At Acacia Creations, our products are hand-crafted in East Africa from recycled, natural and sustainably harvested materials. Read on to find out how our Kenyan artists turn glass bottles, magazines, scrap metal and reclaimed wood into into unique, beautiful and durable creations...

Our recycled glass items begin as discarded bottles and windows. The bottles are cleaned, broken and melted in a furnace. When the glass becomes liquid, artists form beads and other items using a long metal rod.

Women in Uganda and western Kenya make recycled paper beads and even bowls by first cuttting magazine paper into long, thin strips. When making beads, they roll the paper tightly around a tooth pick and secure the end with glue. They then dip the beads into non-toxic lacquer to make them water-resistant and extremely durable and then hang them to dry. The bowls are shaped by layering folded strips of magazine paper to the desired shape and size before they too are fastened with glue and dipped in non-toxic lacquer.

Each of our wooden tabletop pieces is individually carved from fallen trees. Once carved, they are finely sanded and rubbed with food-safe sunflower oil. Items in our Painted Wood collection are decorated by hand and then finished with a non-toxic lacquer. These exquisite pieces are hand-wash only and painted wood pieces are recommended for dry food only.

Scrap metal is used by our Kenyan artists to make each metal display and decoration. Recycled metal wire, aluminum cans and telephone wires are used to make our Soda Can Animals (pictured). Metal wire is shaped into the form of an animal, artists then cut aluminum cans into one long thread before weaving it around the wire base. The whole piece is bound and secured with telephone wires.