Astute on Etsy

Copyright Jennifer VanBenschoten ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Today's miserable message in a bottle was sent via private conversation on Etsy to jewelry artist Jennifer VanBenschoten of Van Beads in refererence to her The Color and Shape Bead Embroidered Necklace.

"about your necklace are you seriously charging that much !!! i saw one idetical (sp) but with jade and it was only $50 your price is ridicolous (sp) besides a kid could make this minus the edging around the pietersite."

My Dear Anon

Firstly let me congratulate you on your astute observation. Why yes, a kid could make this...minus the considerable, pain staking, time consuming and quite frankly, gorgeous beaded cabochon work. Why perhaps with a little sensory deprivation and endless hours spent locked in a hot, dark room each day, a kid could pump these puppies out (minus the edging) by the dozens for pennies.

Oh but wait! They do, it's called slave labor!

Unfortunately for you, it was banned in this country over a hundred years ago, after those problematic nimble fingered children kept getting in factory accidents and losing said aforementioned fingers rendering themselves absolutely useless to society. Don't despair, there are plenty of children in other countries working for pennies, so all hope is not lost.

Your other equally astute observation is also correct, jade does cost much less than Pietersite! What would have possessed Jennifer to use a more expensive and rare material in her work and then have the audacity to charge you for her hours of labor, her designer eye, the cost of her materials, her time spent photographing the piece and uploading the pictures and information to Etsy and then expect to make a profit? Really? It is baffling indeed.

Yes, Anon, that was sarcasm.

Go forth, ye, dollars tightly clutched in your fist and seek these cheaply made, low quality, child crafted goods! Away!

Sarcastically yours,
Ms. Madge(rs)