Rose Beads

 This morning I'm beginning the process for turning rose petals into precious beads, which will retain their fragrance and last for decades!

Dried rose petals

• rose petals (I'll strip all the petals off the stems
• rose geranium and lavendar tea
• electric coffee mill 
• small crock pot
• cinnamon, 5 spice powder, lavendar and nutmeg

Rose petals and supplies

The activity for March in the Seasons of Wonder Devotional, which our church is using this year, is to craft simple rosaries.

Did you know that rose petals have been used for prayer beads for hundreds of years?

Rosary - from the Latin Rosarium- rose garden. 'In the east, rose-beads are Atul made.  Dried roses are crushed to powder, moistened with rose water and formed into pellets, which are strung, dried and polished, ready for use.' (The rose by Ann Mayhew, illustrated by Michael Pollard - p75)

My grandmother Mary used the fragrant petals of our heritage rose to craft rose beads, and I began making them in the 60s, using fresh and dried petals. 

This is a great use for flowers from special bouquets. I began using an electric mill to grind dried petals, after a tip in an herb class in the late 80s. The petals need to be 'crispy dry,' in the summer, they can be spread on a box lid or screen in a car, then stored dry. 

Rose petals mash

After steeping tea with rose geranium leaves and lavendar, I separated the petals and lightly shredded them (centers and stems can be added to the Tea), then ground the petals with a bit of the spices, andcombined the petal powder with tea in my simmer pot.

 The original direction was to simmer the mash for 'an hour each day for three days.' I'll let it cool, as more tea as needed, and reheat later today, and again tomorrow, in prep for Sunday's playshop.

Here's one of my favorite tutorials, using fresh roses. 

Stay tuned for part 2!