About the products I carry:
Vintaj Natural Brass: Based in Galena, Illinois, Vintaj is a women-owned company, whose products are all manufactured and finished in the United States. They only sell a non-plated, naturally patinaed (aged) natural brass product. Jeweler's brass is composed of only copper and zinc, about 85% and 15%, respectively, and does not contain nickel, which can irritate sensitive skin.
Vintaj products are of the highest quality, and many can be manipulated into settings, bails and other useful findings. Of course, they can
also be used as is to make beautiful jewelry and altered art pieces!
The Vintaj Natural Brass "Idea Gallery" can be viewed here.
Trinity Brass Company: Trinity Brass Co. is a USA based company providing high quality brass products in not only an unplated vintage patina finish, but also plated antiqued silver and antiqued gold, described below:
Trinity Antique Gold - is a beautiful rich gold that has been antiqued to enhance the detail of each piece. A protective lacquer finish has been applied to the color. It is a very elegant and sophisticated finish. This color has a beautiful shine finish and is a very rich gold color. Lead and nickel free product.
Trinity Antique Silver - utilizes real silver in the plating process. This finish has been antiqued to enhance the rich detail of the piece. A protective lacquer has been applied to this process to protect the finish from tarnishing. Using real silver allows this finish to be bendable without the plating popping or cracking. This color has a beautiful shine finish. Lead and nickel free product.
Trinity Vintage Patina™ - is exclusively available from authorized resellers of Trinity Brass Co. Trinity Vintage Patina™ is a warm chocolate color that has been achieved through an oxidation process and is not plated. During the process each piece takes on its own unique color. These slight differences in each piece give the color its desired finish. A protective non-toxic lacquer has been applied to each piece to protect the finish.
More great things to come from Trinity Brass Co. in the very near future!
Jablonex: Jablonex glass is made in the Czech Republic. Here is a blurb from their website: "Beads have been made in the Jablonec area since the 16th century and sold under the Jablonex brand to more than 80 countries in five continents for the past 50 years. In addition to our unique seed beads we sell the full range of beads. Whether they be pressed, fire-polished, imitation pearls, machine cut or other beads, we are always able to offer the widest selection of shapes, sizes, colours and finishes."
Miyuki: Miyuki beads are from Japan. This quote is from their website: "Japanese production of glass seed beads began at the beginning of the Showa Period (1940s). In 1949, Miyuki was founded in Hiroshima, and quickly became a renowned glass seed bead manufacturer. Since then, we at MIYUKI have continued to strive for increased quality and improved artistry through innovation and state of the art technology. Our highly respected name, excellent reputation, and the introduction of fantastic new products like Delica Beads are all testimonies to our dedication to beads and to bead lovers."
Toho Glass Beads: Toho, like Miyuki, is a Japanese manufacturer of glass beads, especially seed and bugle beads. Their basic philosophy can be found here.
NEW! Toho Supernova Hybrid Seed Beads: Toho manufactures some of the most uniform, wide-holed glass seed bead shapes you can buy, but beaders are always on the lookout for more color variety. Many people enjoy the color selection of Czech seed beads, but prefer the shape, large hole size, and uniformity of Japanese seed beads. Toho hybrids bridge the gap between Czech and Japanese seed beads by giving you quality beads with a sought after color palette.