My new Beaded Bracelet

I made this early this morning just after breakfast and can't believe I made it myself! Yesterday I watched a tutorial for making beaded beads to use in making a bracelet. Actually I watched it several times but when I tried it, I was not too enthusiastic about it so I took what I learned from the tutorial and adjusted it according to what I thought would look good and what would sell too : )
I honestly never thought I'd make such sophisticated looking and complicated jewellery but I did!!! So never say never but try and try again! So here's another item to add to my Jewellery collection for my next Fairs. Thanks for looking : )

I want to say a special Thank you to my on-line Voy friend Linda (Shilo) who has always inspired me and encouraged me to bead and who incidentally posted the tutorial on our favourite forum Craftsayings http://www.voy.com/100606/

Fruit and Vegetable Festival

It is the time of year for outdoor spring activities and what better start

than to go to Fairs and Festivals with an exciting array of attractions

and yummy treats in beautiful surroundings.>

My recent craft show was at the Fruit and Vegetable Festival held in the Presidential Palace Courtyard on Sunday April 3rd. I am so glad my daughter urged me to attend as there was a great turnout and the day was lovely, in fact I think it was the warmest spring day so far.

Here are some pictures from this lovely festival.

My Craft Table

One of the beautiful fabric ornaments that Sue made for me and which was sold to one person along with another similar craft, thanks Sis : )

My mobile/purse charms and peg your notes magnets

Some more of my crafts

The crowds enjoying the warm day and the stalls

Beautiful succulent strawberries

Another stall with strawberries

Flower Stalls

Yummy chocolate covered Maltese nougat

~~~ Be on the look out for news of my next Fair ~~~

A Wire & Beaded Necklace

This is a delicate crocheted necklace (one of a few)

I made using silver toned wire and luminescent

pearlised beads

in different shapes and sizes.

I have featured one of these necklaces

in my Etsy shop.

~Contact me for custom orders~

Although these lovely necklaces are made using wire and beads,
they are amazingly very lightweight and comfortable to wear.

My Rosary Bracelets

You may be wondering 'What is a Rosary Bracelet?'
Well, when I heard of Beaded Rosary Bracelets, they were quite a novelty to me too. They have been around for some time and came into use as part of a person's jewellery to be worn with the intention of reminding oneself to pray. Many of us say we are always too busy but really, saying the Rosary takes up only around 10 to 15 minutes. We may say we don't even have so many minutes to spare...OK, how about 2 to 3 minutes, even waiting for a bus takes longer! So we can just pray one decade (one mystery) whenever we find those extra minutes. AND that is what these bracelets are for...as a reminder and to help us pray...besides don't you think they're pretty!

For anyone wishing to learn more about how the Rosary is prayed, click on the link at the bottom of this posting.

These bracelets are most often made with chain, but some are also made with cord, elastic, twine, flexwire or even memory wire. A rosary bracelet has a small crucifix and a small medal, which in my case I have left out but inserted a finding which allows you to add your own. Usually this is a miraculous medal and many already own one or more in gold or silver. There are ten Hail Mary beads and one Our Father bead. Most bracelets are about 7 1/2 inches in length, but they can be adjusted by adding or removing chain.

Since I have been teaching myself beading and beading techniques, I decided to try and make some. I used different coloured beads so that when anyone is praying the Rosary, one can think of different intentions with each Hail Mary while contemplating on a particular mystery of the Rosary.

By the way you don't have to be a Catholic to pray the Rosary and as a Catholic you do not need to pray the Rosary, but it certainly has many benefits and spiritual fruits.