They're baaaack! Ecuadorian Hands have returned with a new giveaway for fabulous natural beads made from tagua nuts. These are wonderful for making all sorts of jewelry as you can see from the pictures of a selection of my tagua bead designs from past posts using samples I received. They come in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors. My favorites are the nut beads like this one used in a wire work design shown below. They look like gemstones but are much lighter!
The nuts come from the ivory palm which grow in the rain forests of Central and South America. In Ecuador, tagua nuts come from the Phytelephas aequatorialis species. This botanical alternative to ivory is far preferable to slaughtering African elephants for their tusks. Their natural color is much like ivory and can be easily carved. You can see some beautiful carved designs here.
The tagua nuts are usually harvested only after the "mucochas" or ripe fruit drops from the palms. Families collect them and take them to traders who buy them. Ecuadorian Hands shares the process of how they dry, peel, cut, slice, color and polish these lovely beads.
Tagua beads do not just provide people there with a livelihood. There is the added incentive of preserving the rain forest rather than cutting it down.
Giveaway
If you'd like to win this giveaway for $20 worth of tagua beads, please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog.
Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank.
This giveaway is international.
Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments. (The exception is Facebook - just like/comment on the giveaway status there!!)
It ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Monday, February 5 , 2018. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck!
Photography
The photos above were taken some years ago. I used natural light, a mannequin, my then iPhone 5 with the camera+ app and the Modahaus TS400 tabletop studio for final product photography. Check out my How to Photograph Jewelry Webinar .
Before You Go:
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips -Jewelry Business Tips
The nuts come from the ivory palm which grow in the rain forests of Central and South America. In Ecuador, tagua nuts come from the Phytelephas aequatorialis species. This botanical alternative to ivory is far preferable to slaughtering African elephants for their tusks. Their natural color is much like ivory and can be easily carved. You can see some beautiful carved designs here.
The tagua nuts are usually harvested only after the "mucochas" or ripe fruit drops from the palms. Families collect them and take them to traders who buy them. Ecuadorian Hands shares the process of how they dry, peel, cut, slice, color and polish these lovely beads.
Tagua beads do not just provide people there with a livelihood. There is the added incentive of preserving the rain forest rather than cutting it down.
Tagua and Button Leather Necklace |
Giveaway
If you'd like to win this giveaway for $20 worth of tagua beads, please make a comment below. Make sure you leave contact info below if you do not have an online shop or blog.
Email subscribers need to scroll down the post they receive, click on Share Comment and enter your comment. Pick Name/URL. If you don't have a store or blog, leave the URL blank.
This giveaway is international.
Extra entries if you become or are a blog subscriber or follower etc. If you also do shout outs about this giveaway, those will count as additional entries too! Please say so in the comments. (The exception is Facebook - just like/comment on the giveaway status there!!)
It ends in a week's time at 6 pm EST Monday, February 5 , 2018. I will pick the winner randomly and announce the results as soon as possible after. So be sure to leave a contact email if you don't have an online link or make sure you come back and check! Otherwise I will redraw in a week. Good luck!
Photography
The photos above were taken some years ago. I used natural light, a mannequin, my then iPhone 5 with the camera+ app and the Modahaus TS400 tabletop studio for final product photography. Check out my How to Photograph Jewelry Webinar .
Before You Go:
- How to Make Pressed Real Flower Resin Jewelry Part 1
- Pressed Real Flower Resin Jewelry Part 2
- How to Make Real Flower Resin Jewelry
Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
Jewelry Making Tips - Wire JewelryTips -Jewelry Business Tips
I've been to Ecuador...your prize package would make an awesome souvenir!
ReplyDeleteI love their beads. Would love to win some. These are awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm a blog follower.
ReplyDeleteJust tweeted about the giveaway.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/kayzkreationz/status/957973654175993856
I have been drooling over these seed since I first set eyes on them. Please, put in Pearl, I ready to win this one.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful beads. Designs are very helpful!
ReplyDeleteI recently saw Tagua and other natural nuts up close in Siem Reap. They do look like plastic from a distance but have a buttery smoothness and shine that makes the finished piece look elegant. I would love to win a few beads and work with them. I am a blog follower and liked the post on facebook as well
ReplyDeleteThe nut beads have been so well dyed and polished. They have a warmer feel than cold gemstones.
Deleteawesome beads in a natural color to add to any color. ty for this chance. blog follower at auravisionrose@peoplepc.com
ReplyDeleteThis is a material I haven't worked with before, but would definitely be interested in trying!
ReplyDeleteYour blog is the first thing I check every morning. I just love it and I would love to be able to work with those beads! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteNew to jewelry making - just started this weekend, picked up my first supplies as a birthday gift to myself. I'm excited to try everything! Your blog is helpful. Would love to win the giveaway, but also just thought it was a good opportunity to say hello and thank you for the great information you provide here. So, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this giveaway !
ReplyDeletevoltzia@gmail.com
Hey Pearl, I absolutely love tagua nuts! I think I started using them in 2006 or 2007. I've sold so many designs with these lovely little "gems." I have a line of jewelry of many other naturals, reusables, etc. where I donate 45% of profits to my local animal shelters. Would love to win these to add to my soon to be finished jewelry. Thanks for the opportunity. Also mentioned on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to hear that you donate to animal shelters! And how much you make and sell tagua jewelry.
DeleteThese are lovely! They have a terrific story as well! I look forward to your upcoming class.
ReplyDeleteLoriecrisp@yahoo.ca
I have not tried tagua nuts yet in my jewelry, but they sound really great.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the great blog of which I'm a subscriber. I love seeing so many different styles of beading, etc with so much information. Thank you also for the terrific giveaways! This would be a nice one to win....
ReplyDeleteI'm a happy subscriber. I love opening your emails.
ReplyDeleteI commented on google plus as Anniegi.
Thank you for all the great information and giveaways. via email
Those white earrings are darling Pearl!
ReplyDeleteI've always enjoyed your Tagua Nut designs. They are so unique and attractive!
Would love to win this...Thank you for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to try using tagua nut slices in my jewelry! I'd love to win this!
ReplyDeleteBlog follower gjordan0609@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi Pearl, as many others have said, your email is the first I open every morning, I would love to win these beads, haven't seen them before, we are a long way from where they are made. Would love to make something with these Tagua nut beads. thank you from Australia
ReplyDeleteLove all the bright colours of the beads. It would be so much fun to work with these seeds
ReplyDeletea.p.brad@rogers.com
I love the different colors that they can be dyed. The shine that is done on is also impressive. They seem to shine better than most glass. I especially love that they are a natural product that helps the people that live in that area, as well create a way for them to save the rain forest. A sustainable product that helps the environment and people in one swoop. I would love to get my hands on some of those beautiful blues.
ReplyDeletelorimahan71@gmail.com
fan and follower
The colors of these are so beautiful! I've never had a chance to work with these before. My brain is going cdazy with ideas. Thanks for opportunity. grabber.suzanne@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win these goodies.
ReplyDeleteDoinWire at gmail dot com
Sue
Inoreader subscribe.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for eco-friendly products that help support people around the world. Plus -- these are such great beads to use in jewelry-making. It's an all-around winning situation!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful beads! I'm looking forward to working with these unique materials in my jewelry creations!
ReplyDeleteNice! amandam@pobox.com
ReplyDeleteLove all the amazing colors and shapes- so many ideas on what I would do with them!
ReplyDeleteLove all the amazing colors and shapes- so many ideas on what I would do with them!
ReplyDeletecatcophony@gmail.com
As you know, I have visited a tagua nut factory in Equador and I have collected several carvings of animals carved from taqua nuts. This is the ultimate renewable resource and such an ultimately beautiful resource. The nuts come in a big ugly pod which is broken up and dried in the sun before processing into everything from buttons to beautiful carvings. I would love to win the beads.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Wayne
These beads are beautiful! And so many designs. I would love to win these beads. corkerykathy60@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYour website is so incredibly inspiring. I would really love to win these beads.
ReplyDeleteHey Pearl, I've used Tagua nut slices for a few bracelets.... I love the look and feel of the nuts! Thanks for the chance to win. Patricia B
ReplyDeleteI would love to win I have never heard of them but they sound wonderful.
ReplyDeletesally0630@frontiernet.net
Im a subscriber
ReplyDeletesally0630@frontiernet.net
pinterest.com/sally0630
I’ve always wanted to try working with some of these...thank you for the chance to win these! 💜
ReplyDeleteI am a subscriber.
schleprock2004@yahoo.com