Tuesday, July 26, 2011

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.
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19 comments:

  1. Deb- uniquecozytreasuresJuly 26, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    uniquecozytreasures- They sure are pretty. Too bad you couldn't use them. My magnolia tree produces seeds about the same color only a little more towards the red shade.

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  2. cigarboxbeadsJuly 26, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    they would make beautiful 'beads'---there are so many things that we need to be wary of---i remember playing with the mercury from thermometers--if we only knew then...;>0
    thanks for the info...

    marilyn

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  3. Jessica of Verve!July 27, 2011 at 4:38 AM

    yikes! good to know! they are very pretty though!

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  4. Prodigy CraftsJuly 27, 2011 at 5:10 AM

    dangerously pretty!

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  5. Susie TenzerJuly 27, 2011 at 5:32 AM

    interesting point

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  6. Sewinggranny - MonaJuly 27, 2011 at 8:20 AM

    Oh my that sounds like something I would do... collect something illegal!! But they are pretty!

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  7. DeeJuly 27, 2011 at 8:52 AM

    You share the most fascinating facts! I love how you look for things in nature to create with.

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  8. Jill QJuly 27, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    "... while the Mescal Bean produced first rate visions, it tended to kill those who ingested it."

    How scary is THAT? Thanks for the heads-up! Other artists may not be as vigilent as you ๏̯͡⊙

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  9. nangatesdesignsJuly 27, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Great information. Thanks for sharing!

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  10. cluttfringJuly 27, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    they are very pretty.....

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  11. CrystalJuly 27, 2011 at 12:01 PM

    They are a beautiful color!

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  12. Powers Of LoveJuly 27, 2011 at 12:50 PM

    They are very pretty.......

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  13. Desert Shine JewelryJuly 27, 2011 at 12:54 PM

    Interesting information. Thanks for sharing it.

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  14. CharleneJuly 27, 2011 at 1:32 PM

    Great information. Too bad they can't be used. They would make beautiful jewelry.

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  15. UnknownJuly 27, 2011 at 4:18 PM

    That's really interesting to know! Love the shapes and colors.

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  16. BijiBijouxJuly 27, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    Very good information to know about this beautiful dangerous plant. Lovely color though.

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  17. RebeccaJuly 27, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    I love that you use what is around you in nature to create your items!!!

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  18. UnknownJuly 27, 2011 at 6:41 PM

    Soo pretty! And yes we had a tree... I can't remember what kind... but my mom would always go out and pick the berries off it so no one would try to eat them.

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  19. ElfReneeJuly 27, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    That's really interesting!

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