We’re camping this summer while our house is being built. That puts us very much in touch with nature AND we are sleeping in new surroundings. I’ve been wearing my ghost beads and hanging them over our bed. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh……….
Are they Juniper or Cedar Berries?
Juniper berries have long been a Navajo medicine for treating such things as diabetes. Juniper berries (seeds) are also used to make ghost bead necklaces. Juniper is a broad category of trees, some of which have common names that include “cedar”, such as “red cedar” that is widely used to make boxes and line drawers. This can be confusing because a true cedar tree comes from a different family of trees. So you will see ghost beads referred to being made from cedar seeds, juniper seeds or juniper/cedar seeds. If you want to be technically correct, they should be called juniper seeds or berries.
Paula
Native American Jewelry Tips 
Where can I buy these berries?
how do you put holes in them??
We don’t make the necklaces, we purchase them from a Navajo lady who makes them so I can’t answer.
I have tried numerous ways but ultimately the best way for me is with a drill and a very small drill bit.
They use a red hot needle to open the other end of the hole the ants started when they ate the heart of the seed.
Do you sell the drilled beads. I am looking for some to use in my bead work
No we don’t but perhaps a reader might suggest somewhere for you to look. Paula
Hi. I got my two at goodwill stores. They didnt know what they were. blue and red one.
Paula, if you havent located a supplier for your berries/seeds yet, may I suggest “Simply Beads USA. http://www.simplybeadsusa.com. I was very pleased with their service and have purchased the ghost beads from them and been very satisfied. I think you will like them too! Kathryn
Thank you Kathryn,
Since we don’t make the ghost bead necklaces here, we don’t need a source of juniper berries but I did visit that site and see that they do carry a wide variety of beads. Thank you ! Paula
Do the colors of the glass beads have a significance? I bought earrings in AZ that are
White and clear with the ghost beads.
Thank you for your assistance
You would have to ask the person who made the earrings if there is a significance to the colors they chose.
Paula
http://www.horsekeeping.com/jewelry/necklace/ghost-beads/ghost-beads-main.htm
Hello, can the berries get wet? I would like to wear it during my waterbirth, but not if the water will destroy it.
Getting the dried berries wet will damage them.
When I was visiting the south west last September, a gentleman at one of the National Park stores told me the legend of the ghost beads, adding that once the ant consumes the inside of the berry, the sprit or ghost of the living berry/seed remains inside. Hence the name. Is there any truth to that?
I don’t know about that – here is the legend as told to us by the maker – Paula
http://www.horsekeeping.com/jewelry/necklace/ghost-beads/NGB-legend-card.htm
Where could I purchase a blue bracelet at
I love your posts! They are informative and very helpful.
I was looking at an item on eBay the other day and asked the seller how he/she knew if the turquoise was real, or some other substance that would be man made. How did they determine it, etc.
The response I got was “I do this for a living”. I thought it was a rude response and it doesn’t answer the original question.
This was a teachable moment and instead, this person has now been placed on my “do not buy from” list.
Thank you for taking the time to teach!
Thank you Leslie !! That would put me off too if I got an answer like that. It is so gratifying to learn as we buy………..or should I say before we buy !! Thanks for reading and making a comment. Paula
I am interested in seeking someone who could re-strung my Navajo beaded necklace. I an in Truth or Consequences, NM. Please help me locate someone. Thank you. MM
We don’t do repairs here but we recommend this business for Native American jewelry repairs. They do all of the repairs for our store and we are thoroughly satisfied with their work.
Contact:
Diane Radeke
myfavoritesilversmith@gmail.com
602-354-5028
http://www.myfavoritesilversmith.com
P. O. Box 55935
Phoenix, AZ 85078
Could you make me a plain 36 inch necklace?
We don’t take custom orders but thanks for stopping by ! Paula