Makings beads from seeds...

I have some beads made from seeds but I don't know how they were made, sorry. I expect a Dremel (or generic equivalent) would be best, and maybe a flex shaft would make it easier. If you want some already drilled I have a small amount I'll send you for free* if you email me your address (I'm not a weirdo, promise! LOL) - I'm having a bit of a clearout.

• Known on this group as BFNR (beads for no reason). Beads or other items sent as a gift, "just because" - maybe someone needs cheering up, maybe you just find something you think they'll like.

Ah thanks, that's really sweet of you, but I'm currently living in Mozambique. But if you want to do an exchange, I'll be up for that. I'm collectings seeds of tropical plants here- some were easy enough to pierce with just a red-hot sewing needle (held with pliers)- others just seem virtually impossible without a drilling tool.

I would think that the seads that were easy to pierce would also be less likely to endure.

Tina

"min baro" wrote

Most likely- but I'm not really worried about that. I just like to use whatever's around to make jewelry.

How big are these seeds?

Normally a vise and a dremel would be my suggestion for drilling seeds. If you go to flea markets look for an old hand drill, I have a craftsman from the 1940's that works!

Sure. :) I'm in the UK and most of the posters here are in the US so I'm used to posting abroad. I'd be up for an exchange, email me...

I have a picture at

Argh, I'd *love* to get my hand on one of those old hand drills. I don't know where to look for them here in mozambique though.

Yes, but where's the fun in that? :). Part of the whole experience is picking the seeds from the trees myself- going through the whole process personally. I think one of the ways to solved the problem is to pick and drill them while slightly unripe- so the more moisture content they have the less likely they are to crack.

Awesome. Just sent you the email... but I don't know if I have anything you'd like, though.

I agree with you totally. I'm not making my stuff to sell, though if someone saw it and was willing to pay the quoted price, then sure I'd sell it and make a few extra bucks. The thing here is that I picked the seeds from my own backyard and saw their potential. It's really about having the raw materials first, rather than acquiring the raw materials for the piece. Now it's only a matter of processing what I already have.

Uh-huh. I'm been doing research on that :). There's an excellent botanical jewelry reference on this site-

snipped-for-privacy@comcast.net

Thanks! Interesting was whast I was going for :).

You don't have open air markets that sell old tools? I'm picturing a handheld auger with tiny bits.......I have a thing for hand tools.

Nope, those came straight from the pod shiney like that. They're bauhinia monandra seeds and I like them a lot. I just finished piercing about 5 feet worth of them. They're suprisingly tough too- I tried pulling one off the thread to see if it would break where I'd pierced them, and the thread broke instead, so that's good.

They probably do but I just don't know it yet. I'm going to look around though. I have a thing for most tools in general. I still don't think there's anything as cool as the screw driver attachment for a drill. :)

What are you thinking of creating with them?

LOL I think my husband would agree with you. Me? I like hand tools that are not electric. I have this nifty ratchet screwdriver that reverses. Now that is cool! And I'm so afraid that someone is going to break it, that I hide it and only bring it out when I need to use it. Shame on me.