Eco-friendly Materials

Tagua Nut: Tagua (”tah-gwa”), also called ‘ivory nut’ or ‘vegetable ivory’ is the dried seedpod of the Tagua Palm tree (Phytelephas Macrocarpa) which grows in the tropical rainforests of South America.  Tagua is found in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Brazil. Tagua nuts grow in large armored clusters with each cluster containing many nuts. They range in size from a small olive to an orange and average about the size of a walnut.  Chemically they are pure cellulose and before the nut matures contain a milky liquid in the centre. When ripe, the nuts fall to the ground and are gathered and dried from four to eight weeks, after which they become extremely hard.  Small shells that contain the nuts are extracted from clusters.  Tagua can be used with the natural brown skin or without the skin. For the marbled look, the skin is peeled only partially. Tagua nuts are sliced or cut in the desired shape.  Once whole nuts or slices are ready, the next step is to dye pieces in desired colors.

In addition to protecting animal ivory, tagua products help preserve tropical rainforests by providing a sustainable income for forest gathers. The sale of tagua products also helps forest peoples make the transition to a cash economy when they are unable to survive in a completely traditional lifestyle.  The tagua nuts are harvested by hand without harming the tree.

The indigenous people of South America used Tagua to represent the feminine because of its great magnet-like romantic energy.  Each member of the tribe was given a tagua pendant to wear around his or her neck.  The natives believed that persons wearing tagua would love in harmony and always be loved by their family and friends.

Orange peels/rinds: Colombia is a major producer of Valencia oranges. Colombian artisans save the orange peels, which are normally discarded, and then treat and mold them into various shapes. The peels are then allowed to dry to a durable finish.

Acai: Açaí or Acai pronounced [ah-sah-EE or ah-shi-ee is] a fast growing palm which contains eight species that are native to Central and South America.  These palms grow mainly in swamps. The fruit, a small, round, black-purple drupe about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, similar in appearance and size to a grape but with less pulp, is produced in branched panicles of 700 to 900 fruits. Two crops of fruit are produced each year. The fruit has a single large seed about 0.25–0.40 inches in diameter.   After the Acai pulp is used for consumption, the Acai seeds are washed, cleaned and dried.  A hole is drilled, then the seeds are dyed in the desired color and finally polished.

Chirilla: One of the most commonly used beads in natural seed jewelry comes from a beautiful wildflower of the Caribbean region and tropical America. It is commonly called “Indian shot” and it belongs to the mostly tropical, monocotyledonous Canna Family (Cannaceae). The spherical black seeds of Indian shot are so hard and perfectly round that they resemble oversized BB’s or buckshot from a shotgun shell. In fact, they are so dense that they readily sink in water.

Chocos/Huayruros: The name “Choco” is used for several types of red seeds: chocos cariados (or yinyan), chocos diamante or platino (pictured below), small black and red seeds are called Pionias or Huayruros.

Chumbimba/Jabon: The soapberry tree is native to southern Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, extending south through Mexico, Central and South America.  The leathery brown berries are rich in saponins.  They have the property of foaming with water and have been used as soap in Mexico and tropical America.  The most fascinating part of the fruits are the black, marble-like seeds.  Known as “black pearls” throughout the American tropics.   Artisans dry, cut the shell (leathery part), clean polish and drill each bead before making beautiful bracelets, pendants, earrings, and necklaces.

Other seeds commonly used: Ojo de buey, Orejeros, Chambimbes, Acacias, Dalmatas, Mate, Boca de Pescado, Congolo, Chuapos, Carambolo, Cocoroco, Enebro, Diente de Leon, Lagrimas de San Pedro (Job’s Tears) and Bombonas.

For information on these and many other seeds commonly used in botanical jewelry: http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0901.htm#links

Tucum/cumare: Fine, strong fibera obtained from the young leaves of a palm tree.  The fiber is flexible, water-resistant, and durable and commonly used in the weaving of hammocks, baskets, and other domestic objects.