Friday's Worktable

If you follow my Instagram account at all, there's a really good chance you know what I've been working on this week.

If you don't follow me... Well, here's a hint:

That's right! 

I've been doing my annual turn-my-Valentine's-Day-roses-into-beads project! Woo!

I don't really make rose beads often enough to have a flawless procedure, and I know I've made some mistakes due to being sick (ugh, have I mentioned that I hate being sick?), but I've still been enjoying myself immensely.

Here's how the process has been going so far....

Step 1: Cut, or tear, rose petals into pieces.

Step 2: Soak in hot water for several hours... I started with boiling water and just put a lid on it.

Step 3: Once pieces have been soaked, drain them and put them in a food processor.

Step 4: Pulse the food processor until the pieces are as small as you can make them.
Some people can get this mush into a creamy paste... I haven't figured out how to do that yet.

Step 5: Form into beads.
Step 6: Let dry a bit, and then poke the holes. (They shrink, so I used the paintbrush handle.)

Step 7: Let dry

Step 8: Let dry some more.

Step 9: Yep, still drying.

After several days of drying, here is what the beads look like now...

That's the same paper from the beginning... You can see how much they've shrunk!

This weekend, once I'm sure they're completely dry, I'll probably coat them with some sort of glaze. They are currently strong but scratchy, so I figure that a coating will make them smoother to the skin when worn. And then I get to decide what cool jewelry to make with them! (This particular round is rather special... They mark the day that, 15 years ago, my husband asked me out. Yep, I'm a sappy romantic sometimes.)

So, there you go... That's what I've been working on this week, between rounds of antibiotics and sleeping. Thanks so much for stopping in to check in on my antics!

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!