Creating Peruvian jewelry

As part of their exposure to Peruvian art and culture, Goshen students explored their creativity during a jewelry workshop led by Eliana and Ricardo Mauriola Carrasco, long-time host parents and friends of the Peru Study-Service Term program. Eliana and Ricardo make jewelry as a part-time business and sell necklaces, bracelets and earrings in Peru and overseas.

Eliana and Ricardo described their Peru-grown materials, which included large and small seeds, carved and polished coconut shell and seashells, dyed in many bright colors. Most of the materials come from the Amazon rain forest. Some have special meaning. For example, some Amazon people believe the Hauyruro seed, with its black and red ying-yang pattern, brings good luck.

With encouragement and patient instruction, the students spent two hours making beautiful necklaces and bracelets for family members, friends and themselves. After choosing their materials and picking out their favorite colors, they strung the beads through colored thread and learned how to space them with knots and braiding. Eliana and Ricardo walked from table to table, guiding the students through the steps.

The students were pleased with their creative efforts and couldn’t wait to show off their new necklaces and bracelets.