Why the "BeadsOnHand"?

It's been almost three weeks since my last post! So I thought I'd do a piece on where the name "BeadsOnHand" comes from.

I started out wanting to make rosaries. The only ones available here are the quickly made (read "cheap" here) plastic beaded rosaries. Nothing wrong with plastic beads, some of my best beads are plastic. It's just that they shouldn't look like plastic. So I made a few and they were donated to various church auctions in hopes of drumming up a little business. The results? Some one asked (almost a year later) can you put rose petals in Swarovski crystal beads? No, I can't do this although it sounds like a wonderful idea. May take a trip to Austria and research it with the Swar folks. Seems that the person had heard the words "rose petals" and "Swarovski" mentioned together. The results: petals encased in crystal beads. Nope, just beads made from rose petals (where the name "rosary" comes from, made by nuns many centuries ago) and used along with the Sw. crystal beads.

As you can see from the photo: the bracelet is made of beads, on a wrist (or hand). Get it? Beads on a hand??

Next: why memory wire isn't just for kids anymore! Or: A Senior Moment with Wire!

Stop and Smell the Roses--the Japanese Way

Every one has heard "Stop and smell the roses", meaning: slow down, take some time and enjoy where you are (always assuming you really are somewhere that's enjoyable). So, what does this picture of stepping stones have to do with roses? Quite a lot, actually. The answer is in the concept of enjoying the moment.

This is a picture of a stepping stone path across a small stream in the Asticou Gardens, Bar Harbor, Maine. (No, don't worry, I am not going to share the details about vacations that bore absolutely everyone.) The garden is a wonderful collection of azaleas, rhododendrons, a sand garden, and various trees. The atmosphere is peaceful, serene. Each turn of the path brings you out onto another spectacular view. You would hardly believe that this particular garden really isn't all that big, just 2.3 acres. There is so much to see, all packed into this small area that one is tempted to walk along, looking, saying "Isn't this pretty?" and keep on walking.

The stepping stones? They are spaced just far enough apart that you must take care not to fall into the stream. And this means you have to stop and check where the stones are. And, while you are taking some time doing this, you become aware of the surroundings. You see the calming water, perhaps fish are swimming underneath your feet, you feel the cool shade under the trees, you hear the leaves rustling in the breeze, you might smell the fragrance of the blooms.

You have now experienced the concept of living in the moment with all of your senses. You have truly stopped to smell the roses.

Maru Wha'??

This is my beautiful maru dai, a Japanese braiding stool, made by my husband. The little things sitting on the base are my tama, or braiding weights. I made my own, using prescription bottles and polymer clay. The weights need to be adjustable because each braid structure needs a certain weight. Did you know that a penny weighs 2.5grams? I didn't think so. An 8 strand braid can require anywhere from 35 to 70 gram weights, depending on the number of individual silk threads, or "ends".

This maru dai was what I used to create the braid you saw in "The Better Living With Chemicals" entry. This braid requires eight strands; I used four black, three blue, and one green. Picture a compass, with north, south, east, and west. I positioned two strands at each compass point for a total of 8 strands.

The movements of braiding are described as hypnotic and relaxing. Two cross (one strand goes up and one goes down), change places, another two cross and change places, repeat. After crossing and placing the colors in their new places you need to reposition the four strands back to the compass points. Same motions, over and over again until the end of the silk threads.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? It can be if you aren't one who gets easily distracted, often described as "having the attention span of a flea". Yup, that's me. But I have developed the all-important skill of being able to un-braid, to go back to where I was somewhere else (in mind only, and even that's not all there), reposition the strands and hope that all goes well. While the structure of this braid is very simple, I have better chances of being hit by lightning than getting the placement right any time in the next hour. Oh how relaxing this is!!

And yet I look forward to making another braid just as soon as I start this one.(Did I mention that attention thing?)