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March, 2008 We are continuing to get new beads at SewBeadazzled. Have you seen our new seed bead colors? I’m looking forward to my next bead-buying adventure the week after Easter. Please don’t forget our annual TAX RELIEF STOCK-UP SALE. You pay NO TAX & you get 10% off from April 14th to April 20th. I want to say a big "Thanks!" to our very talented Nancy Banks for her Free PMC Torch Firing Demo. It was a very informative night. And as usual...
January, 2008
November, 2007 California’s landmark legislation regulating lead content in jewelry has not been widely covered in either jewelry trade or consumer publications. The State of California has established a web page, “Lead in Jewelry”, that provides a great deal of information about the law that came into effect in September 2007. This web page contains background data on the legislation, resource materials concerning health issues, and deadlines for compliance with the law. To read more, click here. Stay safe,
September, 2007 "Lead poisoning continues to be one of the most serious environmental threats to the children of this country," said EPA Administrator Carol Browner. Lead poisoning in children —and in unborn fetuses whose mothers have been exposed to lead—, has been associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems, and growth retardation. A child who is exposed to large amounts of lead may develop kidney damage, colic, muscle weakness, and brain damage —which can ultimately kill the child, according to consumer reports. The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) initiated legal action against many retailers citing numerous cases of children with serious lead poisoning due to jewelry exposure. After eighteen months, CEH negotiated a settlement with the retailers: strict standards for lead levels in metal components and coatings must contain 600 parts per million; while plastic components can range from 1400 to 20,000 ppm —metal components had often tested as high as 950,000 or 95% lead. Please keep in mind that CEH also knows that it will be impractical for many manufactures of jewelry components to follow through with this agreement. One of our most important goals here at SewBeadazzled has always been to offer a “lead free" store to our customers. However, there have been so few conversations on the subject of lead content in jewelry, that we were still left with many questions while researching merchandise for our store. It was the summer, so I decided to take my grandson James on a “bead buying adventure”. We meant business when we said we wanted to meet every vendor and we wanted them to get to know us. We still do business this way, since it is important for us to maintain the “No Lead “standards. We realize that products will be touched, purchased, and worn by very special people: our customers. In our quest, we found out that anything from China in the bead world has a heavy lead content. After interviewing many vendors about their supplies —and suppliers—, it was time to make some purchasing decisions for our family-owned and operated bead store. Now, at SewBeadazzled, we are very proud to offer only jewelry components and stringing materials made in California, and craft wire manufactured in the United States. Czech glass beads —although imported—, have no traces of lead. We do offer Swarovski crystals that are 32% lead, and we have posted a sign to that effect. For us, it is not only about making our clients aware of these issues. It is also about being concerned with the people who might be wearing your creations. Our children are our best assets in life. This lead poisoning topic is such a serious subject, that even though its tone does not reflect the high energy you feel when you walk into our store, we thought it was well worth exploring. Since we spend so much time here, this store has become our home; and as such, we'd like to keep it safe. Please come in and see us!
February, 2007
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