while and incorporate some of the constructive suggestions you get!

[Tzonis]

WEll... I guess we like to be brutally cruel here... but to be so blunt and cruel... why would anyone want to try to make more when you guys say such horrible things...

You should have had an option in your poll saying something to the extent of "no way would I wear, buy or like it". It seems like people here did restrain their comments and tried to be constructive. Then again opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. Maybe Sepulworld will chime in here as he could be the person who's jaw would drop as well.

-Tz
Just being honest as I was told lying is wrong.

[Sheltie19]

I take exception to that, I think I was very helpful and polite, explained exactly what the problem was and how to avoid it in the future. If you feel that was a harsh criticisim, this probably isn't the best place for you to ask for critiques.

I know you were and I didn't mean you at all....Thanks for being nice and kind about what you thought it needed...

[brettodie]

price is fine. great color and form very easy to look at. it is soft glass not boro though right? just guessing cause i havnt seen the colors you list in the description before. the loop doesnt look horrible but could use some work . i think someone will luv and cherish it. keep up the good work and listen and learn whenever you can. peace brett

[UmaJulz]

Oh, if that is soft glass, then yes, I would really rethink the loop construction. Soft glass is just not as able to take abuse as boro.

Honestly, people here really were being polite and constructive, and to the point- not brutally cruel. If you aren't able to hear what they have offered you, from their years of experience, then maybe you should rethink posting asking for opinions. People are here offering you not only their opinions, but also solutions to potential problems.

[Sheltie19]

Just thought I would let you all know that the pendant sold.. and I got what I wanted for it...