I suppose it is futile to criticize this article, as resulting from outdated ideas.

However, I was surprised to see the author has harvested a photo from the Michaan's Auctions catalogue—Naomi Lindstrom Collection, that was perhaps the most impressive opportunity to acquire collector beads since the previous decade or longer.

Here's a shot of the catalogue page, followed by the necklace I made for Ms Lindstrom using these same beads. Due to manipulations committed by someone who claimed to be able to sell these beads, if the necklace could be dismantled, it no longer exists as such. (And that person did not sell a single bead from the group—which was how they came to be offered one by one, or in small groups). JDA.

I remarked that Overseas Trading Co. offered these zi on "tassels" with a single bead and a finial piece. Referring back to my original transparencies, I found that, in fact, the format was as string necklaces, holding a pair of beads, and with a hanging element that was usually a Chinese carved jade pendant/bead, with a tassel. Just to be accurate.

At least he gave Credit to Naomi Lindstrom Collection under the Photo from the Auction Catalog. I have seen information online and on your FaceBook page about your help with appraising and organizing this Auction, and also mentions of it here and there. To have amassed such a collection on a Flight Attendant's salary is impressive, the scope of which looked Vast for sure! Also I could see that she had a certain stringing style and actually wore and enjoyed her wonderful beads which is all the better.

My friend has a Bhutanese friend, whose family have Dzi heirloom beads. I'm hoping for some photos and information from her and will share it when and if it comes to be.

My friend went on a religious Trek to Tibet and I told him the little I knew about Dzi beads, and warned him of the fakes they artificially age and machine (?) to produce those surface crescent marks - often found on Old glass and some Old stone. He sent photos of the prominent bead stalls in the market place, and bead hawkers in the street selling, with crowds of onlookers. He did buy a new 9 eyed Dzi bead, and was told that even the new beads are Dzi beads so long as they are chalcedony and made in the Old way. He carried his bead on his Kalish Kora, which is supposed to "charge" it.

It is funny to see a Travel Brochure so focused on a bead, and the content is pretty amusing, for sure! No doubt every tourist will have a bead after visiting Bhutan, which is a good thing, so long as they didn't overpay.

EDIT: The Bhutan Dzi bead Travel brochure is Cut and Pasted straight off the internet from multiple sources, with a few changes Z yo Dzi, etc. Not surprised.

Were any of the necklaces you made shown on the episode of "Strange Inheritance" about her collection? There were some really amazing items shown.

I made most or all of them. A curious thing about the Strange Inheritance episode is that there is virtually no mention of my ongoing collaborations with Naomi. I am introduced into the story as a "bead expert" who "helped the family to determine values." I was surprised when I first viewed the program, since I was in-contact with the producers, gave them most of the archival photos used (and many not used)—and my participation in Naomi's life was well understood.

They also did not use a short segment in which I showed Jamie Colby how to tie knots between beads, and briefly discussed authenticity versus faking.

JDA.

Authenticity versus faking often seems boring to people until they fall victim to the fakes. It is possible they thought that section was too technical. My husband would have loved your demonstration of knotting. He loves learning about that and has gotten me into learning it, too.

https://www.facebook.com/lindstromcollection/

Hello Barb,

Over the 35+ years I worked with Naomi Lindstrom, I would guesstimate I made at least 3/4 of the necklaces and other pieces in her Bead Collections.

Let's be specific—as much as possible.

I began working with Naomi in about 1978—in the early days of The Northern California Bead Society (for which I was a Founder in 1977). Prior to that time, a delightful lady named Fumiko Ukai made quite a few necklaces for Naomi. Fumiko was also an active Bead Society member. But, at that time, Fumi had begun to concentrate on her own designs, and marketing them. Over the years, I remade several Fumi necklaces (in some instances more than one time), according to Naomi's requests for changes (be they bead substitutions, additions, lengths, or whatever).

During this period I also made many necklaces for Jewels—who was another San Francisco friend, who was heavily involved in making great jewelry from ethnic beads and ornaments—with impressive success. For Jewels I originated a style of necklace-making for which she has become well-known—involving the use of crowning (between beads, and as a rope to hold pendants, etc.). I bring this up because I alone could not keep up with Jewels' needs—and consequently she asked me to train Jacqueline, who was her silversmith, to string in my style—which I did. In turn, Jackie taught several other people to exploit my techniques and styles—one of whom was Abby. So I regard Abby as my "student-by-proxy."

In the mid-1990s, Naomi began having Abby string for her. And Abby did quite a few necklaces. However, while I continued to evolve and refine my skills, Abby remained more-or-less the same. And, in some respects her work was admirable. She made GREAT thick ropes via crowning—which was something I didn't like to do. In fact, when Naomi would ask for this, I recommended that she ask Abby to do it. Unfortunately, in a number of instances, Abby's necklaces tended to unravel at the clasp area, over time. And it became my responsibility to fix these necklaces, and redo the closures. I can ALWAYS tell whether a particular necklace was made by me or by Abby—though, after the fact, Naomi could not.

So, to answer your question, the 1/4 of the necklaces and other articles that I did not make were mainly made by Fumi and Abby. A very few pieces remained exactly as they were received. However, Naomi was very given to cleaning everything, refining designs, making new combinations from elements that were acquired one-by-one (or a few at a time)—and she needed a collaborator (me) to make all this happen.

I have photo-documented my work with her from nearly the beginning. Plus, after Naomi passed away seven years ago, I continued to make pieces for the Collection, and for her family members. I still do this. And, from the time of her passing, over three years, I photographed and documented nearly 1,000 objects. The intent was to use these photos and information when the Collections were offered for sale or auction. However, as it happened, the people at Michaan's Auctions decided to not use my Catalogue, and instead made their own photos and descriptions (some of which were, respectively, poor or mistaken).

The FaceBook Group, dedicated to the Lindstrom Collection was initiated by me—and I am its Admin. If you view the photos shown there, you will often see mention of the fact that the necklace (or whatever) was made by me. Note the attached screenshot, at the bottom left.

Jamey

Jamey,

I always wondered who made her necklaces.
They are gorgeous!
I like the facebook photos much better, btw.
Thanks again,
Barbara

This should keep me out of trouble and busy for quite a while! What a Wonderful and Beautiful feast for the eyes, heart & soul!

Thanks!

Ah! So it was YOU (and some others that you trained) that did the pretty Macrame and closures..very nice. The Balance of the beads was very pleasing, and always just right, BTW.

Anyone that has been interviewed for a Feature or as a Resource/Source knows there is often no rhyme or reason, unfortunately, to what they latch onto VS leave out. I'm sure you have many wonderful memories of your long friendship and common love of Beads. It is sad that they so overlooked that important fact.

Hey did you ever get a chance to look at the grey-blue striped "gooseberry" beads I posted weeks ago to see if they were a-speo rounded/? I'm curious to see what you think- The post is on Pg.2 now.
Thanks, Anne