Well, I have to admit that I've only recently started this hobby. I've done some wood carving and enjoyed it, but I think I may have just found my medium. Read on about tagua nuts..

Tagua Nuts

I saw these advertised in the WoodCraft catalog that my husband gets. They are touted as "vegetable ivory". I bought a few and I will report here on my progress. In the mean time, this is what they have to say about tagua nuts.

Tagua is the fruit, nut or seed of the South American palm "Phytelephas Macrocarpa". A native of the Andes mountains, tagua nuts have long been prized for their hard, white, close-grained ivory meat. Formerly a mainstay of the button industry, tagua was machined, turned, embossed and dyed into an amazing array of shapes, colors and styles. Other tagua articles popular in the past include sewing thimbles, needle cases, tape measure and pin cushion bases. Those "absolutely perfect" dice your grandfather bought at Sears back in 1902 for 26 cents for five were also made from tagua. In Japan, tagua or "binraji" is favored for carving ornaments and "netsukes" (toggles for kimono sash). It is also the popular carving material for South American carvers who do miniature portraits, jewelry, and sculpture.

All standard woodworking tools can be used on tagua. It can be softened slightly by soaking in water and is dyeable with fabric dyes.

I obtained tagua nuts from:

WOODCRAFT
P.O. Box 1686
Parkersburg, West Virginia 26102-1686
1-800-225-1153
www.woodcraft.com