Description
What it is
A pair of prickly pear cactus earrings from Jabebo, the Bellefonte, Pennsylvania studio run by Kevin and Mary Abbott. This is one of the prairie-plant designs in the line, drawn by Kevin and cut from upcycled cereal box paperboard.
About the design
The two earrings are different views of the same plant: one a yellow prickly pear flower in full bloom and the other a spiny green pad carrying its red fruit. Prickly pear is the hardy native cactus that flowers across the dry, sunny prairie of the northern Plains.
How they are made
The base is post-consumer cereal box paperboard, collected from friends and neighbors around Jabebo’s studio in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Each design is laminated front-to-back for stiffness, the species artwork is bonded to the surface, and the shapes are laser-cut. A paperboard back is glued on, the earring is sealed with a natural shellac topcoat, and since 2018 a second clear epoxy coat adds water resistance and a smoother feel. The hooks are surgical steel.
Specifications
- Motif size: approximately 1 inch per earring
- Weight: approximately 0.2 oz per pair (1 oz shipping with card and packaging)
- Materials: upcycled cereal box paperboard, shellac topcoat, epoxy topcoat (2018+), surgical steel ear-wires
- Hardware: French-style surgical steel ear-wires (hooks)
- Mismatched pair: two different poses of the same species
- Made in: Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, USA, by Jabebo (Kevin and Mary Abbott)
Who is this for
A pick for anyone who likes botanical jewelry or noticed prickly pear blooming on a summer prairie hike. Light, under 20 dollars, and easy to mail as a gift.
Frequently asked questions
Are the two earrings identical?
No. Each pair shows the same species in two different poses, so they read as a set rather than a mirror image. Wearing them as a pair is the intent; the asymmetry is the design.
Are they really made from cereal boxes?
Yes. Jabebo collects post-consumer cereal boxes in Bellefonte, laminates the panels for thickness, bonds the artwork to the surface, and laser-cuts each earring. The display card is paperboard too. The studio goes through more than 100 boxes a week.
What metal are the ear-wires?
Surgical steel French-style hooks. Most people with metal sensitivities can wear them without reaction. They are not sterling silver or gold-filled.
Is this a plant rather than an animal design?
Yes. Prickly pear is one of the prairie-plant designs in the Jabebo line, alongside the wildflower and pollinator pieces.
Does buying this support national parks?
BHPFA is the official nonprofit partner of Wind Cave National Park, Jewel Cave National Monument, Scotts Bluff National Monument, and Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, as well as the Black Hills National Forest and Nebraska National Forests & Grasslands. Proceeds from every purchase support education programs, conservation projects, and visitor services at these sites.
