Nature’s Jewels: Make Native American Corn Necklaces

A friend recently showed up at a gathering wearing a gorgeous amber bead necklace which was admired by all. I thought the beautiful thing was from some expensive amber-selling jewelry store, but it was made from Native American corn! “I have other corn necklaces at home,” she told me. “One looks just like garnet and another like carnelian. And they‘re unbelievably easy to make.”

Find out how to make your own necklaces from nature’s colorful–and inexpensive–jewels. Children adore this project, too!

1. Find a few ears of beautifully-colored dried Native American corn at your favorite market or roadside stand.

2. Break the ears in half and use both hands to twist the kernels off the cob into a bowl.

3. Cover kernels with boiling water and allow them to soak for at least one hour.

4. Using a sturdy needle and thread or dental floss, string the kernels one at a time into a necklace, being sure to make it long enough to fit over your head. You can use “beads” of all one color, or vary them in a pattern if you like.

5. Knot the two ends together. Allow the kernels to dry before wearing.

For more fun nature-honoring craft ideas, see Celebrating the Great Mother by Cait Johnson and Maura D. Shaw.

Read more: Crafts & Hobbies, Spirit

Celebrating the Great Mother is published by Inner Traditions. Copyright (c) 1995 by Cait Johnson and Maura D. Shaw.
By Cait Johnson, Assistant Producer, Care2 Healthy Living Channels.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Robert O.

1:39AM PDT on May 24, 2011

Sounds like a fun project. Thanks Cait.

send a green star

Beth M.

11:34AM PDT on May 18, 2011

Interesting.

7:50PM PST on Dec 22, 2010

thank you

Linda M.

6:00PM PDT on Sep 5, 2010

sounds like something fun to do with little kids , bu ti also would like to have seen a picture of the craft with the article.

Janice P.

11:48AM PDT on Mar 14, 2010

I agree with those who would liked to have had a picture to go along with the necklace instructions. And, thank you, Nabha, for the suggestion of combining the corn with gemstones. (I have so many, because I used to make a lot of semi-precious jewelry for my Mother before she died this past December.)

I am definitely going to make this necklace. I just hope it comes out the way it's supposed to.

I can't say it enough. I LOVE THIS WEBSITE. THANK YOU!!!!!

gerlinde p.

10:12AM PST on Dec 19, 2009

will try this for my next shelterfundraising fleamarket. thanks.

Anne F.

11:56AM PST on Dec 13, 2009

Love the ideas of seed necklaces. Thanks for putting the instructions so clearly.

Lynn M.

7:51AM PST on Dec 7, 2009

I have made apple seed necklaces to celebrate the autumn equinox before but never tried corn. I have an 11 year old granddaughter who loves doing art projects with me so this is definitely on the to-do list. Thanks.

Annabelle T.

1:20PM PST on Nov 22, 2009

That sounds like a lot of fun. I'd like to try it in the future.