Seed Pods

Seed-pods is this month’s Art Elements‘ monthly challenge and once again, I joined. I love the idea Jennifer Cameron came up with!  So, when you see the hashtags  #AEthemechallenge and #AEseedpod on places like Instagram, know they are referring to the challenge.

Unlike last month, I started working early on the post. I want to pass on as much information as I can. Luckily, this is one thing I’m pretty familiar with.

What a Fiesta!

Having grown up part-time in Puerto Rico has many advantages! Besides its glorious beaches, festivals are a monthly part of the Island culture. The Island is primarily Catholic due to the European influence brought by the Spaniards. Catholics on the Island have many traditions.

One very important tradition is celebrating the Patron Saint of every town. Part of this celebration includes masses for the saint, carnival games and rides, live music, and arts and crafts. These fiestas patronales, bring together the towns or municipios.

As a kid, I grew up looking forward to the yearly fiesta patronal. But, in College, it was an eternal party. Friends and I would get in our cars and travel to the next town holding their fiesta.

There was one big difference. As a kid, I wanted to enjoy the rides and games. In college, my focus was the crafts or artesanias. Puerto Rico has a rich history when it comes to handcrafted items.

Seed-pods in Puerto Rico

The Taino influence is a major factor and crafters use its themes throughout their creations. Artisans use natural components in their pieces. This gives them the charm that makes them irresistible to islanders and visitors alike! My pieces are also influenced by my Taino roots.

Artesanos use seed-pods in many of the handcrafted items  found throughout the Island. From a very early age, kids, young and old use seed-pods from Flamboyan trees. This was my introduction to the use of seed pods!

 

And in jewelry, seed-pods are used heavily by many artisans on the Island. They are found on necklaces and on earrings; on bracelets and on pendants.

Seed-pods used in jewelry come from many plants in the Island. One I remember is the Jabonsillo, called this because Natives would use it as soap! I believe it is the same as the Soapberry seed.

 

 

My favorite are the Tamarind seed-pods! The trees abound on the Island. Most kids cannot wait and eat them when they are still sour. My cousin Frances loved them as well as cerezas. (They are like cherries only they are never as sweet.) She didn’t wait for them to turn red!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seed-pods AE challenge!

Here is my contribution to this month’s challenge.

 

To learn more about my Taino heritage, head on to my page.

There is also a quick video with music that I like!

And, don’t forget to check out the other participants! Here’s the list!

 

Guest Artists:

Tammy

Raven

Alysen

Anita

Cat 

Kimberly

Rozantia

Sarajo 

Divya

Caroline

Catherine

Kathy

Jill

Norma

Art Elements Team: 

Claire

Caroline

Lesley

Niky

Laney

Susan

Marsha

Jenny

Cathy

Jen

So, What Do You Think?

Leave me a comment!