Carol Anderson inherited the supplies and tradition of making rose beads by hand from her sister many years ago. She was kind enough to allow me to photograph the beginning stages of her crushing down the petals of hundreds of fragrant roses. She will continue doing this until the rose material is black from the cast-iron pan and becomes somewhat like a clay that can be molded into beads and dried for months. Once the beads are ready to be hung on a necklace, sold at Orcas Island Artworks in Olga, and worn around someone’s neck, their fragrance only comes out when the wearer’s body oils come in contact with the bead.
Carol explained that sometimes rose beads are handed down as family heirlooms from one generation to the next. I never knew until now that a rosary is named for its connection to roses, not because traditional rosaries were made of rose material but because the name comes from the Latin word rosarium, meaning “rose garden” or “garland of roses.” In Catholic tradition, prayers offered through the rosary were understood symbolically as spiritual roses being offered to Mary.
I’ll keep you in the loop with the next stages…
