---

Common Questions

How should I package the rosepetals? First, make sure they are dry. Once dried, please ship them in a box or padded envelope. We need no more than about one handful of petals per rosary, but can make do with only a single petal if needed. Please keep some petals back just in case there is a lost shipment or you wish to order more rosaries in the future.

How should I pack my rosary for repair? Wrap it carefully in tissue or a paper or plastic bag so that any loose parts are not lost. Ship it to us in a box or padded envelope.

What clay is used? We use polymer clay for our rosepetal rosaries. It is very durable, and survives accidental passes through the wash better than purely organic beads.

Do the beads have any scent? We do not add any perfume scent to the beads, as some people are sensitive/allergic. We can add a rose-oil if you wish. Just note the request on the order page.

How long does it take? A rosary repair usually takes a day or two to complete, depending on our backlog of orders and the parts needed for the rosary. Total turnaround time from when you ship the rosary to us is usually two-plus weeks, perhaps longer during busy times.

The custom rosepetal rosary usually also takes us a day or two to (1) handmake the beads, then (2) assemble the rosary. Total turnaround time from when you ship the petals to us is usually two-plus weeks.

During busy times such as Lent, Easter, and Christmas, we often have a backlog of orders that can cause delays.

Can I send parts to use for my order? Yes, if you have a medal, crucifix/cross, or center you would like us to use instead of our common ones, feel free to mail them with your rosepetals.

Are other colors of clay available? Yes, you can select a custom color here. Note its code on your order and we will try to match it. Keep in mind that this is a by-hand process and the match will only be approximate.

How do I preserve the flowers? It is best for us if they arrive already dried. They do not need to be on the stem. We remove the petals from the stem anyway and use only the petals in the clay. It is easy to dry petals by removing them from the stem, laying them on a cookie sheet and warming them on low heat in an oven, or by setting them in the sun for a few days.

Does the age of the flower matter? No. As long as there is some "flower" left, we can do it.

Is it okay if my flowers have been frozen? Yes. But please thaw and dry them before shipping.

Can you mix flowers from different events? Yes. For example, we have mixed flowers from two different funerals -- one for each spouse -- into a single batch of clay to make rosaries for the children, other relatives and friends. Some people have asked us to mix flowers from different special places that they visited, too.

How many flowers are needed? To assure the strength of the clay, we generally use no more than the petals from one average-size rose per complete rosary. Less is fine, even as little as one fragment of a petal, but we cannot use more without weakening the clay. Please do not send us all of your roses. It is rare, but sometimes they are lost in the mail, so save some back "just in case."

How do I know you used my flowers? (Yes, we've really been asked this). Well, you can come and watch us to make sure. But reasonably-speaking, we simply hold the order paperwork on file until the flowers arrive and individually match the roses with particular orders. We make the clay beads for only one order at a time, so there is simply no measurable chance of flowers getting mixed up between orders.

Will they last? In over a decade of making these we've never had a report of any of the beads breaking or dissolving.

Can you use other flowers and organic materials? Yes. We have made rosary beads using many different kinds of flowers, even grass from Notre Dame! If we can grind it up and mix it with clay, we can probably use it.

Can I use other beads, too? Yes. We often make rosaries with different Our Father beads. For example, someone might want pearls for the Our Father beads, but the rosepetal beads for the Hail Mary beads.

Why don't you make the beads from the roses only? Why add the clay? Long-lasting beads cannot be made from roses alone. In particular, organic-only beads will turn to mush if they get wet (and rosaries have a nasty habit of being left in pockets... in a washing machine). By using clay, we can provide a stronger bead that will last decades (or centuries), is impervious to damage from water, you can choose almost any color, and it will still contain the roses.

Can I order just a few beads, or multiple colors? Yes. But there is a $25 minimum charge per color due to the time and labor necessary to mix the clay, cleanup, etc. for each color.

How do your rosepetal rosaries differ from those made by others? Like any other skilled craft, there are many fine people who can do it well; we certainly aren't the only ones. Rosary beads have been made from roses and other organic materials for centuries. We are, to our knowledge, the first company to publicly establish a process by which the roses are mixed with ceramic or polymer clay for use on a rosary. I think we were the first ones to offer the service over the Internet, too. Like so much that we do, it all started because people were looking for a more durable remembrance rosary and so asked us to come up with a solution. However, there are now several rosary makers doing this with polymer clay; the polymer clay does not require a special kiln like the ceramic clay. We are confident in our own handiwork, and so guarantee it for life, but we are sure that most rosary makers do much the same. The single biggest difference will be the ability for you to custom design the entire rosary, choosing from hundreds of different centers and crucifixes, making it that much more unique. In addition, a brief survey of other heirloom rosary makers reveals that our lead time is usually shorter; we take about 4 weeks, where others are taking up to three months or longer.

---

Other Resources

• Download free assembly instructions for how to make cord, chain or flexwire rosaries
• Instructions on How to Make Knotted Cord Rosaries
• Instructions on How to Pray the Rosary online, or as a free download
• Rosary prayer method help
• Liturgy of the Hours tutorial as a free download. Related web site and current Liturgical calendar.

Customer Testimonial

(One of the hundreds of happy notes we receive each year)

I received the beads and finished putting together the rosary, it's quite lovely and I'm enjoying it very much.

Thank you for all your help and kindness.

Wishing you many Blessings this Holiday Season and for the New Year,
Catherine S.