rosary workshop
INSPIRATION  DESIGN
WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?
We believe when one decides to make rosaries, it is not that we decide as much as it is that one is called by Mary.  The desire is planted like a seed inside and when we say 'yes' then the seed grows into a wonderful ministry.  We are called to make beautiful rosaries, using the best materials we can find to give visual glory to the Lord.
 
 DESIGN CONCEPTS   -   ABOUT OUR ROSARIES
 
But many are called to the ministry of making mission rosaries and we honor this with all our hearts. This is why we  have instructions on this site for the making of knotted cord rosaries, share suppliers and other information.

~ DESIGN CONCEPTS ~

 
 Our work is more traditional ...
... than commercial. Inspired by the museums of Europe, the Guild also honors the early Paternoster Guilds and the rosary makers who made their own out of what was available. There was no supplier of beads or crosses or centers. This created designs that were unique and personal. Museums hold the more elegant rosaries such as the Filigree Rosaries but this is only a fragment of the designs that existed at any given time. It is believed there are special graces given one when they make their own Rosary to pray on. We do too
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JOURNALING THE BEAD ...
a chronological history of prayer counters
... Helps us to understand ...
... how the rosary was formed and to see how varied the early Rosaries really were. Even today we see many different chaplets with many different prayers.  One of the most beautiful things about antique Rosaries is the surface patina. Each bead is worn from the continuous movement through the fingers. This is what inspires us. All those prayers that were said on each bead. The guild wants to provide a beautiful foundation for today's prayers and we hope we do. The patina is up to the pray-er.
 
COLORS AND TEXTURES
Our special signature ...
... comes from years of experience in jewelry making inspired by earth's bountiful treasury of color, line, space, form and texture. Think for a minute how beautifully God painted the earth. How His palate or combinations of colors, such as soft polychromes of peach, moss and cream or deep polychromes of purple, rust and turquoise please us so. He rarely works in solid black, there is almost always an over or undertone of deep purples or browns. His crystals shoot out a prism of color which we now call his promise. Bronze and silvers are combined for a warmer look in his realm.
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His textures are always a blend, the trunk of a tree, the matte rocks in a stream of crystal clear - shimmer - sun - caught - water. This is where we look for inspiration. The Words of His Mouth spoke and created wonderful things. We are trying to listen with our eyes and set it into what we do with hopes we can visually  hear that
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Even the stones cry out the glory of God.

 

~ ABOUT OUR ROSARIES ~

Putting It All Together
 
CROSSES AND CENTERS
We cast our own metals ...
from vintage and antique Latin American, European and Ethiopian pieces in solid bronze and sterling silver.  This helps us to develop a design that does not take on the look of the commercial rosaries.  We have found that the old rosaries we love so much - especially those that are have a hand made - have an unexpected balance to them.  The center or the crucifix may be larger or smaller than those we see today.  We find this unexpected and especially delightful.
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 we sell most of our metal parts so you may use them too.

BEADS OLD AND NEW  -
Every chance we get we pick up ...
... antique beads from our favorite basement haunts in New York's millinery district to local flea markets. We go to the International Tucson Gem and Mineral Show, Gift Shows in LA and San Francisco, Bead Symposiums such as in Santa Fe -  to find most of our beads. We have even bought off of the back of (reputable) trucks! You will find many of these treasures in the LEA series.  Each ‘is more beautiful than the next,’ our friends tell us. Because of this, we believe we are getting some heavenly help over our shoulders. New beads are of finest quality Czech, German and Austrian glass and crystal and are carefully chosen to compliment the old.
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we also sell some of our beads in bags of 60 for rosary making.
 

 
STRINGING OUR ROSARIES
We string our beads ...
on a tough - but very supple - new state-of-the-arts wire composed of 49 very, very fine strands of stainless steel  called Soft Flex and Soft Touch  which is coated with nylon for softness. Our rosaries and chaplets strung on this wire are surpassingly wonderful to hold. We believe they challenge chain rosaries not only in strength, but also in design and price.
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All stringing supplies are available from us, along with pliers and crimps.

The Tilma Full of Rosaries Guild