since there are many members from Europe could it be possible to get a section of the forum for us Euros since it would be easier searching Euro posts ?

Or a couple of sections?
EU and UK (including all of Europe, east & west)
Asia and Australia
Assuming the bulk of US and Canadian members won't feel they need their own home, that would still leave Central and South America, the Caribbean and Africa without homes.

Or maybe just one new section specific to members outside of North America?
World View: messages among beaders outside North America

Something like that would help beaders from specific areas communicate with others in the same area. Post subjects could start with EU, ASIA, UK, AU or some such thing to make picking your own area from the sea of threads. Interesting idea, eh?

Hi Russ, It's a difficult question, as to how many different areas we'd end up needing!!! I think a lot of people would base it on buying/shipping so that makes sense!

By the way I completed your registration on my forum and there's even a thread where some people noticed you'd signed up and were hoping you'd pop in to say hi!

http://ukbeaders.forumup.org/viewtopic.php?t=1574&highlight=russ&mforum=ukbeaders

Thanks for that, kitschkitty.

The more I think about it the more I think a single section for "regional" posts might be workable. B&B hasn't been very interested in adding new sections unless they really fit a need. I'm guessing but I don't think adding 4 or 6 new sections would appeal to the powers that be. But a single section might.

What could they call it? Some of the isolationist Americans might suggest "foreign" but that's really a foreign concept in this global community.

international section


or on a more whimsical note " the world is not enough "as a name

A good idea...I like the idea of one whole section, as Russ suggested...more than that would get confusing.

Also the idea of "Post subjects could start with EU, ASIA, UK, AU or some such thing to make picking your own area from the sea of threads" would work, I think.

I'm Scottish, but living in the US, it's true that beadwork forums tend to have many more North American visitors and many of the companies are based here, I like to hear about beaders and beading going on in different parts of the world, and I'm not sure I'd want all of that in a separate section, reading about other British beaders keeps me in touch with home.

I think that it would be useful to find listings of suppliers on the Bead and Button, Bead Style and Art Jewelry websites, or as a sticky on the forum, that are either from the UK, or Europe, along with US and international companies who will ship to the UK and Europe, for beading is really begining to take off in the UK and the magazine is becoming more widely available, also partly for future reference should my hubby and I eventually return to the UK. :)

Love, Jan

After reading and re-reading this topic several times, I cannot for the life of me see the advantage of having a Euro/UK/US/Canada/Australia section. Don't we all do the same kind of stuff, don't we all need the same kind of materials, etc.?

Please enlighten me..!

Milli - If you lived in Europe then you'd understand. Yes, we all do the same thing, and use more or less, and please note the "more or less" same supplies. Fact is, many MANY things available to North Americans are not available to Europeans if not through overseas stores. Example? I work with seed beads. In practically all of Europe you won't find anything but Japanese seed beads (which cost twice as much in Europe than they do for you in the US) or size 9 seed beads from two companies, extremely expensive and very limited finishes and colors. Size 9 seeds are not the "standard" to work with...size 11s are. So when I have to buy seed beads I have to order a huge amount of hanks in various sizes, finishes and colors...from overseas. And that's just for seed beads...wanna talk about Nymo, Fireline, good cabochons, good gemstone beads, sterling silver wire, Lacy's Stiff Stuff without spending a fortune, blanks to bead, good jewelry-making books in various mediums, yadda yadda yadda?

A Euro-specific section will promote networking with other beaders continent-wide who find themselves in the extremely unpleasant position of having to research multitudes of suppliers overseas to find one that carries everything you need so you won't have to pay the standard US30.00 odd dollars for shipping more than once...gasp![B)]

Right now we have to do advanced searches through multitudes of archived posts to find a European who references an online supplier here and there.

And that's just ONE of the reasons why a Euro section on the boards would not only be "nice", but also an enormous resource...for the N. Americans too...there are European specific techniques for some mediums, European materials that you people over there are just discovering (example - Italian mesh ribbon) and are not sure how to work with...and I think you got the point.

Hope that is enlightening enough for you.

Oh Boy is it EVER!! I had no clue that materials are so hard to come by in Europe. I live in the US but am from Holland. However, I started to do this crazy bead- and jewelry thing after I got over her (in the US) and therefore have never been in the position that beaders in Europe are in.

Maybe the next time we take a vacation in Holland I should post here and ask what everybody over there wants, and then bring a couple of suitcases over with BEADS and such... seriously!

Thank you for explaining, I did need that!

Milli - all I have left to say is.....Do I wish I was back in the US? Yes I do! [:D]

The only plus about being over here, at least in regard to a few mediums such as lampwork beads, chainmaille, polymer and beadweaving is that the market here is wide open. As you can imagine, the absence of supplies easily available to you people over there indicates that nobody (or very very few people) over here produce jewlery/objects with these mediums. As a beadweaver my work here is worth twice as much as its worth over there, and I can price it accordingly and still sell.

Enjoy the US! [:)]