Dear Moonlight Beads,
I have been concerned for over a year of reading this newsgroup that folk just assume they have no power to continue the production and availability of the smaller size Czech seed beads, including the irises. So, I did a round of emails to American distributors (United States) and also to Czech Republic. Some of us are particularly interested in 15/0 seed beads. If we want to be able to purchase Czech charlottes in smaller sizes, we need to find a way to keep them in circulation. It seems, maybe I am wrong, with a newsgroup membership our size, we can make this happens. I just got this email from a major Czech bead distributor:
"Are you referring to charlottes or round seed beads??? If charlottes, our delivery timei s a year. In our case, we only have enough space and budget to pre-order one size 13/0 or 15/0 and we chose 13/0.
For me to even attempt to rush something for you I would need for and order from you for 5 kilo. These beads are around $144 per kilo today. The dollar is weak in Europe and the price is escalating.
Basically, on a political bead point, in the past 13/0 was only sold to, about 2 importers. A lot of people complained so th ey made 15/0 available to others. Then as time went by 13/0 became available to others so many of those importers, like me, dropped 15/0. Also, there is only so much capacity for charlotte "cutting " in Czech seed beads. The bigger size is easier to make. We will get more 13/0 at end of summer or fall. 15/0 has become a budget issue to even start to carry again."
For those of you who do antique and/or museum quality beadwork or just need the 15/0 sizes please feel free to contact me to help preserve availability of these smaller sized Czech seed beads in this country.
Thanks,
J. Keeler