Patina Sweetgum Turtle Studs

A turtle shell of carved sweet gum pod catches light as a beautifully dimensional stud earring.

Remember those prickly brown pods you always found in your yard as a kid? If you slice them open with a jewelry saw, you’ll find they’re full of lace. Or carve away the spikes, and you’ll find a whole structure of hidden caves. We love playing with these slices and carvings of nature’s lace. And we love that such a common object has so much to reveal.