about
After receiving a B.F.A., Ande Axelrod of Treats Designs worked as a graphic designer, did pottery and photography, ultimately finding her current passion in designing and handcrafting jewellery. Blending original design with eco-consciousness, she creates distinctive jewellery that is colourful, whimsical, and sophisticated. Her collections feature natural tagua combined with sterling silver, leather, hemp & rubber.
South American tagua palm trees produce the nut that is at the heart of her designs. Peeled and polished tagua is so similar to elephant ivory that it is known as “vegetable ivory” and has been used as a substitute since the early 20th century.
Ande’s jewellery is inspired by the spirit of the tropical rainforests and the beautiful BC rainforests of her home. She brings original and energetic colour combinations to each of her pieces, designed and crafted in North Vancouver.
Tagua from the Rainforest. Smart. Beautiful. Sustainable.
artist statement
The creative process has always been a guiding force in my life. After exploring a variety of media, I discovered tagua while travelling in South America, and was inspired by the vast creative potential of this versatile natural material.
Using tagua enables me to express my commitment to ethical and environmental values in my artwork. Visits with my fair-trade partners in Ecuador provide the opportunity to work with tagua throughout the process from seed to bead, developing new colours and shapes for my unique pieces.