I don't want to work, I just want to twist on the wire all day

When I got sick again, I took a break from making rosaries and from actively running my Etsy shop. I relisted things every now and then, but I didn't make any new rosaries or chaplets for months.

Earlier this month, I saw these great Andalusite beads at Lima Beads. As their website explains:

Andalusite is named for Andalusia, the province in Spain where it was first discovered. Andalusite is a somewhat rare stone, so many jewelry designers have never heard of it. It's a hard stone and great for jewelry making! The variety of Andalusite called Chiastolite is sometimes referred to as "cross jasper" because nearly every stone contains inclusions of graphite which form a cross in section. For this reason, some ancient texts refer to this gemstone as “Lapis Crucifer”, which means “cross stone”.

When I saw the beads, the first thought I had was, "Oh, those would make an awesome rosary bracelet!" Nevermind that the beads are huge (14mm) and I've never made a rosary bracelet. I immediately ordered a strand.

In the meantime, I decided to sign up for my first craft show. I quickly realized I didn' t have near enough stock, and I started making rosaries and chaplets as fast as I could. My bracelet was put on the backburner.

Last night, I decided to break out the cross jasper and make my bracelet. The 11 beads alone weren't long enough to go around my wrist, so I added some Swarovski crystals I had left from making my wedding rosary. After a failed stringing and losing some beads on the floor, I finally ended up with my first bracelet. It's strung a little too loosely, and I can't seem to put it on by myself.  But I still like it.

Tonight, I'll get back to making items for the craft show. I spent Sunday making Blessed Kateri chaplets, and another day I spent making pocket rosaries and chaplets. I've got tons of stuff still on my list to make, including Our Lady, St. Therese, and St. Joan of Arc chaplets. I'm also planning to make magnets, some with my shop logo and some with my husband's business' logo, to give away. It's going to be a busy three weeks until the show :)

Comments

[Zina]

I really like decade rosary bracelets. I was thinking about buying a few just to stock up for Christmas. I also have trouble carrying them around with me. And I don't like the wrap around one that is on one spirally piece of wire. You have very beautiful things on Etsy.

[Suzanne]

I have applied as well but have yet to hear back from them. Did you get an acknowledgment yet? That is a beautiful bracelet you have made. I am like you I am working on having some issues with enough stock but am working on that now.