St. Benedict Rosary with The Devil Chasing Medal

Background of the St. Benedict Medal; also called the Devil Chasing Medal

There is no special way prescribed for carrying or wearing the Medal of St. Benedict. It can be worn on a chain around the neck, attached to one's rosary, kept in one's pocket or purse, or placed in one's car or home. The medal is often put into the foundations of houses and building, on the walls of barns and sheds, or in one's place of business.

The purpose of using the medal in any of the above ways is to call down God's blessing and protection upon us, wherever we are, and upon our homes and possessions, especially through the intercession of St. Benedict. By the conscious and devout use of the medal, it becomes, a constant silent prayer and reminder to us of our dignity as followers of Christ.

The medal is a prayer of exorcism against Satan, a prayer for strength in time of temptation, a prayer for peace among ourselves and among the nations of the world, a prayer that the Cross of Christ be our light and guide, a prayer of firm rejection of all that is evil, a prayer of petition that we may with Christian courage "walk in God's ways, with the Gospel as our guide," as St. Benedict urges us.

A profitable spiritual experience can be ours if we but take the time to study the array of inscriptions and representations found on the two sides of the medal. The lessons found there can be pondered over and over to bring true peace of mind and heart into our lives as we struggle to overcome the weaknesses of our human nature and realize that our human condition is not perfect, but that with the help of God and the intercession of the saints our condition can become better.

The Medal of St. Benedict can serve as a constant reminder of the need for us to take up our cross daily and "follow the true King, Christ our Lord," and thus learn "to share in his heavenly kingdom," as St. Benedict urges us in the Prolog of his Rule.

Source: http://www.osb.org/gen/medal.html

St. Benedict One Decade Rosary with Devil Chasing Medal

This St. Benedict Medal is on a beautiful garnet one decade rosary:

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/570835599/handmade-garnet-one-decade-rosary-with?ref=shop_home_active_1

Swarovski Vintage Beads

All of the beads that I currently use in my jewelry and rosaries are vintage.  The reason that I know this, for a fact, is because they have been in my possession for over 20 years; some longer.  When they were purchased, they were purchased from those selling beads from years past.  At some point, way into the future, I will have to purchase beads because I will eventually run out of my collection.  Already, there are colors that have been popular and those beads are limited in my supply or completely gone.  For that reason, I have been researching how to identify Swarovski beads and make sure that I am not purchasing copies, many made in China. Here are several things that I've learned along the way in my research of vintage beads, particularly Swarovski crystal beads.  

There are three different cuts of vintage Swarovki beads in one of my bracelet designs.

Daniel Swarovski was born in 1862 in Northern Bohemia. He moved his business to Austria to use the beautiful streams as a resource for powering their company and to be in a remote area where their designs are kept secret. This is also where they continue their successful business with Swarovski's fourth and fifth generations in charge of their designs. Making beads and crystals is only a part of their business.  They also design the tools that their creations are made upon, as well as, other tools. 

The Aurora Borealis crystal effect was invented in 1956 in cooperation with Christian Dior. A special finish was given the name AB, taken from the phenomena in the northern skies known as the Northern Lights. AB, short for Aurora Borealis, is the abbreviation for a special finish which was applied to beads in the early 1950's to make them more radiant. Many of us, who were living at that time, remember our mom's wearing these beautiful beads. 

Over thirty five years ago Swarovski switched their numbering process from 2 or 3 digits to 4 digits. Therefore; the article numbers with 2 or 3 digits are the oldest and are a little more expensive if you are purchasing them in the original boxes. Daniel Swarovski used numbers, rather than color names, to protect his products from being copied. He rarely sold his beads in strings unless it was for a particular designer.  So, those beads, never used, would be packaged in boxes with product numbers.

If you compare a Swarovski bead with a copy, you should be able to pick it out for several reasons.  The first reason is that the cut is perfect and uniform.  Each bead in the number series have the exact match in color and cut.  The points are exact.  The second reason is that they are no bubbles or marks within the beads.  Daniel Swarovski and his family make all beads within a color group to match and are without blemish.  Keep in mind, that when these beads are recycled, they may have scratches on the surface, but never inside.  

In my current jewelry, all of the beads have been taken from original designs from the 50s and 60s so these beads have been recycled.  Eventually, I will be looking for vintage beads in the original boxes to make sure I am purchasing original Swarovski beads.  

(All of these bracelets but one have been sold.)  Can you pick out the Swarovski beads? 

The beads, from left to right, are blue Swarovski bicone 6mm, Purple Fire Polished Czech beads 8mm, Swarovski bicone 6mm lilac beads, Swarovski bicone Pink 10mm, and Swarovski turquoise round 8mm. All beautiful! All vintage! 

Five Decade Rosary - Light Blue

Happy Palm Sunday, everyone!

I'm photographing my Etsy store items in natural light.  It is a long labor of love.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/455287730/rosary-handmade-catholic-gifts?ref=shop_home_active_5

#102

Rosary, Necklace, and Ready to Ship

Today, I continued to photograph more of my Etsy store items in natural light.  Even though I love my photographs previously posted on a beautiful satin cloth, I decided to change my theme to natural wood, tile, and natural lighting.

This first image is a beautiful five decade rosary which is wire wrapped and handmade using vintage beads.

#101

The second image is a new necklace which I've just added to the Etsy store today.  It is wire wrapped using brass wire and vintage beads 6mm clear Swarovski crystals . 

#162

When someone purchases an item from my Etsy store, I place the item in a draw string pouch, and place it in a gift box with a cross on the cover. The above necklace is used in the image below as an example.

Pastel Crystal Colors - Silver Plated Wire - Wire Wrapped Bracelets

Just a short post to share four new bracelets added this week.  These are silver plated over copper wire and all are in pastel colors. Each are made with vintage beads and many are rare and difficult to find.

 The purple bracelet is two stands of beads and can be worn twisted or side by side.  Take a look to see this new style.  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/476821846/womens-bracelet-handmade-wire-wrapped?ref=shop_home_active_5

The pink bracelet was sold minutes after posting, however, I have added a new pink bracelet so take a look.

Have a super day!

God Bless!

Jen :-)

New Bracelets Added Today

Today, I added four new Charm Bracelets to my Etsy store.  The first is made with light blue Swarovski vintage beads. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/489681101/womens-bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads?ref=shop_home_feat_4

The next bracelet is a beautiful green vintage Swarovski bracelet and they are all made with Golden Brass wire, using the "unbreakable" wire wrapping technique. They look beautiful as a single bracelet or worn all together.  :-)

***** SOLD*****

https://www.etsy.com/listing/476185522/womens-bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads?ref=listing-shop-header-2

The vintage fire polished Czech beads make a beautiful red bracelet with hints of blue and silver.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/476223386/womens-bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads?ref=listing-shop-header-1

The fourth bracelet is made with elegant vintage Swarovski black beads.  All of my bracelets in this group have a silver colored cross charm and a handmade charm with vintage crystals. 

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/489728597/womens-bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads?ref=listing-shop-header-0

These are the four new bracelets side by side. 

I am working hard to get read for the Christmas gift season.  Adding more items to my store every few days.  I take my time and enjoy making each one and since they are handmade, each one is an individual and made with love. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Saint Francis of Assisi - Animal Lover's Saint

St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment. St. Francis' devotion to God was expressed through his love for all of God's creation. St. Francis cared for the poor and sick, he preached sermons to animals, and praised all creatures as brothers and sisters under God. 

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." Francis of Assisi

"In 1979, Pope John Paul II paid tribute to Francis' love for creation by declaring him the patron saint of ecologists. In a subsequent speech, the Pope encouraged Catholics to follow the example of Saint Francis by embracing all creatures as members of a single family and by offering respect, dignity, and care to each family member." The Humane Society of the United States

"Lord, grant that I might not so much seek to be loved as to love." Saint Francis of Assisi

"God requires that we assist the animals, when they need our help. Each being (human or creature) has the same right of protection." St. Francis

https://www.etsy.com/listing/572384471/saint-francis-of-assisi-chaplet-with?ref=shop_home_active_1

New Coral & Brass Five Decade Rosary and Two New Bracelets

Tonight, I have added two new bracelets and a unique, lightweight 5 Decade Rosary.  

The bracelets are made using the "unbreakable" wire wrapping technique and is my favorite design. I believe the bracelets are very feminine and beautiful with the Swarovski vintage beads wrapped with golden brass wire.  

I hope you like the newest rosary that I added this evening.  I wanted to make a rosary that was light in weight and used a light vintage bead for those who want to carry a rosary with little weight so that the rosary was very light in your hand.  

I hope you take a look at these new items in Let Our Light Shine.

NEW ITEMS

https://www.etsy.com/listing/475337070/bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads?ref=shop_home_active_1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/475294946/handmade-rosary-five-decade-rosary-coral?ref=listing-shop-header-2

https://www.etsy.com/listing/488812449/bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads?ref=listing-shop-header-1

New items added often.
God Bless,
Jen

Five Decade Rosaries - Vintage Beads

https://www.etsy.com/listing/456361936/rosary-handmade-catholic-gifts-amber?ref=shop_home_feat_1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/456005170/rosary-handmade-catholic-gifts-swarovski?ref=shop_home_feat_2

https://www.etsy.com/listing/455774736/rosary-handmade-catholic-gifts-pink?ref=related-1

https://www.etsy.com/listing/472021775/rosary-handmade-catholic-gifts-chaplet?ref=shop_home_feat_4

https://www.etsy.com/listing/463164448/rosary-handmade-catholic-gifts-red?ref=shop_home_active_18

I am very proud of my Five Decade Rosaries. I have included five, of my Five Decade Rosaries on Etsy, above.  Each one was designed using vintage beads and is so beautiful.  I have a hard time deciding which is my favorite.  Each rosary requires 59 beads.  When using vintage beads, it is sometimes difficult to find 53 beads which are the exact design shape and size.  So, for instance on the green rosaries pictured, each of the ten decade beads are unique in that section, but all have a matching color and size. Some rosaries would be next to impossible to duplicate because the vintage beads are no longer available.  

If you have any suggestions about what you would like to see on my LetOurLightShine.us site in the way of rosaries, Christian jewelry, etc., please send me a note or leave me a comment.  I would love to hear from you.

If you do not know how to say the rosary, here is a link from EWTN with a tutorial: 
https://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/maryd5.htm

On a personal note, things are beginning to get back to normal for me after the hurricane. I still have my privacy fence lying on the ground in the backyard but all of my dogs are safe inside a smaller fence close to the back of my house.  I'm thankful that I put up the small fence for my small dogs since I used to worry about them sliding under the larger fence through a hole created by a opossum or raccoon.  All of the dogs, big or small, stay within the smaller fence.  

As a Christian vegan, there are no animal products used in any of the items sold on my site.  
God Bless,
Jen  :-)

“And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” —Genesis 1:30

One Decade Rosary Bracelet - FREE SHIPPING! & Orphan Squirrel Rescue

After a family weekend, I returned to work today to finish a One Decade Rosary Bracelet.  I've wanted to add one to my shop for a while and also wanted to add the feature of two areas to connect the clasp, so it would make the bracelet two sizes, depending on where you attach the handmade clasp.  If you like it, please take a look at this one decade rosary bracelet with additional photos: 

http://www.letourlightshine.us/listing/480660605/bracelet-handmade-light-blue-beads

My other announcement today is that everything in my shop has free shipping!  Today is the first day of fall so to celebrate that new beginning of cooler weather, I have added Free Shipping to all of the items in my store.  

***If you would like to know about new items in my store and special event sales, please sign up with your email address. ***

On a personal note, as I mentioned in recent posts, I am a major animal lover!  I love my pets and also wildlife.  I recently found a squirrel's nest in my mother's yard that was blown down by major winds we were having during a tropical system.  It was the largest squirrel that I've ever seen in a nest and it was alone. I would have left it for its mother to find, but there were several cats waiting for me to walk away so I had no choice but to take it with me.  Plus, the storm was actively in progress. Fortunately, I found a local woman who ran a certified rescue facility and we dropped the little one off with her, along with a new cage and a donation.  Due to the week of stormy weather, she was taking care of over 70 baby squirrels! Amazing!

Bye for now... God Bless! Jen 

In God’s future kingdom, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the goat … the cow and the bear shall feed, their young ones shall lie down together … and a little child shall lead them … They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:6-9.

NEW - Bracelets - Christian Gifts - Handmade - Vintage Crystals - Swarovski

Today, as promised, I added two new items into my Etsy shop.  Two beautiful bracelets which are made with the "unbreakable" rosary chain design; wire wrapped by me using Swarovski vintage crystal beads. I am super proud of both of these bracelets.  The clasps are also handmade and easy to use. 

Using a keychain style jumpring, I added a cross charm to each.  Any other charm could be added to this jumpring or others could be added. The blue bracelet also has a handmade charm with a Swarovski bead which is a permanent charm and woven into the design.  I am excited about my new additions to my Etsy store.

***SOLD***

https://www.etsy.com/listing/478134863/bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads

***SOLD***

https://www.etsy.com/listing/478132935/bracelet-handmade-vintage-beads

Originally, I only had rosaries and chaplets in my store but I know that sometimes people are looking for additional Christian gifts and so I designed the bracelets.  I love the rosaries with this "unbreakable" wire pattern and thought how beautiful they would be in a bracelet.  I hope you agree.  God Bless!  Jen

Pslam 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Fifty's Jewelry, Now an Heirloom Rosary

When I began collecting jewelry in the 80s and 90s, it was because I loved beads.  Beads of every color, but particularly crystal beads.  My mom always loved jewelry and had boxes of bead necklaces given to her by my dad in the 50s and 60s and earlier.  We would look through these boxes together and talk about one, then another.  I know it was her love of jewelry that encouraged my love of beads. 

 

Rosary - Handmade - Catholic Gifts - Pink - One Decade Rosary - Vintage Pink Glass Beads - Pink Austrian Crystal Beads

The one decade rosary (above) that I finished last night and posted in my online storefront today at Etsy (LetOurLightShine) was one of those beautiful beads, transformed from a 50s necklace into this beautiful rosary.  Most of the glass and crystal beads during that period was Swarovski, Czech or Bohemian, Murano or Venetian, and West German.  This rosary combines the beautiful pink glass beads and Swarovski pink bicone and round beads.  Unfortunately, once these glass beads are gone, they are difficult to find.  

I am thankful that I collected beads because I love making rosaries and the design combinations are endless.  

The thing that stands out in my mind the most is that jewelry styles come and go but rosary beads are a link between you and your prayers and many are passed down through generations. I hope that the rosary and chaplets I design become a meaningful part of someone's prayer life and are heirlooms that they or a loved one will treasure forever.  

The Perfect Gift

If you are like me, you are always on the lookout for a special gift ...the perfect gift. 

Years ago, when I was looking for a rosary for a special occasion, I would look at the Christian or Catholic Gift Store.  Even though they would have several to choose from, my eyes would always be drawn to the crystal bead rosaries. They were not the Swarovski crystals but were usually Czech glass. I always found something beautiful but in the back of my mind, I was always looking for something more striking and full of color. 

I begin collecting beads from the 50s and 60s with my mom.  She had several necklaces made with beautiful crystal beads that my father had given her for a special occasion. These were made of Swarovski crystals.  Admiring her beads, we began looking for Austrian crystal beads in second hand shops.  When we would find a set of crystal beads, we would add it to our collection. The collection of beads grew but with having young children, teaching full time, and other responsibilities, the collection of beads remained stored away with other art and craft items. 

This year, when looking through my beads, I began thinking about using the crystals and other vintage beads to make rosaries.  Having had previous jewelry making experience, I knew the technique in making wire rosaries. Something just kept nudging me to get started.

One morning, I woke up and the first thought through my mind was to make the rosaries and name my store Let Your Light Shine. When I investigated this name, I found it was taken in online terms.  Having felt led to name my store along the lines of the verse Matthew 5:16 and many other verses in the Bible that encourage us to let our light's shine, I decided to change the YOUR to OUR and that is why I named my rosary store and purchase the domain name (website) LetOurLightShine.us.  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/456361936/rosary-handmade-catholic-gift-amber?ref=shop_home_active_3

Once I felt this strong direction to create this online store, I knew why I had collected and saved these beads from so many years ago.  

As I design each rosary, I look through all of the boxes of beads and match the beads that I feel are made for the next design.  To me, each design is a work of art.  Each rosary is unique in that I don't order matching sets of beads, which is great for someone else,  but I only use the wide assortment of vintage beads of my own, to mix and match until I find the perfect design.  Even if I ran out of my own collection of beads, which won't be for a long time, I would continue to purchase vintage beads because I feel like this is what I'm suppose to be doing to Let Our (My) Light Shine.  Its my gift.

Every person looking for a rosary has an eye for something special.  My goal is not to get rich or mass produce a design.  My goal is to create a unique rosary that will be an heirloom in your family or a loved one's family.  The money I make will be used to buy more supplies to make more rosaries. It is my prayer that my rosaries will be an inspiration to you or someone special to pray more and focus more on the power of prayer in your life. 

Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Prayer for Animals - St. Francis of Assisi

Prayer that may be said on the medal of St. Francis:

God Our Heavenly Father, You created the world to serve humanity's needs and to lead them to You. By our own fault we have lost the beautiful relationship which we once had with all your creation. Help us to see that by restoring our relationship with You we will also restore it with all Your creation. Give us the grace to see all animals as gifts from You and to treat them with respect for they are Your creation. We pray for all animals who are suffering as a result of our neglect. May the order You originally established be once again restored to the whole world through the intercession of the Glorious Virgin Mary, the prayers of St. Francis and the merits of Your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You now and forever. Amen. 

Saint Francis of Assisi

St. Francis - Chaplet handmade with vintage amber glass beads

Rosaries - Love the Crucifix, Centerpiece, and Medals

One of my favorite things about making rosaries, in addition to mix and matching vintage beads, is choosing the crucifix and centerpiece and/or medal.  I try my best to make a variety of each so that my customers have a choice, and not everything is the same.  My focus, as I make items for my store, is for customers to find an heirloom or gift that will last many, many years and a unique rosary.  

When you open a shop, you have to decide if you want pre-made items that are available and can be mailed immediately or items that are made to order. I use vintage beads and a traditional rosary has 59 beads.  It would be unusual to have more than one set of beads that are identical and even if I did have more, I would not want to make two rosaries that are exactly alike.  The creativity of having each one unique and beautiful is my goal.  So, all of my rosaries are pre-made and there is only one item available exactly like the item for sale.  One of the joys for me in design, is to put together a rosary that I feel is special, just for you.  And when you look at it, you will know it is the perfect gift and the colors and design are perfect for you or your loved one. 

One of the most difficult things for me to do is not to order hundreds of crucifixes, centerpieces, and medals.  I have hundreds now, but I love to look and collect more.  I also love the wire available and want additional tools, that I really don't need, but would be a luxury item in my toolbox.   The artist in me wants more supplies and the business person in me says... wait, sell more first, then buy more supplies.  It is a balancing act for sure. 

Tonight I finished another one decade rosary. I have not posted it as yet and will post it tomorrow.  It is referred to as an unbreakable rosary. Look for it tomorrow.  I love the one decade rosary because you can pray the same as your traditional beads but with your rosary sitting completely on one hand.  

Earlier today, I posted a baby blue one decade rosary which looks like this:  

https://www.etsy.com/listing/459245156/rosary-handmade-catholic-gifts-one

The pearl glass beads were taken from a necklace from the 60s and the beautifully cut crystal, Our Father Bead, was also from the 60s.  They are simply beautiful and of course the crucifix and center match the blue theme.  They would make a wonderful gift or a special item to keep.

I hope you enjoy my daily story about my Etsy store: Let Our Light Shine.  I hope that through my rosaries many more prayers will be lifted up.  God Bless!  

Jen  

 http://letourlightshine.us

Catholic Gifts

Catholic Gifts at Let Our Light Shine

As I continue to build my Etsy storefront, I am continuing to learn how to get my items seen by those customers who will be looking for my items.  You can make the most beautiful products and be super proud of your work and excited to share, but without an audience, your work is virtually in a room all by itself... waiting to be found.  

I have a growing number of beautiful rosaries that I have handmade.  I have made these rosaries and chaplets from a collection of beads that I collected in the 80s and 90s.  Most of my beads were from jewelry that was purchased twenty to thirty years earlier and so, using these beads, my rosaries are unique and usually one of a kind. 

The most important thing that I learned today concerning my work was that I have to identify my audience.   Even though this may seem like obvious information; putting a name to your customers, you now have words that they can search in a search engine, so they can find you.  I guess you could say you are creating a trail for them to follow... to find your artwork.. in my case, my rosaries.

I consider myself an artist.  My focus is on the piece of artwork that I am making.  The rosary is my artwork.  In the past, I have sold my work at art shows and through friends.  Now, I want to share my rosaries with a group of customers all over the world.  I have to make my store in a way that customers will find me... using Etsy search but also through other search engines, such as Google.

Today, I made sure that I added key search words in the title of each item.  Hopefully, it will bring those of you who are looking for Catholic Gifts to my store.

Thanks for stopping by.  God Bless!

Jen

Rosary Tools

Rosary Tools

One of the things that I've learned about tools is that when you work at any craft, the tools you use will make or break you.  In other words, it is worth your time and effort to purchase the correct tools to complete projects and properly fit your hand.  

Over twenty years ago, I made all types of jewelry from polymer clay to fiber art.  I had a set of jewelry tools that worked for me at that time.  However, when I decided to begin making rosaries and chaplets, I realized that I would be working with wire in various gauges and would need a much improved set of jewelry tools.  

At first I ordered rosary pliers and these may work perfectly for you, but for me, I found that my tools of choice were round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, wire snips, and flat nose pliers.  The idea of the rosary pliers is that you have multiple tools in one but my experience is that it is far better to have the individual tools to complete my rosaries.  When people look at your work, the quality of the tools you use shine through.  

Interestingly, the high price of the tool is not ALWAYS the best tool.  I love Xuron pliers.  They are not the most expensive, nor the cheapest, but work great for me.  I have one pair of round nose pliers that were made by Beadsmith.  They only cost $7 but I love them and use them everyday. You must try out different tools, holding them in your hand, for comfort and reliability. 

Again, this is MY experience and not necessarily what works best for you.  If you have time, please check out my rosary store on Etsy:  Let Our Light Shine  

Here is an example of my work. God Bless.  

Jen

Handmade Turquoise and Iridescent Crystal Rosary with Vintage Beads

St. Francis of Assisi Chaplet

St. Francis of Assisi Chaplet with Vintage Crystals

The Chaplet of St. Francis of Assisi:

Prayers: On each set of three beads, pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.  

Concluding prayer is optional:

Most high, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me Lord, a correct faith, a certain hope, a perfect charity, sense and knowledge, so that I may carry out Your holy and tree command.  Amen. 

or

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

*******************************************************************

Chaplet of St. Francis of Assisi pg. 61 taken from How to Make and Pray Rosaries & Chaplets by Tyra and Seth Murray;  The Rosary Shop Copyright 2006  

Let Our Light Shine - Rosary Etsy Store - Blog Overview

Let Our Light Shine - Rosary Etsy Store - Blog Overview

In each new post, I'd like to share my experiences setting up an Etsy store where I am selling my rosaries. I also want to highlight one of my favorite rosaries or chaplets often. 

This particular rosary is one of my very favorites....

My rosary and chaplet store is now open on Etsy.com, Let Our Light Shine, and I wanted to take this opportunity to share a set of beautiful green and iridescent crystal rosary beads that I have in my shop. This rosary is handmade by me.  

****************Let Our Light Shine *******************

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

****************************************************

Please read more about this rosary on the link below.  The two photos below are additional photos of the rosary that are not on the store site. Please take a look.  :-)

Handmade Iridescent Green and Clear Crystal Vintage Bead Rosary

The six Our Father beads are very unique.  Four are green and two are clear iridescent crystals.  They pick up color beautifully. Each is from my collection which I have had for over twenty years.  Most of the beads in my collection where already twenty plus years old when I purchased them in the 80s and 90s.  I love the fact that vintage beads are unique and have their own personality. Plus, they make an extra special gift. The photos don't really show all of the color in the beads, but gives you a good view.  Each rosary holds many future prayers and would be a wonderful heirloom piece.  

God Bless!
Jen  

Let Our Light Shine

Welcome to Let Our Light Shine Blog!

I'm very excited to share with you my new store Let Our Light Shine! It is a store that I just opened a couple of weeks ago on Etsy.com with my handmade rosaries and chaplets using vintage crystal and glass beads.  My idea of naming my shop Let Our Light Shine is that I wanted my rosaries and chaplets to be a way that we can let our light shine and share our faith in God. Each rosary and chaplet is a prayer waiting to be said by you or a loved one.  

Over twenty years ago, I stopped collecting beads but saved everything that I had previously collected.  At that time, I was making jewelry designs and incorporated these beautiful beads into my work. I saved these boxes of vintage beads and stopped making jewelry. 

My youngest grandson was being baptized and I decided to make him a pair of rosaries for his baptism. I loved every minute of making this rosary and work up one morning with the name Let Your Light Shine.  However, that name was taken as it is a popular scripture verse and so I decided to make the title so that it incorporated ALL of us! 

I plan to share each of the rosaries and chaplets I have for sale in my Etsy store and tell you a little about the beads and thought behind the design.

I hope you enjoy each design as much as I enjoy making it.

God Bless!

Jen  :-)

Let Our Light Shine - Rosary and Chaplet Store using Vintage Beads