Restore the Heart of Te Fiti, How to Make Your Own!

If you're a fan of Disney's Moana, you'll be familiar with the glowing green stone known as the Heart of Te Fiti. Inspired by my daughter's love for the film, I set out to create a replica of the stone using obsidian.

In this Instructable, I'll walk you through the steps of crafting your own Heart of Te Fiti. Whether you're an experienced rock tumbler or a beginner, this guide will provide all the information you need to create a beautiful piece inspired by the movie.

Are you ready to bring a piece of Moana's world into your own? I'll show you how to create your very own "Heart of Te Fiti" from a raw piece of obsidian. This project is a labor of love, and while it takes some time, the final result is absolutely worth it!

First things first, let's get all our supplies together. And yeah, it's kind of a lot of stuff for a tiny rock.

1. Obsidian: In the movie, the heart is a beautiful green. While green obsidian can be found in places like South America, I don't live there, so I'm using a piece of black obsidian I picked up from Glass Buttes, Oregon. Any piece will do, but you'll want one that's large enough to be trimmed down to the heart shape you desire.
2. Tile Saw: We'll use this to cut the obsidian into a rough shape. It's a powerful tool, so please be safe! Wear safety glasses, gloves, and I also highly recommend an apron. And of course, always be careful around the blade. This is an example, any brand like this works, I found Mine on FB marketplace for $20.
3. Rock Tumbler: I'm using a National Geographic Rock Tumbler, but any tumbler you have will work just fine. Again FB Marketplace I got mine for about $20.
4. Rock Tumbling Grits: This is where the magic happens over several weeks ( one week per stage, at least). You'll need a set of different grit sizes: This is the Kit I started with.
5. Stage1:Coarse Grit (60/90 grit)
6. Stage 2:Medium Grit (120/220 grit)
7. Stage 3:Fine Grit (500 grit)
8. Stage 4: Fine Grit (1,200 grit)
9. Stage 5: Fine Grit (8,000 grit)
10. Stage 6: Polishing Powder (something like Aluminum or Cerium Oxide)
11. Ceramic pellets: This will keep the rocks from cracking into each other in the final stages.
12. Borax Powder: this will be used to clean up the shikey rocks
13. Inkscape: This is a free and open-source design tool that we'll use to create the heart pattern and the pieces for our wooden box.
14. Boxes.py: is a great website to help get your box started. https://boxes.hackerspace-bamberg.de
15. Glowforge: This laser cutter/engraver is perfect for cutting our custom box and engraving the final design on the obsidian heart. This isn't cheap, but some maker spaces and even local libraries might have one too.
16. Wood: We'll use this to build a custom display box for the finished heart. I used some 3.5mm plywood.

Safety Gear: To be clear, that includes goggles, gloves, and an apron.

This is where our project truly begins! We'll take our raw obsidian and give it a rough heart shape.

1. Safety First! Put on your safety glasses, gloves, and apron. The tile saw can be a bit messy and dangerous if you're not careful.
2. Rough Cut: Turn on your tile saw and carefully begin cutting the obsidian. You want to hold the rock firmly and make a series of cuts to create a very basic heart shape. Don't worry about it being perfect! The rock tumbler will take care of all the rough edges and create that smooth, organic shape.

This is the most time-consuming part of the project, but also the most rewarding. This process will take at least six weeks, so be patient and enjoy the process!

I got a lot of advice from watching this Rob at Michigan Rocks this is a great place to start if you're new to rock tumbling: https://youtu.be/CsTc1kXUuPo?si=6tdejQJ9rzCxYQDv

1. Tumbling - Stage 1 (Coarse Grit): To start, place your rough-cut obsidian and the coarse grit (60/90) into the tumbler barrel. Add just enough water to cover the rocks. Seal the barrel and let it run for at least one week. This is the grinding stage, where all those rough edges from the saw will be smoothed out.
2. Tumbling - Stage 2 (Medium Grit): After the first week, it's crucial to thoroughly clean the barrel and the rocks. You want to make sure absolutely no coarse grit is left behind. Now, add the medium grit (120/220), fresh water, and tumble for at least one week. This stage will smooth the surface and get rid of the deep scratches from the coarse grit.
3. Tumbling - Stage 3 (Fine Grit): Time to clean everything again! Add the fine grit (500) and some small ceramic pellets. The pellets will help cushion the rocks and ensure an even tumble. Add fresh water and tumble for at least one week.
4. Tumbling - Stage 4 (Fine Grit): Once again, clean everything meticulously. Keep the ceramic pellets with your rocks and add the fine grit (1,200). Add fresh water and let the tumbler run for at least one week. At this point, the obsidian should be feeling very smooth.
5. Tumbling - Stage 5 (Fine Grit): After cleaning, add the fine grit (8,000), fresh water, and 1 tablespoon of Borax powder. The Borax helps create a beautiful shine. Tumble for at least one week.
6. Tumbling - Stage 6 (Polishing): For our final stage, clean everything one last time. Add your polishing powder and another 1 tablespoon of Borax powder. Add fresh water and tumble for at least one week. This final stage will give the obsidian its stunning, glassy shine, making it look just like the Heart of Te Fiti.

While your magical heart is tumbling away in the Glowforge, it’s time to dive into the creative side of your project! Let’s bring some island-inspired artistry to life.

Step 1: Design the Heart Pattern

1. Open Inkscape – your digital canvas awaits!
2. Create a swirling, enchanting design inspired by the “Heart of Te Fiti.” Think flowing lines, natural curves, and a touch of Polynesian magic. I used a screenshot of the movie as a background layer and roughly traced the design with the Pen tool.
3. Once your heart design feels just right, save it as an .svg file – this format is perfect for the Glowforge to read and cut.

Step 2: Build the Wooden Display Box

1. Head over to this awesome box generator. Link here
2. Customize your box dimensions to fit your obsidian heart snugly. You can adjust height, width, depth, and even add a lid!
3. Download your box design as an .svg file.
4. OR you can use the Design Below set for 3.5mm Plywood

Step 3: Personalize Your Box in Inkscape

1. Open your downloaded box file in Inkscape. Install Inkscape here.
2. Add your personal flair! Maybe your logo on the bottom, or Moana’s iconic spiral on the lid.
3. Make sure everything looks perfect, then save your final version as an .svg file for the Glowforge.

Final Tip

1. Let your creativity shine! This is your chance to make something truly magical – a piece that looks like it came straight from the shores of Motunui.

DO SOME TEST ROCKS FIRST!

Before engraving your final obsidian heart (the one you’ve poured 6 weeks of effort into!), run a few tests to dial in your laser settings.

1. Stick your test stones onto a piece of scrap wood using modeling clay or playdough.
2. Flip the wood over and gently press down to secure the stones evenly.
3. Make sure your surface is relatively flat – this helps the laser focus properly.
4. Measure the height of your obsidian and adjust the laser focus accordingly.
5. Recenter the stones so they’re directly under the laser head.

Step 2: Engrave the Heart

1. Upload your .svg heart design to the Glowforge interface.
2. Align it carefully over your obsidian heart.
3. Obsidian engraves beautifully – but it’s picky! Use your test results to find the perfect settings.
4. Pro Tip: Do two passes:
5. Engrave Pass: Removes the inner design.
6. Outline Pass: Sharpens the edges and makes the design pop!

Step 3: Cut the Display Box

1. Place your wood into the Glowforge.
2. Upload your box .svg file and cut out all the pieces.
3. Double-check that your cuts are clean and all parts are accounted for.

Step 4: Assemble the Magic

1. Use wood glue to carefully assemble your custom display box.
2. Let it dry completely – patience pays off!
3. Once dry, place your engraved Heart of Te Fiti inside and admire your masterpiece.

You Did It!

You’ve just completed a project that combines digital design, laser precision, and hands-on craftsmanship. Maui would be proud. 🌺

And there you have it! Your very own Heart of Te Fiti. You can add a picture of your finished project here, maybe with a little message about why you love the Moana fandom so much. It's a great way to make your instructable feel even more personal and special.

What a fun project, right? I hope this instructable helps you create something truly amazing! Let me know if you have any questions along the way.

My daughter absolutely adores this little rock. Sometimes, when she’s deep in her ‘terrible twos’ and channeling Ka Tal, the fiery lava monster of chaos, I gently reach for this heart and ‘restore’ it. Like magic, she settles down and returns to being the sweet, loving Ta Fiki I know and cherish.