Clay Questions:
Question: How many beads can I get from one clay cane?
Answer: It depends on how big the cane is. Anywhere from a few hundred to one thousand beads.
Question: How long does it take you to make one cane- from start to finish?
Answer: I've never calculated- but for a larger, more complicated bead, like the Lamb of God Bead, I estimate about 10 days from making the bead to slicing and baking every last bead- which yields at least a thousand beads.
Question: How does the polymer clay stay soft in the process? How does the clay harden once each bead is ready?
Answer: Polymer clay is very different from ceramic clay in that is stays soft forever, until you bake. You never have to cover it or keep it moist. It's one of the things that makes polymer clay so popular and easy to use. When you want to harden the clay, you bake it in the oven.
Question: Did you invent this process of making beads?
Answer: No, I did not invent this technique- it's actually developed after the ancient art of millefiori which started in the 7th century with glass beads. Here is a link to a wikipedia article (sorry for using that notorious site-it's the first one that popped up) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millefiori You gave me a good idea to do a blog on the history of Millefiori- sometime in the future :)
Clay Rosary Questions
Question: How did you get started making rosaries?
Answer: I started making rosaries when I was 15. I had always been interested in crafts, and I purchased a craft book about polymer clay. After I saw how easy and fun making beads was, I was hooked! In the book was a picture of a rosary made with polymer beads. I'm sure it was a one-time thing made by some clay artist. The beads didn't have any spiritual basis, but I was mesmerized by the uniqueness of it and the way the rosary as a whole was like one big art piece made up of many little ones.
I then made a rosary for my mom because I knew if anyone would like it, she would! She adored it, and wanted one for her friend, her friend wanted one, then more and more people wanted them, and the rest is history! I love that I made my first rosary for my mother, because now I make all my rosaries for my Mother, Mary.
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Question: MUJERLATINA said... - Hello Sarah: I would like to know about how you and your brother chose Franciscan University at Steubenville. I have friends whose children are in Catholic school. They are beginning the discernement process of Catholic colleges. None of the guidance counselors around here ever speak of this University as an option. I have seen the website and it looks like a wonderful place. Please describe what you liked about this school, its areas of strengths and weaknesses, and about the faith life of the students there. Thank you. PS: one friend's daughters plays volleyball and wants to know more about the team at your alma mater
- Allison Salerno said...
- My understanding is Stubenville is very orthodox in terms of doctrine. So too, I understand, is the University of Dallas. As an east coast gal, I never had heard of it until a couple of years ago when some recent grads joined our parish. Boy was I impressed with their formation and faith!
Answer (it's long one :))My brother didn't attend F.U.S.- only I. I chose the school because of it's orthodoxy, like Allison mentioned. I also chose the school because I heard and saw that most everyone there is a practicing Catholic. What I wanted most at age 16 when I made up my mind about what college to attend, was a place where I would find friendship and support in my faith. I believe at an age when life is changing, friends are changing, and bigger decisions must be made, the most important thing you can do for yourself is surround yourself with people who will help you make the right decisions and support your faith with their own faith. Positive Peer Pressure- is what we called it at Franciscan! I have too many peers who have lost their faith when going off to college because of negative peer pressure. It's nice to know there are places where you can send your kids and know that is one less thing you have to worry about.I can't say F.U.S has any weaknesses that would even compare to the weaknesses of more secular campuses (boy, I am bias or what?!). I have never been to the other good Catholic Colleges (U of Dallas, Christostedom, Ave Maria, St. Thomas Aquanas, Belmont Abbey etc) so I cannot say how they compare with those except that they don't have Franciscan Friars. I love those Friars! Fr. Micheal Scalan, Fr. Dave Pavonka, Fr. Dan- those holy men make that campus the lively Catholic culture it is today. Imagine being on a retreat- all year round- with them. That's what going to daily mass and classes with them is like. Not to mention Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. Marivalli...to mention a few. That place is like small Catholic metropolis!Seriously though, as far as weaknesses, it is a small university, comparatively and so if your daughter knows what her major will be, she may want to make sure F.U.S. has it. I know they don't have certain majors and classes available.About Volleyball....Volleyball and most every sport except maybe basketball (don't quote me on this!) are intramural. Fr. Mike did away the focus on sports as a competition when he revamped the campus. Now all the teams pray together and focus on serving God through their bodies.Question: Where do you find the time to make rosaries and raise your kids? Answer: I usually do it during nap times and bed times. If I'm really busy, I do it while my husband watches the kids, or in the rare occasion, I have gotten a babysitter. Once in a while, the kids even let me work while I watch them :)
