Beading with a Purpose - The Rosary

Teresa would like spend time each day to pray for others.  She is making her own rosary to do this. 
Trying to find the instructions to make a rosary is very easy to do.  There are instructions right on the internet and there are beads that will work at all the craft stores.  We printed out two patterns and read the instructions before we selected our beads and began our activity.

First, sort the beads into an easy to use container. Second, use the pattern shown on the instructions to arrange your beads on a bead-board.

Teresa selected the pearls for the "Hail Mary's" and a crystal bead for the "Our Father prayer".  She is using a metal bead to separate them and a few other beads to add sparkle. She is using the pearl on the cross for the "Glory Be".

Put your beads on your bead board.  Once you have things on your bead board, check the pattern to make sure it is consistent and symmetrical.  String it, tape the ends, see if it's the best length for you.  Get an espresso.

Finally, tie as many knots as you can stand to make and put a few crimp beads in place to hold things together.  We've added a few extra beads to the necklace because Teresa likes to put her necklace on over her head instead of using a clasp, making most of her necklaces longer than expected.

A completed necklace in under one hour.  That makes for a good day.
Now it's time to start praying.
                           Amen.

Beading with a Purpose - Celebrating the Christ in Christmas

I remember the first year I met the D'Ambrosio family.  After knowing them just a few months, the holidays rolled into our lives.  We decorated a Christmas tree at Tony's house.  Teresa, age 13, pulled out a raggedy wooden Manger scene and took it into the family room.  After a while, she called us into the family room and pointed to it and said, "This is the real meaning of Christmas."  And she proceeded to tell us about the Manger scene she had assembled.

After becoming part of the family, and helping the girls complete their necessary communion classes and prayer classes, it became clear that going to church never made the priority list.  We have so many things going on at our house during the week, that the weekends are a time to catch up on things.  The thought of getting dressed up and attending a worship service on a Sunday morning would be a luxury.  Generally, we are trying to get ready for Monday morning and doing all that needs to be done to make it happen.  That includes addressing multiple lingering nuisance bleeds. Those bleeds can catch up with you - first it's a nose bleed that comes and goes, then a finger cut that needs another layer of another band-aid, and then if one more thing happens, it's time to take care of things and go get some FFP.


It's been eighteen years since Teresa first told us about the Manger scene.  This year, her wish was to not have any Christmas shopping, events, gifts, decorations or a tree. All of this mixed in with medication issues caused just too much noise and anxiety.

So, on Christmas Day, I asked her if she wanted to attend a Mass.  She nodded.  We got dressed and went to the same church where she grew up and took her communion classes.  We took it all in, admiring the Manger scene, the stained glass windows and the sermon, most of which we couldn't understand because the Priest had a thick accent.  The calming effect of attending a place she remembered brought a sense of hope and we lit a candle to welcome in the New Year.

Later that week we began making a necklace, one with a cross.  Teresa wears it most days now.  Some very good days.

Beading with a Purpose - Medic Alert Necklace

Incorporating purpose into a beading activity is not difficult.  It brings ideas for new projects and makes for interesting conversation when people admire your jewelry.

Anyone with a chronic medical condition knows about Medic Alert bracelets and necklaces.  It's the first thing a paramedic will look for if you call 911, and they come to your rescue.  You can purchase these online and they cost plenty.  So, why not make one, instead?  Why not make a few and you can wear different ones, depending on your outfit!
 
The actual charm needs to have the correct information engraved. Teresa's has Factor V deficiency engraved right on it.  That will tell them she has a bleeding disorder and it also tells who to call.  One of her charms has her home address information and the other one tells them to call the Puget Sound Blood Hemophilia Care Program.  They are there 24 x 7 and can help someone with a bleeding disorder when they need support.

What a sense of accomplishment in making your own Medic Alert jewelry.  Congratulations to Teresa for taking a snowy day and putting it to good use!