Beans and Seeds in Jewelry Making - Warning

As most of you can tell, I am a gatherer.  I can't go anywhere without stopping to check out pods, seeds, shells, bark, stones, feathers and so on.  However, it is necessary to be careful to stay with legal and safe limits.

The Mescal Bean tree has red/orange seeds. These are hallucinogenic and were used by primitive healers initially but they switched to Peyote, as while the Mescal Bean produced first rate visions, it tended to kill those who ingested it.  Wise decision, don’t you think?


The Mescal Bean Tree (not to be confused with the Mescal, a tequila-like drink made from the agave plant) is also called Texas Mountain Laurel tree and grows very well around here. They plant it in the medians of divided roads. I have a quite large one myself in my front yard.
These are really pretty beans/seeds in shades from dark wine red to light orange.

Some years ago I collected and drilled a bunch of them, coated them with acrylic and threw them away. I was too afraid that some child or pet would ingest them and die!!

So, when you collect things from nature, be aware that there might be a downside.  Stay legal and stay safe.

Wands and Feather Trees

In my last post I mentioned two new projects.  Both were in the experimental stages.

The wands really worked out well and I am making some others.

Moose Dreams Talisman Wand:

Fantasy Faerie Wand

The Feather Tree, which is a wall hanging of gifted and collected feathers, looks fine as shown in this partial sample. 

 The details are difficult, though.  If I sold them as shown, they would not be gifted or collected.  Only certain feathers are legal.  The feather tree would have to be sent unassembled and people probably wouldn't want to have to try and get it looking right.  It's like flower arranging.  I think I will set this aside for now.  Maybe I can think of something else to use this cactus skeleton.

Any ideas or suggestions?

Harry Potter Heads West!

Here I sit with every surface in my house covered with bits and pieces of jewelry making, feather decorating and medicine stone debris and all my attention is on two new projects. 

I have an idea for a Feather Tree where people can display found and gifted feathers and other collected objects.  I have tons of feathers as do many of my friends.  We are all nature lovers, spend lots of time outside and always return home with interesting feathers, pods, rocks, and plants.  This wall hanging would be a good way to display them if I can develop the concept into something concrete.

Another Project idea is making Totem/Fantasy wands!  Wow!  What fun that could be.  I have Yucca stalks that are very cool and I plan to decorate them.  They could help defend you from Dragons or something.  Harry Potter, move over!

♥♥♥♥HUGE GIVEAWAY♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥ HUGE GIVEAWAY ♥♥♥♥

Hello everyone! I hope you are all having a great day and have a great 4th of July weekend!

I just wanted to let you know about a HUGE giveaway one of the teams I am on is having. Over $300 worth of prizes, and entering is SUPER EASY!

Check out the following link for info on the contest, to enter, and prize info as well.

galla15.blogspot.com/2011/06/facebook-like-giveaway.html

♥♥♥Hurry only a few days left! Winners get great prizes! ♥♥♥