Crafting Bullet Casings into Beautiful Jewelry: Part 1

I love redemption stories.  They remind us that there is hope and meaning even in life’s darkest moments.  I also love finding ways to incorporate repurposed materials into our collections…taking what was considered waste and making it into something beautiful and valuable.  Our Ethiopia Collection tells a very powerful redemptive story, and one of the most stunning examples of up-cycling I know.

In the rural regions of Ethiopia, farmers gather empty bullet casings found in their fields.These bullet casings are reminders of the many conflicts Ethiopia faced in the 20th century. 

In nearby villages, families continue to practice the art of bead making utilizing artisan skills passed down through generations.  Since resources are scarce in such a poor country, the villagers buy the empty bullet casings from the farmers to make their amazing hand crafted beads and charms.

Over crude hot coals, the bullets are melted and then poured into thin rods of brass or copper metal.

The metal is then hammered into thin sheets, cut into strips, and formed into beads…one by one.  The amount of work that goes into each bead is absolutely stunning.

The beads are next strung and dipped into a lime solution that brings out the shine of the brass and copper.

To achieve the silver beads, vintage silver coins are cut in half and the beads are dipped into another solution of the melted coin to create a silver coating.

Finally, the beads are washed, scrubbed, and hung to dry.

Esther Haven’s photos truly capture the labor of love that goes into each bead in our collection.  I cherish the imperfect beauty of these beads. Some extra shiny and smooth.  Some a little rough around the edges.  Each unique.  Each lovely.

(Stayed tuned for Part 2…the story of the HIV positive women who create the Raven + Lily designs made from these incredible up-cycled beads.)