This workshop invites you to explore the ancient craft of botanical jewelry, where seeds, nuts, and wood serve as nature’s own gemstones.
The centerpiece of our session is Job’s Tear—Coix lacryma-jobi—an heirloom seed with a natural porcelain-like sheen. Native to Southeast Asia and cultivated for centuries, these naturally hollow seeds have long been used in prayer beads, adornment, and traditional crafts across many cultures. Their smooth, durable surface and subtle luster make them ideal for jewelry making.
Complementing these “living beads,” we will work with a curated selection of sandalwood, a fragrant wood traditionally used in carving and meditation beads, along with açaí seeds from the Amazon region and palm seeds gathered from tropical palms. These materials have been used for generations in handcrafted adornment, valued for their natural beauty, lightweight feel, and connection to the landscapes where they grow.
Participants will engage in hands-on crafting as they design and assemble their own unique botanical jewelry pieces. Whether you’re a gardener or a crafter, you’ll find inspiration here.
Instructor: Margarita Poulson is Curator of The Shelvy White & Leon Levy Water Garden at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. She is also an Art Crafts teacher with a focus on Botanical Jewelry Making. She is inspired by and teaches indigenous history, cultural traditions and folklore of transforming Plants materials into wearable unique ornaments and accessories.
Program accessibility information available.
Access to Wellness Programming is made possible, in part, by Capital Health.
