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Sweet Smell of Success: Nice, Clean Beads

By Anne
bonerosary

This is the latest installment in the continuing saga of the smelly bone beads. The beads arrived on Wednesday, destined for a few of my new, beautifully affordable Anglican and Catholic rosaries. In fact, they were to be the focal companions of some new red jasper with dark, swirling inclusions. The beads arrived in a condition where they couldn't be used--reeking so strongly of smoke that no one in his right mind would want to use them for prayer. A plea for help was sent to the large supplier who furnished the beads. Their stated recommendation had been to wrap the beads in a dryer sheet. When I did that, I got cloying dryer-sheet perfume masking the nasty, pervasive burned smell. A search of the Interwebs was somewhat fruitless. I did learn from several sites that the smell is common in this sort of carved, incised beads. There were assorted recommendations: Hang them outside; nuke them in the microwave; soak in lacquer thinner or acetone; wrap in newspaper and seal in a bag with baking powder; try activated charcoal; lock in a plastic bag with ground coffee; lock in a plastic bag with tea leaves; or cinnamon; or whatever else you... »

Arrivederci Aroma: Really Smelly Beads!

By Anne

I think this is more of an appeal for help than a sharing of knowledge or experience. I have some beads that smell so highly that the dog is after them! Here's the deal: They're exceedingly handsome carved bone rondelles purchased from the Enormous Bead Emporium. You know the one. There are rather a lot of them (four dozen) because I want to use them in some new, affordable rosaries which I'll be talking a lot about later. They're absolutely perfect, and when I opened the box, it was love at first sight. However, it wasn't love at first sniff. The... »

It’s July. But a Ruby Rosary?

By Anne
ruby

July's birthstone is the ruby, one of the most precious gemstones. The thought of a ruby rosary conjures up thoughts of something ethereally beautiful, perhaps done in gold. But there are very few people who could afford such extravagance, and I have to wonder if it would be such a great idea anyway. We want to use our rosaries, not store them in bank vaults. Of course it's always possible to create a rosary of pearls, adding crowns of very small precious-stone beads to the Pater or Cruciform beads. My friend, Gayle, at Queen of Peace Rosaries does a beautiful... »


The Blessing Bracelet

By Anne
The Blessing Bracelet

Most of the charms in the bracelet shown are "ex-votos," commonly known as "milagros." They originated in various areas of Latin America, especially in Mexico, and are  given as thank offerings for blessings received or prayers answered.  My friends, Ann and Dick, at Equatoria, have assembled a wonderful collection of these, which they recast... »

Where did Atelier-Beads Go?

By Anne
Gabriel, Patron Saint of People Who Communicate Stuff

Well, all I can say is that it will be back, better than ever. I read a column in the actual print newspapers several years ago about a man whose wife asked him to install a new toilet seat. It ended up by costing him nearly $40,000. How on... »

I Digress: Good Eats Really Are Cheap

By Anne

The Spousal Unit hasn't had the best spring possible this year. He's been in the hospital twice since Good Friday. He has an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, which they're treating with sensible diet, regular doctor visits, and an absolutely mesmerising drug called Coumadin. Coumadin is a nice, human name for Warfarin, which is the stuff they use in... »

The Sewing Machine Meme from Sew, Mama, Sew

By Anne
Singer Slant O Matic, 401-A

This is my answer to the sewing machine meme posted at Sew, Mama, Sew. What brand and model do you have? Vintage Singer Model 401-A, called the "Slant o Matic." It is, indeed, a slant needle machine. It was new in 1957. How long have you had it? I've had it about five years. My mother... »

Birthstone Rosaries: Pearls or Alexandrite for June

By Anne
Freshwater Pearl Rosary

This is intended to be the first of a monthly series on traditional birthstones as they can be used in rosaries. The traditional birthstone for June is the pearl, though the alexandrite is also sometimes used. The most valuable pearls are natural, created by salt-water oysters, perfectly ... »

Phoenix

By Anne
Courtesy of catholic-rosary-parts.com

Officer Syreeta Teel and her partner were on their regular patrol in Southwest Baltimore yesterday when they saw and heard something that Officer Teel describes as "the worst thing she's ever seen." A cloud of black smoke and the most terrible, anguished cries originated from a dog, a Pit Bull, who had been doused... »

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