The Green Fuse

Metal Components
Bali silver beads, clasps, bead caps, pendants, charms	Every piece of Bali silver in my designs comes directly from Rishashay, an active member of the the Fair Trade Federation.	Thai silver clasps, pendants, charms, beads	Every piece of Thai silver in my designs comes directly from Shiana, an active member of the Fair Trade Federation.
Rings, clasps, chains, bead caps, etc.	ALL my sheet and wire silver comes from 100% recycled sources!	All other fabricated silver parts are either made personally by me or by artisans in Western countries such as the United States, Italy, and Israel, where worker rights are protected by law. I source every single item I buy.

Gemstones
	lab grown gemstones This is the most exciting development in gemstones since the crown jewels! Lab grown gemstones are molecularly indistinguishable from the mined variety. It takes a special machine to tell them apart -- the human eye can't do it. These are real gemstones, not glass, not simulations. They have consistently high color and flawless quality at a lower price. Growing gems in the lab means no mining and no abused miners. But most telling, lab grown gemstones are giving DeBeers nightmares. For more info: post-gazette.com
	reclaimed gemstones Reclaimed gemstones use the waste material from cutting and drilling stones to build "new" beads. Ground gemstone is mixed with resin and formed into highly-polished beads that look like the original stone but cost much less and salvage what would otherwise be thrown away.
New gemstone policy for 2008!	mined gemstones Because there are no certified fair trade gemstone bead suppliers, I used to purchase mined gemstones from the only two suppliers I could find who maintained a stated policy of factory inspection and concern for worker protection. However, lately the news has made it clear that factory inspections are not enough. Inspections are too easy to circumvent and workers remain unprotected. So, starting in 2008, I will no longer be purchasing new commercially mined and cut gemstones. All my gemstones will now be either lab grown, reclaimed, vintage/recycled, or collected and cut by hand by artisan rock collectors in the US.

Glass and Ceramic Beads
My European art glass beads are genuine Czech and Murano/Venetian. Both countries have centuries-old glasswork traditions and well-established worker protection legislation. These beads are of phenomenal quality. For more on the history of these ancient glassworks: artofvenice.com/art/venetian-glass.htm europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/murano_the_glass_island.htm feelbohemian.com/pages/craft-history.htm	Kazuri West My ceramic beads are either made in the United States or obtained from a member of the Fair Trade Federation.
Vintage beads are just that --- old or antique beads that have been salvaged from estate sales, thrift shops, etc.	My African glass beads are handmade by artisan members of the Fair Trade Federation. Primarily made from crushed bottles, this is recycling at its most fundamental. Where European art glass beads are crystal-clear and refined, these beads are earthy and opaque. Both are truly lovely.

Fabrics
My cotton cord is described by the supplier as a "vegetarian" product. I cannot confirm that it is not waxed with beeswax, but based on the texture, price, and origin I tend to doubt it.	My ribbons are cotton, linen, hemp, or man-made fibers. No silk or other animal fibers.	All my decorative gift pouches are made of man-made fibers.
Wood, Seeds, Nuts
Sustainable wood beads from Zuma are made from gathered fallen wood and are dye-free