| When the roses are in full bloom is the time for this | | | | rose petal pulp black. I then cook the pulp until it is the |
| activity. It is an ancient art and I do not know where it | | | | consistency of dough. Next I make certain I have long |
| originated. It is fun to do. Fragrant roses are the kind to | | | | hat pins and a square of cardboard or styrofoam |
| use. I remember picking American Beauty roses and | | | | ready to pin the beads on. |
| wild rose petals to make the rose beads. The more | | | | I take a small amount of the rose petal dough and roll it |
| fragrant the flower is the more fragrant the rose | | | | into a ball. I try to make the balls the size of a pea. I |
| beads will be. | | | | thrust a hat pin through the center of the bead and |
| It takes quite a few flowers to make a string of beads. | | | | stick it onto the styrofoam. I make sure the bead is in |
| I have gone to several florists to request the good | | | | the center of the hat pin and not touching the pin head |
| smelling roses that they usually discard for some | | | | or the styrofoam. I leave them there until they are hard |
| reason. I keep one old cast iron pan specifically for this | | | | and thoroughly dry. |
| project. Cast iron is required because the rose petals | | | | The beads can be strung after they are dried. To |
| must turn black to be made properly. A hand cranked | | | | make them shiny a smidgeon of vaseline may be |
| meat grinder should also be used. | | | | rubbed on them. I prefer them with a matte finish. They |
| Once I have collected a goodly amount of rose petals | | | | are beautiful when strung with alternating colored glass |
| I grind them using the fine blade of the grinder. I make | | | | beads but equally beautiful strung alone. Keep them in |
| sure that all the juices drain into my cast iron pot with | | | | a closed container when not wearing them to |
| the ground up petals. Only a cast iron pot will turn the | | | | preserve the fragrance, which will last for years. |