NOTE: Bracelets in all materials have been moved over to our brand new bracelets page!
We have an online shop set up at
cafepress.com/organicjewelry where you can order various fun items with the poppy mandala and other designs on them. We've designed such goodies as: a clock, mugs, a hat, shirts, a metal lunchbox, an amazing wooden jewelry box with a tile top, a bike messenger style bag, and more! They take care of all the ordering, taking payment, returns, all that good stuff, so it's a separate deal from us. They get a cut from each item sold. What's really fun is that they print them one at a time, so if only one person orders an item, they'll have a one-of-a-kind product.
Please check it out, we're really excited about it!!!
::The designs are shown here at 25% and are printed on black 100% cotton shirts::
Poppy mandala shirts!
((all shirts are currently out of stock; we hope to be reprinting them soon))
The front has the word 'ORGANIC' below a poppy mandala symbol in red, green, and tan.
The mandala was inspired by the Czech art noveau artist Alphonse Mucha,
and was redrawn/reinterpreted by our very own Markus Wolff.
There is a small anatomical heart with a rectangle of spirals on the back upper center in red ink.
Please note:: We are in the midst of finding a new printer for our shirts...
-Short sleeved t-shirts in Youth Large, Adult S, M, L, XL are $13/each; $14 for 2XL.
Other kids' sizes are available upon request. Ask to be placed on our wait list if your size is out.
-Spaghetti straped tank tops! In small and medium; $14/each.
-Long sleeve t-shirts are $16/each. No sleeve designs. In S, M, L, and XL. Only a few printed!
-Zip-up hoodies go for $35/each (Youth Large, S, M, L, XL or 2XL). The poppy mandala is on the back. Thick. They run quite big. An anatomical heart with spirals appears on the front left. It costs $5-$8/each for shipping.
Leafy shirts!
Dustin from Arkansas has suggested calling this shirt: The Green T. I love it!
A beautifully shaped green leaf graces the front with our bamboo crest on the back.
'Tis a leaf from a tulip-poplar, aka yellow-poplar, aka tuliptree.
Not a true poplar-it's actually in the Magnolia family, and it's Latin name is Liriodendron tulipifera.
I collected this leaf here in Portland and chose it for it's odd and beautiful shape.
The little leaves spell the words 'organic natural body jewelry'...
this can also be read as 'organic body' on the right side and 'natural jewelry' on the left side.
Markus drew the bamboo design based closely on traditional Japanese family crests, known as kamon. All sizes have now sold out!!!
This was an experiment to see if we can do more designs of limited edition shirts. That will keep those who get one of these exclusive designs to a select few who can know just how special they are. A little lesson in procrastination...
The 'I Am Not My Boobie' shirt!
This was essentially a shirt for Erica's zine I Am Not My Body (see below).
The front sported a set of anatomical breasts (during lactation, no less)...
while the back had a human vertebrae; the scientific lettering pointing to the void said 'I Am Not My Body.'
Both are sides were printed in white ink. These have now completely sold out!!!
We are now considering reprinting them due to all the sweet inquiries we've received...
however, as we dig limited editions, they will be a bit different...
perhaps light brown ink on dark brown and black shirts?!? Stay tuned...
All our old t-shirt designs have been officially discontinued. This is due to the fact that we love limited editions, have been looking at these designs for the past several years, and also had been having problems with silkscreeners. However, we have considered bringing back the old Kikuyu (African) woman shirt design, but with a new design on the back...
Silver belt buckles with poppy mandala
The fanciest darn belt buckles you'll ever see. Made of sterling silver,
and sporting our poppy mandala design that has been laboriously hand sawn. You'll be the envy of all your friends!
These are in the $100/each range. Ask to be placed on the wait list for these hot commodities.
Akha tribe metal belts
Akha belts (N. Thai hilltribe) are $25/each; set on natural string. They range in style and size from 27-29" of metal plus 8-10" of string.
The bottom piece has now SOLD. Just one left!!!
Hairsticks in silver, wood, bamboo, horn, and foil
Thai thick silver spiral hairsticks are $24, $26, $28, $30, and $30/each respectively.
All the hairsticks shown in this grouping are currently in stock.
Silver hairsticks with spiral tops!
Click on the above scan showing just the top decorations to see a full size image of the whole hairsticks.
Prices are based on weight and current silver pricing, and range from $18-$30/each.
While all the spirals above have SOLD, we can and will get more, just ask!
Small tight spirals with smooth shafts ($18/each-out of stock),
small tight spirals with bumpy shafts ($18/each-out of stock), or
large spirals with bumpy shafts ($20/each-still available).
Here is a poppy-bud-like hairstick. SOLD
It has a smaller head than the one shown in the last position above,
and a bit more representational than the ones shown below.
It has little spirals at the terminals of it's lobes.
Our poppy bud silver hairsticks!!! We were pretty excited to get these in.
Erica has had similar ones she wears herself, but we were unable to find any more.
We were finally able to get these ones shown custom made for us in Thailand.
Please ask to be placed on our wait list as these are currently SOLD OUT.
Long wooden abstract owl and frog hairsticks. $10/each.
To view a double life-sized image showing details of the animals, please click the above scan.
Padauk wood Thai hairsticks with stupa (Asian temple)-like tops. $8/each.
If you remind me when you call, I'll make 'em 2 for $15.
A hot New Guinea bamboo afro pick, with rubbed-in lime to make the design stand out. $50.
Two black horn hairsticks with subtly different bamboo patterns; both have diagonal tops.
The top version has less length on the taper for hair, and has parallel node sections with tiny pits.
The bottom version has more length, and the node sections are zig-zagged. $15/each.
Water buffalo horn long hairsticks. We now have a few more that are a tad longer than these as well.
These have holes on the larger side for adding your own decorations. $6.
A (brass?) Sumatran hair ornament with little red bead, flower, and leaf designs set on springs ($30).
We only have this one piece! Please click on this small image to view one at full size.
Beautiful Asian hair ornaments made from gold colored foil (brass? tin?) with leaf and flower designs,
set on springs so that they wiggle with any movement.
Click on the thumbnails above to view images at full size.
First shown is the smallest size of Asian hairsticks, with leaf and ribbon shapes, only $5/each.
Second shown are small flowers (most with one leaf, some with two) ($8/each or 2 for $15),
or small ones with clusters of strips of foil like ribbons ($10/each-SOLD).
The last shown have long a cluster/spray of little flowers,
which can be bent many different ways to show different effects ($12/each-only one left!).
Silver pill box
Silver inlaid 'Aztec' calendar pill box with a just under 1-3/8" cylinder-shaped body.
Great for stashing away tiny body jewelry and beads. $40.
Click on the above scan to view a zoomed-in version that shows better detail.
Branding iron
Old school South Dakota cattle metal branding iron with a "D" shape.
This is the real deal!!! It measures around 4 feet long. $40.
Dice!!!
Baltic amber dice ($20/pair smaller than shown) or British Columbian jade dice ($25/pair as shown-comes in a wooden box).
Large ('normal') sized pairs typically run around $25/set, depending upon weight.
We are currently sold out of the large amber sets; feel free to let us know if you'd like to be on a wait list to be contacted when these become available again.
Pressed amber, aka ambroid dice! We've searched high and low for more regular sized amber dice, and no one seems to be able to supply them anymore. Though we do still have some little amber ones in stock, these ambroid ones are the only close to standard sized dice we've been able to find. Pressed amber does not have anything but amber in it, but has less value compared to regular, unpressed amber. Thus these dice are only $15/pair!
Blacklights
Portable battery-operated mini blacklights (long wave UV light).
These cuties also have a built in tiny flashlight and hand strap.
Useful for identifying amber and copal, as well as observing out the fluorescence of different stones (such as sodalite, fluorite, or some opals), the brown parts of horn (!), locating blood or other bodily protein stains (ew!), checking the validity of money orders, seeing if your friends have false teeth, obsessively removing lint, or finding scorpions in the desert.
Uses 4 AA batteries (not included). $15/each. Cheap!
For you techies: the length of the wavelengths of light were measured in Angstroms,
which are being phased out for the term nanometers (one thousand millionths of a meter).
Visible light ranges from approximately 400nm (violet) to 700nm (red).
(1 Angstrom = .1 nanometer) (1 micron = 1000nm)
In old-school Angstroms, the spectrum we are concerned with here goes from:
125 to <2,900 Angstroms is short wave or far ultraviolet light (kills bacteria; used for sterilizing; dangerous to human eyes);
2,900 to 3,200 Angstroms (rays that make humans tan and sunburn);
3,200 to 3,800 Angstroms is long wave or near ultraviolet light (used in blacklights; invisible; not harmful to human eyes);
4,000 (violet/purple) to 7,000 (red) Angstroms is seen by humans as visible light;
>7,000 Angstroms is infrared light (invisible to the human eye).
Blacklights can range from 3,200 up to 4,500 Angstroms. Thus this overlap into the spectrum of our visible light range we are able to see as a purplish light; keeping in mind, however, that most of the light these emit are invisible.
Thai cloth handbags
Black fabric with various embroidered elephant designs on the fronts. The small one is posted at 100percent, and is $6, and has one pocket/section. The medium bag ($22) and
the large one ($28)
are both posted at 50percent, and they each have two different pockets.
Oval fabric-covered boxes
Five oval boxes (shown stacked up) that can nest inside each other. $25/set.
The largest measures approximately 4-3/8" on the short side,
5-3/4" on the long side of the oval, and 4" tall.
They have black patterned Chinese fabric on the outsides.
Photo shown is a thumbnail only showing them stacked one upon the other and is not at life size.
Nepalese pendants and ritual objects
Nepalese base metal tantric diety figurines (in the yab-yum position) are $5/each.
The vajra is used in Tibetan Buddhism as a meditation symbol. It symbolizes the lightning bolt/male energy.
These smallish vajras are probably bronze and are $8/each.
These have now all SOLD, but we come across them occasionally, so let us know if you are seeking them.
We have very tiny silver dorjes with hooks for earrings as well,
located in a group of earweights on the silver and bronze page.
Decorated goat skulls
We had a few Nepalese decorated goat (or ram) skulls for $50 and up
plus extra shipping due to the weight (just under 5 pounds).
Sorry, but you can't specify details such as how the horns will look... consider it a surprise!
Photos shown are much smaller than life-sized.
Please note: it seems these might be harder to re-stock than previously anticipated...
Ask to be placed on our wait list just in case.
Tribal tattoo instruments
Wooden Borneo (Kayan Dayak), bronze/brass Burmese (Mon tribe), and wooden/bone Micronesian (Yap)
tattoo instruments made from traditional tools, materials, and methods,
had been removed as an insurance requirement. We discontinued our business relationship with that company, so happily, we do expect to carry these items again soon.
New Dayak carved wooden stamps, used in lieu of a stencil in Borneo style tattoo work, may still be occasionally available, as well as bronze Burmese counterweights (often depicting characters from Burmese mythology-not shown). The stamp pattern is shown on the left, which might have been traditionally used with ash or lampblack. On the right, the back 3-D handle is shown, and depicts an aso dragon-dog often seen in Dayak carvings, beadwork, and tattoos.
Amber poster
A photo poster with an extreme close-up of an insect inclusion in amber,
shot with the aid of a microscope. $35. 16" X 23.5". Small additional shipping fee may apply.
Mounted butterflies and other insects
Iridescent green and blue frog beetles!!! $20/frame. STILL AVAILABLE
Photos are close to, but not exactly life sized. Note antenna issues.
There are two per box, set in 4" by 5" Riker mount cases.
The ones shown below have SOLD, and are thus only samples of what we can offer;
they do not reflect our current inventory.
We have several sets of butterflies in smaller squarish wooden frames, each containing two butterflies, that are $15-SOLD. No two are identical; just ask about different colors or species!
Mounted butterflies come two to a frame, which are slightly larger than the ones we've carried in the past.
These come in brown wooden rectangular frames with clear glass on the front and back.
Click on these thumbnails to view larger scans. Photos are not life sized.
#A is $15/frame and measures 4-1/2" by 5-1/2". SOLD
#D is $18/frame and is 5-1/2" by 6-1/2". SOLD
Shown here are more examples of the mounted butterflies that we often have available.
Prices range from $15-$20/frame.
Please click on this small image to view one posted at real size.
Odonata dragonfly with iridescent wings!
Mounted on white in a 5" by 5" shadowbox with a nice black frame. $25-SOLD.
Click on this thumbnail to view a larger image; these photos are not life sized.
Set of ten iridescent green Anomala grandis beetles in a crescent moon shape, nicely mounted in a 6-1/2" by 6-1/2" shadowbox with a black frame. $35-SOLD.
Click on these thumbnails to view larger scans of the box as a whole and a close-up of a beetle.
Photos are not life sized.
New Guinea penis gourds
Penis gourds from New Guinea (also known as phallocrypts, skin pas, koteka, or holim).
These are made in a wide variety of shapes and designs, with woven fiber, shells, paint, seeds, feathers, and other bead decorations. Some are straight, some are curved; each one is unique.
They generally run from around $20 (tiny kid's sizes),
to $30-$50 (normal adult sizes as shown), up to $60-$80 or more/each (really elaborate, large, or unusual).
Note that additional shipping costs of a few dollars will apply;
these are not very heavy, but bulky, as extra padding must be used.
All of these have SOLD. They are all shown smaller than life size.
Click on the smaller thumbnail scans of the single gourds to view them in all their glory.
Shown are three medium gourds ($35-40/each). These have SOLD.
Click on this thumbnail to view a larger scan. This photo is not life sized.
Click here for a digital photo of even more examples; however, this also does not show them at full size.
Spring 2008: We have added several unique gourds to our stock!
Check out several on our newly acquired page, with even more images coming soon!
Batik stamp
Afghani wooden batik stamp with a floral motif. $15-SOLD.
We can get more batik stamps, though most are often square. Just ask!
O-ring kits
Black rubber (nitrile/Buna-N) o-ring kits, hardware store style are $22.
382 or 407 pieces (availability varies, as does the overall layout and color of the case, as shown above).
1/8" to 1-3/4" I.D.'s. An extra shipping fee of $1-2 will apply.
I Am Not My Body zine
Sold out! Really!
The first issue of I Am Not My Body, a limited edition publication (333 copies)
for fans of extreme tissue modification and the medical culture.
This issue contained articles on stretching, cutting, scars, organic material, and more.
#1 was published in March 1996, though the covers that Erica personally printed read Summer 1995.
Sold out!
The second issue of I Am Not My Body (limited to 500),
was published in Spring/Summer 1997, was available for $3,
and included information on trephination, hand deformations, extremes, tooth modification, and implants.
The third issue should have been out in 2002 (whoa!).
It will feature circumcision (both male and female), skull stretching, tube pedicles, natural abortion, and more!
Books
A Brief History of the Evolution of Body Adornment in Western Culture:
Ancient Origins and Today
A Historical Narrative to Accompany the Nomad Museum Jewelry Collection
by Blake Perlingieri
Tribalife Publications, 2003 10" X 11" Soft cover 141 pages
$50 (plus a $1-$2 extra shipping fee) ((only two left!))
As beauty is often said to be in the eye of the beholder, so history, it seems, is in the hand of the chronicler. This rings true of Blake's first book, A Brief History of the Evolution of Body Adornment in Western Culture: Ancient Origins and Today.
The first half of the book contains brief biographies and photo essays of several people Blake has named as heavily influencing the modern Western piercing community, in addition to other lesser-known characters important to his own history. Two early pioneers discussed, both born near the turn of the century, are Ethel Granger and the Great Omi. A thorough section with both images and words from Blake's guru Fakir is presented, followed by tributes to mentor Father Daniel Jensen and Blake's adventurous grandmother, Dr. Naomi Coval. He pays homage to these inspiring people with obvious affection and respect, as they have made a huge impact upon his life. This section has been peppered throughout with archival and artful black and white photographs of the personalities discussed, as well as color pictures from his pioneering grandmother's world travels rescued from her archives. The result is an insightful collection of memoirs, anecdotes, pictures, and quotes that combine to tell the history of body modification in the Western world as it has inspired both the industry in general and the author specifically.
The book switches gears when Blake steps in to tell his own highly personal account of his introduction and growth within the piercing industry. This autobiographical section gives the very casually written perspective of the author as he travels through the early stages of his career as a piercer. Taking credit for many advances and extremes in terms of larger piercings, he discusses freehand piercing and coins the term "tribal surgery" to describe the methods employed by himself and his colleagues.
The second half of the book contains an abridged cross-section of ethnic and historical piercing practices and jewelry from around the world. Most pieces depicted are from Blake's collection in the form of the Nomad Museum in Bend, Oregon, while select items from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and other famous museums demonstrate the prevalence of piercing practices and jewelry on all continents throughout the millennia. This section is only a brief introduction and does not delve very deeply into history, as the title suggests, primarily focusing on collectible jewelry that has survived from antiquity - though some contemporary practices and pieces are also shown.
Being quite familiar with cultural body modification practices and ethnic jewelry myself, I was wondering what new information this work would present. Unless one has passed through Bend recently to see the Nomad collections, A Brief History showcases a scrumptious array of ethnic piercing jewelry unpublished until now, cataloged here for posterity. While the anecdotes and chronology presented were primarily a useful review for me, most readers will find this an informative and easy to read introduction to the ethnographic and historic backgrounds that deserve our respect for significantly paving the way to where the practice of body art now stands.
We used to distribute The Penis Inserts of Southeast Asia:
An Annotated Bibliography with an Overview and Comparative Perspectives, by Brown, Edwards, and Moore (60pp, paperback). Half of the book is a comprehensive bibliography; it also includes a few illustrations. It downplays modern piercing practices, but is an excellent anthropological source on the topic.
This book is now out of print and SOLD OUT!!!
Chinese women's lotus (footbound) shoes
There is a wide range of quality and styles of Chinese women's lotus shoes.
Some are old, though a few reproductions can be found that are less expensive.
Three pairs of Chinese women's lotus shoes for bound feet. $100-$150 per pair.
Both side and bottom views are shown for one shoe out of each pair.
Please click these small thumbnails to view images at full size.
The above purple lotus shoes SOLD for $200.
Dayak tribe designs on cloth
Currently sold out! Ask to be placed on the waitlist...
This patch measures 7-1/2" square and was available for $4.
It is a Kenyah Dayak pattern from Borneo and is green and white on black.
This image is shown smaller than life size.
Currently sold out! Ask to be placed on the waitlist...
This tree of life wallhanging was designed by a Kenyah Dayak from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo.
It is printed onto cotton material with several color options, and is a bit more than 2 feet by 3 feet.
They were $20/each and were sewed on three sides (excluding the top).
The photograph shown here is posted at much smaller than life size.
Our latest acquistions are showcased over on our new page for at least a month before they make it over here. You might also want to glance at our twilight page that contains amber, jet, and silver jewelry such as pendants, torcs, and necklaces with Nordic and Celtic designs. Good stuff!
