The Rosary Lady Website Revamp and Relaunch

Autumn Jasper and Carnelian Gemstone Sterling Rosary

February 2015 marked the 18th year since my conversion to Catholicism. It was an issue I struggled with for several years, being a former Lutheran, and originally Baptist. I had a problem with the “idolatry issue”, especially concerning the Blessed Virgin. My stepsons were coming home from school with questions I could not answer, and for their sake, I began catechism lessons. The more I studied the catechism, I understood this issue differently. One of the students in my Bible study group made this comment: “What better way to get to the heart of a Man, than through His Mother.” I really wanted all of our family to feel unified in our religious beliefs since my own sons were attending preschool at our parish. I felt a great urge to be married within the church, for my own selfish reasons, and for everyone involved.

Shortly before my confirmation, I purchased for myself a lovely rosary made from crystal Aurora Borealis beads. I did not know how to pray the rosary yet, but I was going to learn! When my confirmation Mass was over, Father Byrnes presented me with another rosary, one made of Job’s Tears. My oldest son fawned over the gift and said he would like to have one on his confirmation. Many years ago, after searching several shops, I gave up on the idea of locating a Job’s Tears rosary for him. After all, I had some time until his confirmation.

In the meantime, I contacted Our Lady’s Rosary Makers, hoping they would have a lead. They did not, but I ordered a kit for the mission cord rosaries and also the wire rosaries. In no time at all, I was making rosaries myself and quite pleased with the feeling of stewardship it gave me.

A grandmother who attended daily Mass with my youngest son and I asked me to make single decade rosaries for her prison ministry. I gladly obliged. Then my first grader asked if I could teach his classmates how to make the rosary. I solicited the help of another mother who attended Mass with me, and we were on a roll! I began to think of us as the rosary ladies. After first grade, we went to the Kindergarten classes. When the new school year started up again, the second grades made rosaries for the missions in Fiji. We received a wonderful letter from the priest, stating that the rosaries arrived a few days before the students’ First Communion, and they were able to give each of them a new rosary. They even sent a picture of all of them proudly displaying their rosaries.

Each school year, we visited the classrooms and continued to make rosaries for donation to the various missions and pro-life groups. After the 9/11 Tragedy, the second graders made rosaries  to send to a Catholic parish near the World Trade Center. The children were so pleased to be helping others. One year the kids made a personalized rosary to keep for themselves.

In order to help fund my mission rosary project, I began selling the wire rosaries at my sons’ school, for First Communion and Confirmation gifts. Soon I was selling on eBay (momof5boys1) and began my own massive collection of unusual rosaries. A local Catholic store purchased my rosaries and sold them in their store and on their website.

Aside from raising funds for the mission projects, I pray that my efforts will further the devotion to the rosary and the Blessed Mother. It gives me great joy to know that my creations are in the hands of people all over the world and are being used to strengthen their commitment to their faith, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and His Mother. May the Holy Spirit come down upon me and continue to bless me with this gift for years to come, and may our Heavenly Father find pleasure in my works.

Incidentally, my family now has no shortage of Job’s Tears rosaries!

I love to custom design personalized rosaries and gladly welcome all inquiries.  

Yesterday I relaunched my website, it is now mobile friendly and easier to navigate.  I hope you will stop in and have a look.  Please share it with your family and friends as well!  

God Bless and Peace be With You,

The Rosary Lady

Thanks be to God

Amber Glass and Goldstone Gilt Rosary


 

A couple weeks back I slipped, fell and landed heavily on my left hand.  By morning next it was swollen and very painful.  I was concerned that it may have been broken, but as the day progressed it came to be known as just a horrific sprain.

One doesn't realize just how much one uses their hands (or legs or... enter other body part here) until one can no longer utilize it.  Strangely enough, I use my left hand more in rosary making than my right hand.  My left hand's fingers have callouses to prove it.  Rosary pliers can be very brutal!  I am thankful for those callouses, they allow me to work many long hours and protect my hands from pain. 

Since I have been unable to grip anything at all in my left hand for almost two weeks, my rosary construction went to a standstill.  Instead I have worked on other things that do not require usage of my left hand.  Like cleaning house.  Scrubbing can easily be done single handed.  I am thankful that certain areas of my house are cleaner than they have been in quite some time. 

I also spent much time working on the tedious paperwork aspect of running a small business.  Since The Rosary Lady is a sole proprietorship, everything falls upon me for completion.  The family asked if there was anything they could do to help, but sometimes it's just best to do things yourself.  Not to mention I have issues with delegating.  The Lord and I have spoken about this.  One day I hope to be better at sharing the work load.  I am thankful that I have the ability to maintain my small business with a medium amount of insanity.

With Advent and Christmas upon us, I know that many will be requesting custom orders for gifts for their loved ones.  I am very thankful for this.  I love creating custom rosaries, I love the research and thought processes that go into it.  I love making changes and adjustments until the rosary feels just right to me.  I often utilize information gleened from various Catholic resources to make the rosary as individual and personalized as possible.  I am thankful that Mother Mary still places Her hands over mine and guides me to what is best. 

I hope that this particular season finds all of you thankful, even for the smallest thing.  Count your blessings for within them are the greatest of treasures. 

Peace be with you!

~Shannon~

Custom Ladder Rosary

In 2004 I was contacted by Ave Maria University in Southern Florida.  They asked me to create a number of ladder rosaries to be given as gifts to the founders of the University.  

The original prototype rosary was made with 8mm Tanzanite Austrian Cut Crystal beads.  

It was soon decided that cobalt blue Czech glass beads were more of a match for the design. I was then also asked to do traditional rosaries for the students. 

The center medal was custom made to read the University's name on the reverse. 

I was very honored to be commissioned to do these beautiful rosaries.  It pleases me to know that there are so many wonderful rosaries about the world that were made by my own hands. 

I have kept one of each design for my own personal collection, which numbers over a hundred rosaries.  Someday I will post more about those rosaries too. 

 Thanks again for stopping by!

Peace be with you,

Shannon

New Custom Rosary

This is a new custom order rosary I created for my sister in law's niece.  She is being baptized soon and this will be her gift.  I love doing custom orders, especially ones that allow my true creativity shine through.

This is the rosary that started my endeavors with personalized rosaries.  It has my sons' names on each of the decades.  By the way, son number four is Johnny, not Johnzy!  (Actually he now goes by his given name, John.)  My photo stylist skills are sometimes not the best.  I blame it on the background.  

I have made several other personalized rosaries.  I will post again featuring them in the coming days.  

Thanks for stopping by to visit! 

You can see more of my rosaries at my website  

 and in my Etsy shop.

Peace be with you, 

Shannon