Pinewood Castle

One Rosary Available

Remember how my husband makes rosaries? Back in January I hinted to him that he might want to have some ready for the upcoming First Holy Communion/Confirmation season, but alas, we were so busy this year he was not able to make many.

At the moment, he is working on two commissions. He seems to get a number of repeat customers!

This white stone rosary is the only one that is complete and not spoken for, so he gave me permission to tell y'all about it.

Yes, it's long!

The wire wrapping technique he prefers takes up space, but makes a nearly indestructible rosary that will not come apart.  They are longer and heavier than a standard rosary.

This rosary is made with 8mm round Riverstone beads. Each Ave bead is double wire-wrapped and the Pater Noster beads are cage wrapped.

If you would like to request a custom-made rosary, browse for 8mm beads over at Fire Mountain Gems. Think of what type of crucifix or center you would like, and if he doesn't already have it, he can find it.

Most of his rosaries are $40 each, depending on the cost of materials. Shipping within the continental U.S. included and PayPal is accepted.

If you are interested in purchasing, please leave a comment and I will reply with more info.

Easter Blessings!

Full to the Brim

My heart is full, my tummy is full, my home is full of new stuff and it feels like everything about my life is overflowing. I wish I could stretch my heart but shrink my tummy and build the large dream home I have been sketching out today on graph paper. (dream is the key word there!)

We had a wonderful time seeing friends and family the last couple of weeks and that filled my heart right up:

A Christmas party with friends (the preschool table) - Mrs. B. made delicious tea party sandwiches, scones and tea. The children (and adults) exchanged homemade gifts.

A friend was in town for an Usborne party just before Christmas. Mary and I met online (on the Catholic Sonlight board) then IRL. Turns out she used to live in the town where we now live and was even in the same food buying club! I feel like I took her place. She is scheduled to have her sixth baby today by C-section. I am praying that all went well for her.

A friend I met ten years ago IRL through LLL meetings when we were brand new moms came back to MN to visit in-laws. She moved away to FL and we reconnected years later on the 4Real Board of all places! It was so refreshing to see her and her husband and the baby I knew who is now ten and all the rest of her children. The kids had a wonderful time playing the afternoon away while the adults conversed over hot chocolate and tea. I tried my best to convince them to move back to MN and buy the house for sale next door. One can always hope! And if they can't, can you? Wouldn't it be fun to be next door neighbors? 

Our babies then:

Our babies now:

My sister turned 50 and had a second knee replacement. She is one brave gal. We did not get to see her or my mom this Christmas but made several phone calls down south to keep in touch through it all. The day after Christmas was spent with my in-laws here in MN.

The Christmas card basket is getting full. We so enjoy all the cards that arrive each day. My favorite this year is from a family with seven children whose fifth has her eyes closed. It's just so funny because I know how hard it is to get a good picture of just five kids. To have that be the best one is just downright precious. You look great, bty, Tricia!

My schedule is full - just when I was thinking of dropping one or two activities I received notice that my son is approved to move from prep choir to training choir. Double the time, double the cost. Double the progress too, I hope, but wow, I was hoping to free up our schedule for more time at home enjoying domestic pursuits, not add to it.

My reading pile if full - I can't wait to dig in to Large Family Logistics - a gift from my cousin in CA. My hubby gave me Freckles and Laddie by Gene Stratton-Porter to add to my pile (and another Queen Mug to replace the one that broke!).

The doll population is overflowing after my daughter bought, with money saved over a year's time, Lanie - the first American Girl in our home. The girls also received these Beautiful Girlhood dolls for Christmas and already making them constant companions.

The weapons supply is expanding as well after my son received a bow & arrow as well as a Nerf dart gun. Basement toys! The hex bug and habitat may go there as well due to the raised decibel level it creates.

Our yard is full too, of snow upon snow with more to come. This is now the snowiest December on record in Minnesota.

The baby's mouth is full. We have fished out not only pine needles but also clementine peel, a Christmas light bulb, a hunk of ham, bits of a foam golf ball, ribbon, wrapping paper and beaded tree garland. The emails I am getting from the vet warn us to watch out for the cats this time of year. The cats just sleep under the tree, the baby is the one to watch out for!

My husband's finished rosary supply is about the only thing not full right now thanks to our Texas customers and to my friend who spread the word down south! Because comments appear to be closed on the last rosary post I will let you know here in this post that all the rosaries pictured on the previous post are sold but one - the lapis blue is still available (my personal fave). Joe will have to make a new batch to have ready for the spring First Communion and Confirmation season.

(If you are interested in this Lapis Blue Rosary please send $40 to my email address at PayPal: tracydotdunneatgmaildotcom)

A blessed Christmas to all! May your Christmas be full!

Rock Solid Rosaries

My husband has a batch of finished rosaries he made after completing a few recent requests. He kind of gets on a roll with rosary making and steals a few minutes to work with wire and pliers while I read out loud to the kids before bedtime. I thought I would post them here in case anyone is looking for a last minute Christmas gift.

Sorry, I am not that experienced at layingout and photographing rosaries. If you need a better idea of a color or quality of the stone I would be happy to send you a link to the website where the beads were purchased.

Lapis Blue

 

 

Fossil Stone

 

Natural African Jade

 

Ocean Jasper (this one has 10mm Our Father beads)

 

Lavarkite (gray with a hint of blue)

 

These rosaries are made with 8mm round gemstone beads. Each Ave bead is double wire-wrapped and the Pater Noster beads are cage wrapped. Total length is 31 inches.

The centers and crucifixes are nickel silver and attached using wire wrapped bows.  This wire wrapping technique makes a nearly indestructible rosary that will not come apart.  They are longer and heavier than a standard rosary.

All are $40 each, shipping within the continental U.S. included. PayPal accepted.

If you are interested in purchasing, please comment and I will reply with our Pay Pal info.

Rock Solid Rosaries - Lapis

This rosary is made with an 8mm round beads - mountain jade, dyed lapis blue. Each Ave  bead is double wire-wrapped and the Pater Noster beads are cage wrapped. Total length is 31 inches.

The centers and crucifixes are nickel silver and attached using wire wrapped bows.  This wire wrapping technique makes a nearly indestructible rosary.  It should be noted that they are longer and heavier than a standard rosary.

The cost is $30 and includes a life-time warranty (send it back for free repair if needed, probably never needed!).  Postage and Handling is $5 for USPS first class mail.

If you are interested in purchasing, please comment and I will reply with our Pay Pal info.

Rock Solid Rosaries - Earth Toned Ceramic

Here is the next rosary up for sale:

This one is our son's favorite - he thinks the beads look like little planets.

The rosary is made with an 8mm round ceramic beads, earth toned. Each Ave  bead is double wire-wrapped and the Pater Noster beads are cage wrapped. Total length is 31 inches.

The centers and crucifixes are nickel silver and attached using wire wrapped bows.  This wire wrapping technique makes a nearly indestructible rosary.  It should be noted that they are longer and heavier than a standard rosary.

The cost is $30 and includes a life-time warranty (send it back for free repair if needed, probably never needed!).  Postage and Handling is $5 for USPS first class mail.

If you are interested in purchasing, please comment and I will reply with our Pay Pal info.

Rock Solid Rosaries - Violet Fossil Stone

One thing I love to do when meeting a new couple is to ask how they met. Their faces (usually) glow as they remember the events surrounding their initial attraction and first interactions. What I find equally fascinating are the hobbies and activities couple did when they were engaged. I have heard everything from wine tasting and framing prints to bike riding and flying kits.

Back in the days when Joe and I had oodles of time with one another, we enjoyed attending concerts and plays, going on picnics and eating out. We kept our hands busy with everything from cross stitch to paint-by-number. We also had much more time for spiritual development then - I was a recent "revert" and fervent in my faith. Joe had spent a year in seminary while in college and was strong in his faith as well. Along with meeting for daily Mass and weekly adoration we took up rosary making. We began with the simple rope & knot variety, but Joe went on to using wire & pliers. I never did.

Up until few months ago he has only made rosaries to give as gifts. He made them for our entire wedding party, for me, his parents, friends, as well as gifts for ordinations, First Holy Communions and Confirmations. After a friend lost hers and commissioned him to make a new one he began to seriously stock up on beads and now makes extra rosaries while I knit or read out loud to the children.

He currently has six extra to offer for sale for the first time so we thought we would present them here first. I am aware of some other bloggers who are also rosary makers and I encourage you to look at their beautiful creations too: Barbara at Prayerful Beads and Ruth at Loreto Rosaries.

I have not seen their rosaries IRL but am fascinated with their beautifully themed designs. The rosaries my husband makes are maybe not quite as fancy, but they are simple and sturdy, hence the name "Rock Solid". Each Ave Maria bead is double wire wrapped with 21 gauge nickel silver wire.  The Pater Noster beads are double cage wrapped. The centers and crucifixes are nickel silver and attached using wire wrapped bows.  This wire wrapping technique makes a nearly indestructible rosary.  It should be noted that they are longer and heavier than a standard rosary.

Here is the first one up for sale:

This rosary is made with an 8mm round fossil stone, dyed violet, double wire-wrapped with cage wrapped Pater Noster beads.  Total length is 31 inches.

The cost is $30 and includes a life-time warranty (send it back for free repair if needed, probably never needed!).  Postage and Handling is $5 for USPS first class mail.

If you are interested in purchasing, please comment and I will reply with our Pay Pal info.