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Rose Petal Beads

posted by Annie B. Bond Dec 7, 2007 5:28 am
Rose Petal Beads
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Inspired by Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume by Mandy Aftel (Gibbs-Smith, 2001).

There is something so beautifully wholesome and rich about this project, taking rose petals and concentrating their loveliness into hand-worked beads. The end result is a fragrant, compact set of beads that you can string and use for adornment, prayer or meditation. Rose petal beads would make a dazzlingly romantic Valentine’s Day present, as well as a fantastic way to reuse the petals from roses you receive (it’s so sad to see them in the trash).

Strings of beads have been used for prayer and meditation for ages, they help to center and focus. Scented objects such as rosaries have also been used in many religions. On feast days, early Christian priests wore garlands of rosebuds or beads made from rose petals, ground and blended with fixatives into an aromatic paste, then rolled into balls and pierced with a needle. It is a lovely idea to make an object to hold during meditation practice, and most people find that it helps to focus.

Here is a method inspired by a 19th-century recipe for rose petal beads that will yield lovely, scented beads that are surprisingly hard and durable. You will need nothing more than rose petals (red and fragrant are recommended), water, a saucepan and a needle or hanger, plus string for stringing.

Gather the roses and chop the petals as finely as you can. Put them in a saucepan and barely cover with water. (If you have a cast iron skillet, the iron will impart a lovely deep hue to the beads.) Heat for an hour but do not let it boil. Repeat this for three or four days and if necessary, add more water. It is important to never let the water boil but to warm it up each day over a moderate heat.

When the petals have reached the consistency of clay, you are ready to start the beads. Place the mixture in a colander or sieve and press out as much water as possible. Make the beads by working the pulp with the fingers into balls. When they dry they will shrink by about half, so you can start big. When thoroughly well worked and fairly dry, press on to a bodkin (a long needle, or you can use thick wire or a metal hanger) to make holes in the center of each beads. Until they are perfectly dry the beads have to be moved on the bodkin from time to time or they will be difficult to remove without breaking them. When dry, remove and string them.

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21 comments

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21 Comments       add a comment »
Nanna Brenda

I think that this could be a really wonderful way of using what I am given this Mother's Day to in return give back as a Birthday Gift to a Daughter, Daughter inlaw or granddaugher. Yes, I do think I am going to do this. From the Heart, To the Heart and Back Again.
Yes,

Mark B.
  • Mark B. says
  • Apr 12, 2008 6:47 AM

I've done this with fresh herbs from my garden as well. Its a fun project to do with the grandchildren.

Racheal Limpus

Wow! This is great! Ive never heard of a rose petal bead before. I cant wiat to try it!

Thanks for sharing!

Blanka Golub

can this be done with dried-up rose petals? I have tons of potpourri but I don't want to waste it :) This is a wonderful idea, though!

Alyson Nesnick

Does anyone know if other flower petals would work also? I have a huge rose bush and can't wait to do this project later in the year!

Annie Willow

i work as a wedding consultant and designer for a flower shop on galveston island. what a fabulous idea for extra petals... i can vision brides wearing white rose pearl necklaces... thank you so very much... i am very grateful for your wonderful idea...

happy thoughts of love, peace and light...

annie willow
galveston island

Sylvia Wulf

Fascinating - saved to try this summer. I actually had hit a link for info on bees wax candles, so this was a pleasant surprise :-)

Donna Bray

I grow David Austin roses and only the most fragrant of them. I can't wait to try these. I even thought of mixing colors after cooking to give a unique looking bead. I have red, yellow and pink roses. I need some white.... I can't wait to try these. I'm going to ask my friends for their valentines leftovers!

Kelly Hudson

Any idea of how many or how much roses petals make how many beads? in order to retain fragrance a book of mine suggests putting the petals outside in the sun rather than overboiling on stove. works well in hot australia where it gets to 40 degrees plus in summer.....

MicoCoco I.

Go Catherine B. ;-)
We're with you ALL THE WAY !
And as for Karine A. - - - Boo Boo You.
Pesticides have been "taken waaaay too far;"
dollars are - afterall - votes. And feeding the
"pesticide wolf" certainly won't, wethinks,
make it any easier to locate pesticide-free
petals & people alike. (*And, the more organic
buds SMELL WAAAAY More FRAAAGRANT, to boot.)
Limited mindsets can - by the way - be taken
WAAAY to far as well. "Check yourself before
you wreck yourself Karine !"

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