Jewelry: Bamboo Necklaces

[Mark Meckes]

I made these necklaces from various Phyllostachys species, after first preparing suitable `blanks' and cut pieces to various lengths.
I prefer to cut some pieces to specific lengths, for easier matching, because often, symetry in design is needed.
These I do in larger batches for later uses in diferent projects.
Additionally I like to have other pieces in random lengths and shapes to provide a uniqueness to a work.
After initial shaping, drilling of holes, beveling and smoothing edges , the pieces for these necklaces were then soaked in luke-warm dye baths of different colours, until the desired shade was achieved, then rinsed thoroughly and dryed.
After final touch up, using very fine sandpaper, steel wool, or a nylon scouring pad, I applied several fine coats of satin acrylic lacquer and hand buffed the pieces for a polished finish before stringing up.

~ Mark

Bamboo Necklace with charms
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/528/thumbs/1marksnecklace002.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=299) http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/528/thumbs/1marksnecklace003.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=300)

Bamboo Necklace and pendants with rings
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/528/thumbs/1marksnecklace004.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=301)

Bamboo Necklace and cut out feathers
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/528/thumbs/1marksnecklace005.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=302)

[Angel Art]

hey there! i just saw some examples of your bamboo jewlry and i really think they are great!
i just recently started making jewrlry out of bamboo as well. I have no photos to share at the time but i have many questions on how to work with it better.
i'd like to know what sort of natural stains or dyes would work on the bamboo and also if there is a way to seal it after cutting, and many other endless questions.
if you have any info or might know what direction to point me in i would be very grateful!
my name is angela.

thanx!

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Angela,
Time flies when you're having fun!

Waaay back in the early 90's I got into making smaller and smaller pieces and things from bamboo.
IEEEE! The smaller things are - the BIGGER the mistakes appear!

Dyes, stains, paints and so on ... what a selection there is to choose from!

Some of the pieces in the above pics were dyed with second-hand fiber reactive dye... ie a friend gave me the leftover dye solutions that had previously been used to tie-dye a t-shirt.

I used it over and over and even liked the pastel suggestion of color that a weakened dye produced.

I'm about to order a few sample colors to try it out again, after so many years.

I tried other things too, each with it's own merit.

Boiled concentrate of onion skin produced a very nice golden tan color.
It takes a lot of onion skins, but as fortune would have it, I was working partime at a busy restaurant that used a lot of onions :)

Mark