Well, my customers are just adoring my keishis mixed with the gems, and of course the bigger the stones the better, so I can't give up. I have learned a few things.
1. For the really heavy designs, where a customer wants lots of stones on a 20 inch necklace of huge keishis, I am having them knotted on wire that is covered in string. So far, so good. It seems to be only one style of Amethysts from one vendor which is a big problem. I sorted them and am using the ones with rough edges for some chain designs with wire wrapping.
2. Some customers are just really rough on their jewelry and require a heavy duty technique no matter the design.
3. Keishis will cut silk.
4. Knotting and french wire is studier than bead tips without knots.
5. I am subbing out more of my work. Sometimes it pays to hire out to an expert stringer. My company is really growing so I can't keep up with the selling, designing and stringing. Plus, it is killing my eyes.