I show and sell my lampwork glass beads fashioned into jewelry at some of the better Art Festivals around Florida and the midwest. I show my work to 2,000 to 80,000 people every weekend,(depending on the show) so I think I have a least a little insight as to where the trends are heading. I have noticed this last season that my small less expensive items, regular bracelets & earrings have slummed in sales. However my more outrageous, large and expensive pieces are selling hand over fist. I am talking large, Flintstone style hollow beads I make combined with sterling in an artistic way. Franklym, I am thrilled that the "dainty little" style is going by the wayside...really, how boring!  I think that the economy and the shrinking middle class is to blame for trend in sales I see. Well to do,stylish and educated customers still have plenty of money to have fun with, and they are!

Susan,  Doodletart Glass

Doodletart.com

Thanks for the info!

 I must admit that i dont wear much bead jewelry.but reading this and going through the site made me ask myself why i do not?

However recently i have been growing fond of silver and white gold charms.........

"Frankly, I am thrilled that the "dainty little" style is going by the wayside...really, how boring!"

i couldn't disagree more! the big stuff is cool, but i love little stuff. quite frankly, i can't handle the weight of a lot of the big stuff. i have small wrists, and huge beads overwhelm them.

 i tend to go for the 'princess' look; although i'm branching out from the little girl pink-only look, i still like things small(ish). so please don't diss all dainty things. some thing in black and red or the like can be both dainty and dramatic :) !

 I agree with the above poster - dainty things are not always boring! I love, and always have, dainty styles. I think they make a statement without being over the top, which is really a lot of what my style is like in general. I am part of a fashion board, and many of the (middle class, young) members on there like dainty jewelry. It seems that layering is big now, and also chains with small dangling charms on them. :) I have noticed that big beads are in, too, though - the "bib necklaces" and the big round bead necklaces are certainly in! I am glad you've found that people are still buying your stuff in spite of the bad economy!