I never spared a thought for tumbleweeds before. To me they were just part of Western movies, a bunch of tangled twigs or whatever rolling over an empty street or through the desert to create a mood of silence or loneliness.
The supplier is no longer making them. Not sure why.
From our trip to Scotland I had already known the Heathergems. In a feeble attempt not to spend too much money I had resisted buying a piece of jewelry and cabs are not available.
So when I saw the tumbleweed cabochons, I jumped on it the way my cats jump on a new toy and got one which arrived yesterday. "This is not rock, but it's dyed tumbleweed. The tumbleweed is harvested from the Arizona desert, debarked and then the dyed sticks and stems are heated and compressed for 30 days. This produces bricks of tumbleweed. From there you can slab it, cut it into a unique cabochon. This is very lightweight."
Custom Wire Wrapped Tumbleweed Necklace/Pendant Sterling Silver .935
Overall size: 2 5/16 x 1 inch or 58mm x 25mm
We came across a person selling cabochons like this many years ago and because we love unique things we had to have them. After starting to clean out our shop we found the last 2 that we had and believe they are no longer being made.
This is the story:https://imagesarizona.com/tenacious-tumbleweed/
Tumbleweed cabochon
How They Are Made & Their Characteristics
The Process: Mature tumbleweeds are harvested, debarked, and colored with plant-based dyes. The stems are then tightly heated and compressed for about 30 days into dense blocks that can be slabbed and cut, similar to working with rock. [1, 2, 3]
Appearance: They feature vivid striations and natural wood-grain patterns that look like polished stone but are completely organic. [1]
Durability: Despite being made from weed fibers, they are stabilized and surprisingly solid. They can generally withstand exposure to water (such as taking a shower), but shouldn't be submerged in pools or exposed to harsh perfumes. [1, 2]
Pioneers: The technique of making these "Tumblestone" gems was pioneered by artisans in the Arizona desert, such as the creators at Tumblestone Tumbleweed Gems & Jewelry