Virgin A Day - Day 2 belated!

Today I had the opportunity to join a Vendor's Fair at St Thomas More Catholic Church.  They sell my rosaries in their gift shop.  It was a very busy and wonderful day, beginning for me before dawn and ending after noon. 

 

This is the first opportunity I have had to work on my Mornings with Mary - Virgin a Day post.  Although it is hardly morning, I wanted to share some of the various forms of Mary that I work with on a daily basis.  I hope they bring you as much happiness as they do me. 

 

Please visit recuerda mi corazon to see the other's offerings. 

 

Peace be with you! 

Shannon

First Sunday of Advent

Advent Rosary available at www.therosarylady.com
 

 

 

Advent is upon us.  It is the season of waiting for the birth of our Lord Jesus.  A time of repentance, a time of hope and a time of joy and celebration. 

 

Advent in my home has changed a lot since my children have grown older.  We no longer place as much importance on the Advent candles and wreath.  I find that very disappointing, and somewhat sorrowful. 

 

This year I assume I will pretty much keep Advent within my heart. 

 

Nevertheless, it can be a time of great joy for you and yours.  Hold fast to the teachings and traditions, and set them forth in your childrens' memories.  They can one day follow suit and share the wonders of the Season with their children too. 

 

Week One:  We wait in solemn anticipation, knowing our Lord is out there, somewhere.  Travelling upon a dusty rocky trail, safe within His Mother's Womb.  They must go and  be counted.  HE is all that counts in the end.  We must remember His journey. 

 

Our Blessed Mother must be tired and aching and wishing for an end to this trek.  Father Joseph must be feeling a certain heartache that he should have to put his beloved through such torment at this time of her pregancy.  But they are devout, they know what must be done.  And they do it without complaint, and without remorse. 

 

I wish I could do so also.

 

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you.  Save Souls. 

 

Save all the souls who are lost and abandoned and frightened during this time.  Help them to understand that you are there for them.  Show them the way... of waiting patiently... and watching... for that bright Star that will lead them to the Savior. 

 

Peace be with you!

 

~ Shannon ~

 

 

 

 

 

Virgin A Day - Day One

Last year I had the priviledge of joining in with other bloggers - serious bloggers - unlike myself, in Virgin A Day meme with the lovely Rebecca over at recuerda mi corazon. 

 



I could hardly contain myself, when I realized that December first was almost upon us, and the beginning of another 12 days of "Mary".  I have a special relationship with The Blessed Virgin, she is ever with me, whether I am aware or not.  I just love catching those special glimpses of her....

This is a new image of her I've not seen before.  I found it searching the web, and I don't know the artist, but would like to find out who it is.  I find it interesting that each artist has his/her own idea of how Mary looked.  Although she was definitely not fair skinned such as this depiction, I'm sure Mother Mary appreciates the beauty of it.  I love the sweet smile, it makes me smile too. 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to have a peek at recuerda me corazon for the other offerings of Virgin A Day - Mornings With Mary.  I'm sure you will be pleased with what you find.  Join in if you are so inclined!

 

Thanks again Rebecca, I am pleased to be a part of your project! 

 

 

Peace be with you,

Shannon

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~

Small Business Saturday at The Rosary Lady

 

Today is Small Business Saturday.  Be sure to visit your local small business, and also those online.  From today thru Monday, I will be offering 10% discount through my Etsy shop.  Enter code upon checkout:  SMALLBIZ10. 

The Rosary Lady is a small business, owned and operated by myself, since the year 2000.  In 2002,  I opened my website, www.therosarylady.com, and in 2011 I opened my Etsy shop, www.etsy.com/shop/therosarylady . 

I enjoy designing and constructing rosaries, and often feel Our Lady's hands placed over mine while doing so.  There have been times when I felt it was time to close the doors on either or both shops, but The Blessed Mother prevents me from doing so. 

I will continue to do her bidding, as long as it pleases her, as I know that praying the rosary is a true and quick way to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord.  I hope that I can be but a small part in bringing others to Him. 

Pray the Rosary Daily and Peace Be With You!

~ Shannon ~

It's Been Forever Since I Blogged....

I'll admit, I haven't yet got this blogging thing down.  There is so much to do in the world of social networking.  Between Blogger, Twitter, Facebook, my website, my Etsy shop and the sales I make at St Thomas More Gift Shop - I cannot do it all.  Or I choose not to do it all.

Some days it's one or two things, some days it's none.  Lately, my focus has been more on my family, and my domestic duties.  Messing up my hand in a fall has put a lot of things on the back burner.  Typing is easier now, but the real joy will be when I can hold my rosary pliers in my hand again!

Rest assured, my inventory is pretty well maintained, so rosary orders will not go to the wayside.

Anyway, there is only 35 days left until Christmas Day, the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord.  If you are looking for a rosary or chaplet for a special gift for someone, please visit my website or my Etsy shop.

New Mary's Graces Team Giveaway!

 

There is a new giveaway today hosted by Donna, my team leader over at  Etsy Team Mary's Graces. 

Holly at Food for the Soul has graciously donated a beautiful Chaplet of St Joan of Arc:

Unbreakable Chaplet of Saint Joan of Arc

I wanted to give this chaplet a strength and beauty as befitting a Warrior of God, such as St. Joan of Arc. The 8mm round & 10mm faceted tiger eye beads seemed, to me, to be ideal for this purpose. There are a total of 19 beads, one for each year of St. Joan's brief life. I wrap-linked each bead with 20g nickel silver wire to give this unbreakable chaplet maximum strength and durability. The center connector, tube bead spacers and 4mm rondelles are lead-free Tibetan silver. The winner will also receive a prayer card, instructions for praying the chaplet and an organza drawstring pouch.

 

Click on the Mary's Graces link above to enter to win this gorgeous chaplet.