Hemp Jewelry: Sparking Earthly and Worldly Emotions

Hemp jewelry has been a craft art I have been infatuated with ever since I was a young girl. The rough and in some areas smooth, texture of the cords intrigued me. The smell of mass produced hemp tempted me every time I visited a craft store. Being also that I love beads of all kinds, this was, and still is, a never ending story for me. Some may say that hemp jewelry is a thing of the past, for druggies, or just so overdone that it is not special any more. I would have to disagree, because with the newest color variations of cording and how bold designers are becoming with their creations, the possibilities are endless.

I have found a few shops on Facebook that I enjoy browsing in my spare time. The first one is Hemp~Knotic! jewelry. Michelle Najarro creates one of a kind pieces that are colorful and eye catching. She pays attention to nice design detail and has something for everyone. Her range of work goes from very simple, to very intricate, and her prices are great.

Examples of Ms. Najarro's work

Interestingly, I just stumbled across this page: High on Hemp, on Facebook. My favorite design elements by this company are the encased crystals and semi-precious gemstones in hemp work nets, for pendants, and the nice use of cord colors and beads that contrast well.

Examples of pieces by High on Hemp

If you enjoy hemp jewelry as much as I do, then go ahead and check out these pages. I hope you enjoy what you discover.

Note to readers: This is not a paid review or sponsored article. This article is my own personal opinion.

Ausungate

What: Screening of the film Ausangate

When: May 1, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.

Where: Museum of International Folk Art

Admission: Free to NM residents, $9 out-of state

Join film director Andrea Heckman for a special screnning of Ausangate.Based on more than 20 years of anthropological research, Ausungate reveals how the Quecha weavers make textiles encoded with symbolic images that reinforce ancestral beiefs during rituals and in everday life.  Four Quecha people's stores are told against the backdrop of high Andean lakes and mountains showing a harsh existence possible only through a strong symbiotic relationship to their alpacas and llamas.  Visually cinematic, the film carries a deep message of survival and cultural continuity in an environment with elevations over 14,000 feet. By Museum admission, New Mexico residents with I.D. free on Sundays, Museum of New Mexico Foundation members and youth 16 and under always free!

For more information, contact Aurelia Gomez at 505-476-1211 or aurelia.gomez@state.nm.us

For your enjoyment, traditional Quecha woven patterns can look like this, in today's fashion:

Learn more about these designs at the Awamaki Lab and shop the Awamaki Store