Comments on: Sweet Smell of Success: Nice, Clean Beads http://rosarystudio.com/?p=388 Rosaries, Jewelry, Life as an Episcopalian Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:59:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Anne http://rosarystudio.com/?p=388&cpage=1#comment-120 Anne Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:20:51 +0000 http://rosarystudio.com/?p=388#comment-120 Well, the first lesson I learned from this was not to be in such a big hurry. I wanted my new group of rosaries to be ready around mid-July, when Atelier-Beads will sort of "officially" re-launch. I was also trying to keep the costs down for this grouping. I wanted to demonstrate that I could apply some of the same techniques and styles I love to Anglican and Catholic rosaries that were within the bounds of financial reason for almost everyone. And finally, I love the look of off-white bone with red or brecchiated jasper. It's a great color combination that appeals to men as well as women. So whatever I do, I need a reliable supply of inexpensive carved bone beads. Here is what I've learned: 1. Yes, I'll use the same supplier. I'll just plan to order well in advance. They are reliable, established, and well known. I don't use them for my very best stuff, but for affordable beads, they're virtually unbeatable. And their customer service is excellent. 2. The first thing that should happen with these beads is that they should be unwrapped and allowed to air out for at least 24 hours. They shipped for a week in a non-air-conditioned truck, sealed tightly in ziplock bags. That can't have helped. 3. Keep them out of the kitchen and away from the dog!! Maybe a shady spot outdoors would have done it. I'm using my kitchen colander for them, and it's going to need to be disinfected or re-purposed. 4. Once they've aired out, evaluate. I think I could have achieved the same results with any porous sheet of soft paper that had been permeated with something scented--baby towelette, dryer sheet, dust cloth, whatever. I do think it's important that the sheet not be damp, oily, or greasy. I find dryer sheets objectionable and don't use them. I think I am mildly allergic to the scent. I also don't like the idea of sending anything scented out to clients who may have allergies. I'm a smoker, but I don't smoke around my beads. The orange scent on the Pledge sheets is much more appealing. It also does not last as long. 5. Once the beads have been wrapped in the scented paper and sealed in a ziplock at least overnight, they should be removed and allowed to air out again. This seemed to get the job done for me. So, patience is always a virtue. I need some, right now. If I had aired the beads out and then wrapped them in the dryer sheet, I'd have achieved better results the first time around. Well, the first lesson I learned from this was not to be in such a big hurry. I wanted my new group of rosaries to be ready around mid-July, when Atelier-Beads will sort of “officially” re-launch. I was also trying to keep the costs down for this grouping. I wanted to demonstrate that I could apply some of the same techniques and styles I love to Anglican and Catholic rosaries that were within the bounds of financial reason for almost everyone. And finally, I love the look of off-white bone with red or brecchiated jasper. It’s a great color combination that appeals to men as well as women. So whatever I do, I need a reliable supply of inexpensive carved bone beads. Here is what I’ve learned:

1. Yes, I’ll use the same supplier. I’ll just plan to order well in advance. They are reliable, established, and well known. I don’t use them for my very best stuff, but for affordable beads, they’re virtually unbeatable. And their customer service is excellent.
2. The first thing that should happen with these beads is that they should be unwrapped and allowed to air out for at least 24 hours. They shipped for a week in a non-air-conditioned truck, sealed tightly in ziplock bags. That can’t have helped.
3. Keep them out of the kitchen and away from the dog!! Maybe a shady spot outdoors would have done it. I’m using my kitchen colander for them, and it’s going to need to be disinfected or re-purposed.
4. Once they’ve aired out, evaluate. I think I could have achieved the same results with any porous sheet of soft paper that had been permeated with something scented–baby towelette, dryer sheet, dust cloth, whatever. I do think it’s important that the sheet not be damp, oily, or greasy. I find dryer sheets objectionable and don’t use them. I think I am mildly allergic to the scent. I also don’t like the idea of sending anything scented out to clients who may have allergies. I’m a smoker, but I don’t smoke around my beads. The orange scent on the Pledge sheets is much more appealing. It also does not last as long.
5. Once the beads have been wrapped in the scented paper and sealed in a ziplock at least overnight, they should be removed and allowed to air out again. This seemed to get the job done for me.

So, patience is always a virtue. I need some, right now. If I had aired the beads out and then wrapped them in the dryer sheet, I’d have achieved better results the first time around.

]]> By: Rosary Guy http://rosarystudio.com/?p=388&cpage=1#comment-119 Rosary Guy Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:34:39 +0000 http://rosarystudio.com/?p=388#comment-119 So, what do you recommend? Will you get these beads from the same supplier again? If you do, and if they have the same strong smell, will you just wrap them in sheets of Pledge with Orange? Do you think it is important that the sheets had lost their oiliness? So, what do you recommend? Will you get these beads from the same supplier again? If you do, and if they have the same strong smell, will you just wrap them in sheets of Pledge with Orange? Do you think it is important that the sheets had lost their oiliness?

]]>