MOoK & Trying To Do My Part (Making Order Out of Kaos)

april 2025

April already? Where does the time go? Well, at least I've been productive if not as active as I need to be online, but I must say that the new logo and brand designs are pretty nice and that really needed to be handled because for small businesses, Branding is Everything!

So I hope you like the changes.

Inspiration is my 'thing' for 2025, and I continue to be inspired by Pantone's Mocha-Mousse and the accessory colors.

I came up with MOoK in the Summer of '24 because my life was beyond Kaotic; little did I know that Kaos would spread far and wide and well into 2025 and perhaps beyond. But with all of the Kaos we need our emotional outlets and many maintain by maintaining a creative outlet. Unfortunately, if our budget is cramped more than usual, out hobbies are the first thing to go, understandably, and most small businesses can only offer but so many sales, without creating the issue of price gouging sales (here's a link to the article) and free shipping just inflates product prices.

So I will try to come up with various bonuses-like Build Your Bead Storage System for FREE- or incentives that help others get more for their money. Go here to read how I will start implementing this in April of 2025. Items will change, probably monthly, we will see, but for now, this will help a bit. In addition, when I list items on my Facebook page or Instagram and you pay with Paypal, a Bonus beading tool or supply will be included in your order.

I finally found the new Ecommerce platform for rebuilding my website, but I'm so reluctant after the last fiasco...anyway, it looks like a winner; I just need to get started building. Still selling on Etsy & FaceBook Instagram Postings.

Also, thanks to MOoK I realized I needed to reengineer certain aspects of my online presence and started thinking about my most successful times, which was when I had 90% of my selling venues and online content under my control.

There's a platform that helps not only saving money but actually helps my stress levels.

I will be sharing this information (please subscribe to email newsletter for updates) as I'm sure many will find this 'discovery' quite useful in maintainng and growing their small business.

I mean I was shocked to, after being billed over $30 a month, for years, for my Google Workspace, they REDUCED my monthly fee to $14+. When does that ever happen? Not only that, but all of their Gemini Ai and all the other platforms are INCLUDED. There's a lot more to it, and the ability to save on purchasing extra services certainly makes it worth looking into.

Updates soon.

DB1843F Galvanized Matte Dark Mauve

MOoK (making order out of kaos) seems to be a standard issue lately, even in The Bead World

february/march 2025

This week, I was laser-focused on creating new content for my newsletter/blog when I stumbled upon something online from other bead suppliers that truly shocked me. As a result, I had to pivot quickly to finalize this email sign-up and offer pre-orders for certain beads. I'm aghast at seeing fellow suppliers gouging their customers with truly insane prices!

I've always advocated for bead artist jewelry designers to have at least three bead suppliers, primarily for continuity of beads and supplies. But this week, I discovered another critical reason: price gouging. I was so shocked by what I saw that I immediately contacted my suppliers. I wanted to understand if the tariff situation was driving these crazy prices. They said no, but confirmed they're aware of other suppliers engaging in price gouging, though they feel powerless to stop it.

A few years ago, I recognized that the closure of so many brick-and-mortar bead stores would limit access to bead supplies, despite the rise of online sellers. There's something special about in-person bead shopping and talking with seasoned, knowledgeable bead sellers. But price gouging? I never considered that as a consequence of fewer bead sellers.

Scarcity is one thing. Vintage and limited editions are another. For example, Swarovski Crystal is now out of reach for even most bead sellers, so what we have left will command a premium, and understandably so—we can't get more.

But seed beads, and Miyuki brand Delica and seed beads, which are widely available, are a different story. Unless you're an importer, most resellers pay about the same price for Miyuki products and have free rein to resell at whatever price they choose. Having been in this business for over 20 years, I know bead prices inside and out, which is why I immediately recognized the price gouging.

Times are challenging. We need our creative outlets—beading, crochet, knitting, woodwork, fiber arts, sewing—now more than ever. Price increases are inevitable, but this new found bead pricing increase is very, very disturbing and unfortunately could be infectous.

Pantone's 2025 Color of The Year

2024/25 Fall / Winter Fashion Home Decore Sub-Colors (Below)

Vintage Handmade Japanese Glass Painted Flower Beads

Color Kaos January 2025

I appreciate how Pantone provides a range of shades inspired by the base color of the year. The variations of Mocha Mousse showcased here offer a soothing palette that I find perfect for this year.

Additionally, I always find reading about Pantone's selection process for the featured color fascinating. Understanding their reasoning and the process behind it is not only inspiring but also valuable for creators across various fields, including jewelry and interior design.

If you're a designer, bead enthusiast or just enjoy the story of color, especially if you're creating to sell, or on the supply side; you might consider subscribing to connect.pantone.com (I think it's free, they sent me an invite which was awesome as I always wanted this feature but it was too expensive) or FashionTrendSetter.com.

Note: Platforms like Pinterest, and even Etsy too come out with their color(s) palette of the year; but it's kind of interesting how many are based on variations of Pantone's sub-colors; but, still, get familiar.

Color Chaos: My Journey to Bead Color Mastery

Discovering the Bead World

I've always been drawn to color. Color wheels, matching books—you name it, I tried it. But it wasn't until I discovered Pantone that the world of color truly opened up for me. This newfound understanding became invaluable when I ventured into the beading world.

A fateful trip to New York City led me to York Beads, and in that moment, I knew I had found my calling. Selling beads would be my life's work. Little did I know the steep learning curve that lay ahead. The world of beads was vastly different from the plastic letter beads of my childhood. I was completely overwhelmed.

Despite the challenges, I was determined to succeed. I listened intently to my customers, their requests fueling my desire to learn more. With each visit to York Beads, my bead education expanded. However, color remained a persistent puzzle.

The Color Conundrum

I relied on my niece to name bead colors, a system that proved to be as effective as using crayons as a color guide. My ignorance was painfully exposed when a customer requested a specific shade of blue. This was a wake-up call.

I realized that my strengths lay in listening to customers and finding hard-to-source items. By focusing on fulfilling customer requests, my bead business grew rapidly. I was fortunate to have discovered a supplier like York Beads, whose high-quality beads set me apart from the competition.

The Pantone Revelation

Over time, I developed a basic understanding of bead color systems, but color coordination remained a challenge. Then I discovered Pantone. Their color palettes, designed for fashion, proved to be a perfect fit for the bead world.

I used to create collages based on Pantone's free downloads, which helped me visualize bead colors in a fashion context.While those days are gone, the impact of Pantone on my color perception remains.

Conclusion

My journey from color chaos to color confidence has been a long one. Through trial, error, and the invaluable guidance of customers and suppliers, I've developed a deep appreciation for the intricacies of bead color. Pantone has been an indispensable tool in my color exploration.

Page updated

Report abuse