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Organic seeds in jewelry. The idea struck me as odd when I first heard of it, but then I remembered teaching classes of school children how to string dried beans to make necklaces and bracelets. The beans were not organic seed, and the string was mere cotton twine, so the results were rough and un-wearable. Nevertheless, mothers did wear them out of love for their children, and the children had fun making them.

Using organic seeds in jewelry crafting is now an art, with a few artisans learning to incorporate organic seeds into jewelry with beads and other materials.

Beans are Great Organic Seeds for Jewelry

Most of the organic seeds used in jewelry are beans. There are several reasons for this.

1. Beans naturally have beautiful patterns and colors.
2. Beans dry naturally, and retain their shape when dried.
3. Beans will not shrivel up in use.
4. Bean jewelry will last indefinitely, with proper care.

Bean Varieties

Black beans are great organic seeds to use in jewelry. Although their names include the word “black” as in Black Nightfall, black beans are not entirely jet black. These beans exhibit shades of black, gray, brown, and ivory. The swirls of color seem to shimmer when the beans are separated by small glass beads or silver metal.

Red beans are another good organic seed choice for use in making jewelry. Those with red and scarlet in the name may be predominantly deep reddish brown, or they may be half beige, half deep red, like the Red Calypso bean. The Red Calypso makes intriguing organic seed jewelry, since its even division of color becomes wavy lines in a necklace or bracelet.

Paint Dry beans are a good choice or organic seeds for summer jewelry. The light tan and off-white coloration appears cool, and would complement light summer colors and fabrics.

Green Flagolet beans are another good summer choice. The green in these organic seeds is pale and cool-looking. When set off with glass beads of deeper greens, the organic seeds look almost like ivory beans.

For organic seeds that look like polished stones in jewelry, the Tiger Eye bean is a good choice. It looks very like a tiger eye rock.

Other Organic Seeds

While beans are the most common of the organic seeds used in jewelry, some artisans use dried corn as well. Red, gold, orange, green, and gray hues appear in dried corn. Interspersed with gleaming metals and glass beads, these pieces often have a harvest glow.

Other organic seeds that might be used successfully include watermelon seed, squash seed, pumpkin seed, and other large vegetable seeds.

Use Your Own Organic Seeds in Jewelry

If you decide to use organic seeds in making jewelry, you will need to prepare your seeds following these steps.

1. Wash the seeds thoroughly, and let them dry.
2. Buff each seed with a soft cloth.
3. Make holes in the seeds, taking care not to break them.
4. Apply a clear, protective coating inside and out to preserve the seeds.

Once you have prepared your seeds, use them as you would use any bead in making jewelry. In fact, if you teach school, why not make truly wearable jewelry with your students by using prepared organic seeds?

Advantages of Using Organic Seeds in Jewelry

My research reveals only one advantage of using organic seeds to make jewelry, and that is the “green” factor. Organic seeds incorporated into jewelry can be presented as an “eco-friendly” gift.

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Biker Jewelry, commonly also sometimes known as rocker jewelry, gothic jewelry, rock and roll jewelry and rock n roll jewelry, deviates hugely in comparison with classic conceptions of delicate jewelry, and carries more weight and substance than its traditional counterpart. Rock & Roll jewelry is easily identifiable owing to the bold statement it makes with its deliberately masculine look. It is commonly crafted using thick and heavy precious metals; in particular sterling silver, the craftsmans prime choice of material. It is not unheard of to find real sterling silver wallet chains weighing an entire pound made by a famous biker jewelry franchise. The magical fusion of leather (sometimes alligator or snake skins), silver and bold designs comprises the essential elements of the renegade biker image. The good thing is you do not have to be a biker or live the biker lifestyle to shack on biker jewelry. The biker is simply a mythical cultural icon which represents the ability to ride without restriction, to feel the wind blowing hard against your skin, to flaunt your own style without a damn about conformity and to live on your own time. Wearing biker jewelry is about making a resounding statement of freedom and independence.

The gothic silver jewelry of today has evolved from simple traditional wallet chains and simple skull rings into highly intricate, custom, handcrafted, stunningly beautiful pieces of wearable art made in sterling silver and other precious metals. In the world of biker jewelry, boldness, designs and motifs matter. Frequently seen designs include an entire arsenal of animal jewelry, skull jewelry, cross jewelry, fleur de lis jewelry, hearts jewelry and fire jewelry. Fans of biker jewelry heavily emphasize the importance of good silver designs rather than brands just like tattoo lovers value great ink designs. Patina on silver appears as a unique and beautiful polished black accentuating a background of glistening silver; a uniquely quirky effect no other metal can replicate.

LA and Tokyo are the biker jewelry capitals of the globe. Known as “silver freaks” in Japan, the first Japanese to admire biker jewelry were young tourists visiting Los Angeles in the 1990’s who immediately took to the magic of Gabor Nagy’s very first gothic silver designs.

Biker jewelry, or rock n roll jewelry, was the first of its kind in that it catered almost exclusively to men, using bold motifs and masculine designs to represent strength, freedom and rebellion. Once thought to be reserved for bikers, outlaw bikers and rockers, gothic silver jewelry has crept into the realm of mainstream fashion for both men and women alike. Biker jewelry designers and sterling silver aficionados deserve much credit for the recent surge in popularity of mens jewelry, rock ‘n’ roll accessories, and skull motifs in fashion.

Gone are the times when ties and watches were the only accessories a man could look forward to wearing. Today, jewelry has become an important staple to any well-dressed mans wardrobe, with sterling silver being the metal of choice. The combination of leather, sterling silver and bold emblems comprise the essential elements of the biker image, and increasingly, men and women alike are being drawn to biker-inspired fashion as a theme for casual wear. Designers are finally answering to the call of the masses by offering new lines for both genders which include biker-style leather jackets, clothing, , shirts and, of course sterling silver jewelry. Biker jewelry, despite what naysayers of the past decade have claimed, is here to stay.

In recent years, prices of biker jewelry have risen so sharply that fans are increasingly being priced out of the market. In response to this development, compelling alternatives to designer labels are being offered by non-designer label jewelers, who utilize the same sterling silver to create almost identical or similarly styled (inspired) designs as the originals.

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