Carol Cypher

Here is how it came about: I was introduced to Mr. Harada, owner of Tulip Co., a needle manufacturing company, when I taught for the first time in Japan. He later sponsored the book I wrote about feltmaking for the Japanese craft market published by Patchwork Tsushin Ltd. (His company also manufactures felt needles.) When the book was published (in Japanese, translated by Motoko Natsubori) Tulip Co invited me to sign books and demonstrate needle felting in their booth at the Great International Quilt Show the next January. Then in June, fresh from the Bead & Button Show, I joined them for their first exhibit at TNNA in Columbus Ohio, to meet potential U.S.A. distributors. I developed friendships with a couple of the executive women in Mr. Harada's company. I love that women hold key roles in Tulip Co. 
Tulip is known for their fine quality quilt needles. When we discussed their beading needles, they asked for input from me and a couple of Japanese beading teachers. From the Bead & Button Show hotel lobby last year (2010) I corresponded with Mayumi from their product development team. Long story short... Uh, too late????... I wrote to Tulip that we "want flexible needles that will bend into and through tight spaces and beads that are spaced so perfectly close to each other. Needles that are flexible and springy." This means that they would not become S-shaped with use, they would return to straight. 
In December they sent me the first needles produced in response to these specs. They are indeed flexible and springy. The eye is easy to thread. The tip is rounded slightly to slide easily into beads while preventing splitting the thread. I have used only size 11 and these are what I bought up before flying home this January so I could share them with U.S. Beaders. They are a comfortable length. They fit readily into size 15 seed beads. In a couple months of offering them to my students and on my website, at $5 per package of 4, I went through the supply in short order.

Every week I receive phone calls or email testimonials. Beaders report longevity with a single needle. That their needle remains quite straight, despite their experience of beading with curved needles after just a short while with any other needle. That the needle threads easily. That they experience less hand fatigue. That the beading experience is smoother. It gives me goosebumps to read the glowing assessment of Tulip beading needles.
The size 13 is precious and most amazing. The eye accomodates 10# fireline AND passes through a size 15 Japanese seed bead 5 times. When I told of this on the phone the other day, it felt like a lie, although I did this several times when showing them to beaders at the Great International Quilt Show in Tokyo in January. It kept me awake that night. I came to the studio, threaded one OF THE TWO size 13 needles I had, with 10# fireline and passed through a sizs 15 seed bead 5 times! Yup. It is true. 

And so I decided to become the U.S.A. distributor of these fine quality beading needles.In addition to the size 11 beading needles I brought from Japan, I'll distribute their sizes 10 long and sharp (short) and the precious size 13, as well as tapestry needles (set of 3) and loom beading needles. 

Did I mention their awl? If you can't tease a knot open with this then put your beads away! And for strategically placed knots between beads, it is peerless.