Because there were no written records of the Paiwan's ancient bead-making process, Shih and her husband were forced to make guesses about the tools and materials they used. Not surprisingly, they burned any number of beads (and, frequently, their own hands) when they were getting started. Later, misfortune struck when Shih's husband met an untimely death.
由於排灣族的古琉璃珠製作沒有留下任何文字記載，剛開始連材料、工具都得自己摸索，兩人燒破了許多顆琉璃，也無數次燙傷了手；正當為理想奮鬥之際，施秀菊的先生不幸意外喪生，獨留她踽踽而行。