I have been traveling to the South American Rain Forest for the past 25 years. In my trips I have learned about the wide variety of plants and trees found in the Amazon region. I have also come in close contact with several indigenous groups including "Quilombolas" (descendants of Afro-Brazilian slaves) and learned about their rituals and celebrations. Every detail of their daily lives has been a revelation. From the patterns in their clothes to their body paint to their tools, basketry, and pottery. My trips have inspired me to design jewelry using natural materials, sourcing them directly from the local peoples, thus helping their economies. These materials include seeds, pods, nuts, fibers, bark, and reclaimed bones and horns from steers, materials which I then dry, clean, perforate, shape, file, and buff. Once this preparation phase is complete, I design and craft my unique jewelry pieces. Some of the techniques employed are weaving, knotting, crochet, and macramé.
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