More that glitters can be green

There's a lot of guilt-free jewelry around if you shop carefully. But what if you like to string your own beads and sculpt your own pendants? Here are some green supplies for making jewelry. I'm almost too late for Valentine's Day, but keep this in mind next time you're stringing beads or bending wire for your beloved (chow on happy chocolate here).

The Beaded Needle, the best source of links I've found on this subject, advises buying beads manufactured in the U.S., Czech Republic, Germany, Italy and Japan because "all of these countries protect their workers." Glass beads from India or China? A big no-no (U.S. furnace glass artists such as David Christensen: yes, yes.). Yet even the popular Fire Mountain Gems fails to protect Chinese workers from fatal silicosis, says the L.A. Times. Insert comment here about how beauty shouldn't kill. After I received Fire Mountain's giant recycled paper catalog, which contains all sorts of information about the company's do-good deeds around breast cancer and so on, I e-mailed them asking about the eco- and human-friendliness of its goods. Two weeks later, haven't heard  back.

On the shinier side, look for Karen Hill tribe silver (also sold by Fire Mountain , Shiana, and Nina Designs), Ands' Bali beads, or Rishashay's Fair Trade Federation-approved Indonesian sterling--rather than from random, unregulated sources. Ethical Metalsmiths want to work with silver untarnished by eco-violations.

Rings & Things sells some 20,000 items online or in a 300-page catalog, and the owner told Beaded Needle that the stone cutters he visited seemed ethical enough. The family-owned A Grain of Sand says it handpicks stones and silver.

When dealing with Swarovski and other high-quality crystal, don't chew on the beads or uh...stud a goblet or silver platter with them, since they contain lead. You might want to wash your hands after handling beads, chains and filings. Some beads are dyed, heated, and irradiated. A reputable supplier should label their goods accordingly as the FTC demands.

Don't worry about quartz crystal, though, since that's so natural that it can be shaped make sweet music (beware soundtrack) and bring out your inner shaman. Kacha's Celtic crystals are hand-mined. Earthly Gems says it cares about ethical sourcing. You can buy Discount Crystals NOW! at Healing Crystals, where they pray for your order but don't guarantee how the rocks were mined. Just don't let someone turn those crystals against you to control your mind...ohhh. I'm sure that isn't the case for Chrissy White's hardcore healing crystal jewelry, which she's shown at U.K. eco-design fairs.

Ethical Beads has some more good links to sustainable jewelry-making supplies. And once again, vintage beads are always a safe bet. Try Earthly Adornments or New York Vintage Beads or the Beadin' Path or A Grain of Sand or Bruce Frank or  or go to a flea market that's not in San Francisco, where they try to charge you $20 for half a set of rhinestone, apple-shaped earrings and a rusted fake pearl choker.

Find out more about lab-grown diamonds here.

Other ready-made stuff: Purchases of Rainforest Native jewelry send money toward rainforest conservation. They even sell a grippy massage tool made from rainforest ivory instead of yucky plastics. The Palma Collection has more nice rainforest ivory earrings (left) and necklaces. Sustento sells bracelets of buttons.

Comments

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[Kirstie MacLean]

Hey, just a quick note to mention our company, Mzuribeads who also sell ethically sourced and handmade Ugandan barkcloth, banana leaf, cow horn, recycled paper and glass beads.

Thank you kindly

mzuribeads.com

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As much as the concept of "mind control" has been painted as a zany "paranoid conspiracy theory", I urge everyone to educate themselves on the potentials of all the technologies out there and learn what is already happening.

[Robin Kilson]

Every time I look in jewellery stores in Calgary, I always think to myself, when am I going to be able to buy jewellery with my own money? There are times that I wanted to make one myself, but I really have no talent in handicrafts and stuff. The ring I have right now was from one of those jewellery stores Calgary has. My parents bought this for my wedding. Someday, I'll be able to buy my own jewellery. Oh, and thanks for suggesting the "green" idea.

[Warren]

We at www.crystal-wizard.com are one of the largest distributors on Gemstones on the internet.
We sell only the highest quality,natural beautiful Gemstones.We sell Gemstones for metaphysical ,cosmetic and decorative purposes.Most gemstones can be used for metaphysical as well as collective motives.

[sell gold necklaces]

With the price of gold near record levels, there are many scrap gold buyers who are looking to offer individuals good money for their items.

[Tanzanite rings]

Nice to know that Swarovski crystals also contain lead.

[Jenna-Marie]

This is a fantastic article, Thank you.
I would just like to say to those people that love semi-precious stone jewellery...I have been searching high and low online for sellers who can guarantee me the bead stones they sell are mined ethically. I make my own handmade jewellery which I sell and would love to use stones. As yet though, I cannot find a single satisfactory seller. Kacha do claim to mine there own in Wales, uk, but they don't sell much in the way of beads. Most sellers do not even state where their stones come from and even those who claim to be fair trade or ethical have very little proof of how or why on their sites. When contacting sites I have been ignored or the information they give provides no evidence that what they sell is mined ethically.

I think it's great that sellers are making sure their factory workers are well looked after, but what about the people who dig them out? Sadly, I have not found one seller of stone beads who knows exactly where their stones are mined.

I would love to find a seller who does and would appreciate any information. Please mail me at www.funkyknitsnjinglybits@live.co.uk

[Venetian Glass Jewelry]

Great Post.

I've noticed in my experience with Swarovski crystals, that they do in fact contain traces of lead.

Another reference site listed here: http://www.beadboard.net/lead-swarovski-crystal-beads/

[David]

I think for both the looks and health benefits quartz can't be beat. It's natural so there shouldn't be any concern about toxicity. Nice post.

[vintage wedding rings]

Thank you for post !I am very new jeweler and trying making of different type of exclusive jewelry pieces. I would like to to string my own beads and sculpt my own pendants. And your information is very much useful for me.

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Green y definitely my favorite color, really a symbol of peace.

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did not know swarovski crystals contained lead

[Angelr]

I love crystals especially quartz and rose quartz being my favorite. Wearing jewelery made from natural stones has been used for centuries. I will continue to wear my quartz.

[Shelley - I love healing crystals]

I agree with Tim. Awesome article about 'green' beads. If all of us can do just a little bit more to protect our world then isn't it worth it???

[Tim]

Great info on "green" beading supplies, another step towards making our lives eco-friendly and sustainable on as many levels as possible, where every little bit (or bead) helps!

RIGHT ON for linking to Dr. Nick Begich's material at www.earthpulse.com as well. As much as the concept of "mind control" has been painted as a zany "paranoid conspiracy theory", I urge everyone to educate themselves on the potentials of all the technologies out there and learn what is already happening. Dr. Begich's most recent book, Controlling The Human Mind (https://www.earthpulse.com/src/product.asp?productid=212) looks into these technologies and their history in great detail. Our entire culture has been mind controlled in myriad ways. Going green and becoming aware of the importance of sustainability and renewable resources is one step in the process of "deprogramming" that all of us need to work through if we're going to see the Earth begin to heal!

Tim

[elsa]

Here's more about lead in crystals:
http://tinyurl.com/2bgn4g
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_crystal

Not really dangerous unless you're breaking them up and chewing on them.

[Lynn]

Swarovski crystals contain lead? Now that I didn't know. Could they be equally dangerous when they're used on other stuff, say, cellphones?