Title: Rose Beads
Categories: Herb Gift Info
Yield: 1 Info

Ros

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ads: A general recipe.

Use 1 cup of fresh rose petals plucked from the rose in the midmorning so that the dew is dried off of them. This is when they are especially fragrant.

Use 2 cups of filtered or spring water. Don't use tap. The chemicals that they put in it so that it's safe to drink can really screw up the beads. And you can't get rid of these by setting water out anymore. I found this out with my fish tank. Have ready 40 or so drops of rose attar, or, for those of us who can't afford it, 40 to 60 drops of rose geranium oil.

If you have a blender or food processor then put the rose petals into this with about a cup of the water. Puree till it is very very fine. Till it is more like a paste than anything else. Transfer this to an enamel or glass cooking pot. A double boiler that is glass or enameled is fine. Never use alumanum. It changes the chemical structure of the rose oil. If using a glass pot drop about three rusty nails into the pot first. Then move the rose paste from the blender or food processor to the pot. Add the other cup of water, set at low heat, and let simmer over night or untill liquid is reduced by half. If using an iron pot, which few of us really have, then omit the nails. The iron gives the rose paste a dark finished look.

When the liquid is reduced by half smell the mass. If it smells heavily of rose then you are set. If not then simmer for about another two to four hours or untill the paste looks a little dry. Then add your oils. Stir well to incorporate the oils well through the paste. Remove from heat and allow to cool till it is comfortable to touch.

Now you need to have ready some wire. I use jewelry gauge copper wire for this. You can get this at most craft stores.

Take a pinch of the rose paste, about twice as large as you want the finished bead to be, and roll this into shape. Insert the wire through the center, and lay on paper toweling so that the bead is open to the air. I usually cut my wire in one inch or so lengths so that I can have a whole parcel of them laying free and open.

Leave them in a cool, dry, and dark place to dry. I really recommend a inside closet. I have one that dries things in about three days. Check the beads daily and twirl the wire in the center so that the center hole stayes open. Dry beads are hard enough so that when you sqeaze them they don't give. This is when you remove the wire from the center.

Have ready some very fine sandpaper. You will want to sand down any rough spots on the bead so that the beads are very smooth.

Now you have a choice to make. You can either dip the beads in jewelry acrylic, in which case you will be giving up your scent, or you can leave them uncoated and treat the beads to a rub with rose geranium oil now and again.

This gives them a high luster, and keeps the scent clean and heavy too. I've done them both ways, but I really like the later way.

Now you can do this other herbs as well. Try making a paste of powdered spices and herbs such as cinnamon, sandalwood, etc. These make wonderful beads too. I have some cedar beads that I use in my closets and drawers, and they far outweigh the commercially made things sold for this purpose. I am about to try making some using the heads of Cinnamon Basil. I'll let everyone know how these come out.

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