Can you believe that these beads were salvaged nearly ten years ago from the straps of a pair of extremely uncomfortable flip-flops? But what I find even more absurd is that beads from flip flops would turn out to be, as my Taiwanese friend informed me, mala beads or Buddhist prayer beads for a Buddhist rosary!
And can you believe what an awful mess I made of this t-shirt necklace last year? I was attempting to make this summer scarf that's all over Pinterest in one form or another, wasn't happy with it so tried to tweak it, and made it even worse. Mega fail.
But putting these two bizarre offcasts together, I finally found success in creating this funky necklace! I admit, I do feel a little blasphemous using prayer beads like this, but in the end it's always better than on flip-flops or, even worse, in the trash! Full tutorial can be found on my blog, cucicucicoo!
If I recall my comparative religion classes from Catholic high school (a reasonably big if) prayer beads are used when reciting mantras, which are used for a number of purposes including helping to overcome obstacles in your life.
ReplyDeleteI think you are honoring the spirit of those beads -- it isn’t like you stripped them down and painted them another color or dipped ‘em in glitter, which is what I have done to unwanted wood beads in the past.
It is perhaps the maker of the sandals who could be considered dodgy in this instance -- especially since (as you say) the shoes were so uncomfortable! It strikes me as a difficult task, achieving enlightenment with sore feet.
Thanks so much, IWOM! When you put it like that, I really do feel like I'm honoring them! :) Lisa
ReplyDeleteI love the outcome - I'm so glad that you managed to salvage these two items into something so neat :-)
ReplyDeletexx Eddie, EOD