Le Rule Originals is no longer trading

I would like to thank everyone who supported me when I was running my Rosary business - Le Rule Originals.

I have now retired, and no longer trading, so there will be no more blogs - thank you to those who took the time to read them.

Best Wishes
Louise E. Rule
Le Rule Originals

ENJOYING THE RESTORATION PROCESS

THE RESTORATION OF A 100 YEAR OLD ROSARY

About a year ago I did a blog about restoring a 100 year old Catholic Rosary. I thought I would revisit this subject, as it is close to my heart.

It all started with an email from a fellow artisan in the North of England. She had been contacted by someone in France regarding an heirloom which was in a devastating condition. As my fellow artisan did not do the same work as I, she forwarded all the information to me, and I got in contact with the client in France. After some discussion, it was decided that the restoration would go ahead. It arrived in due course, and as I opened it I saw before me the task which lay ahead. It was in a very poor state. It looked even worse than the picture which I had received by email.



This is the picture that accompanied the original email from France

It had belonged to my Client's Mother-in-Law. As you can see it is in a very sorry state. It had been found waterlogged, which had made the links weld together through oxidisation. The Crucifix was also in a bad way, and it was not until it had been carefully cleaned, that I found a vial on the reverse, which would have held Holy Water. It was, alas, broken, but still held securely inside the Crucifix. The Centre was also water damaged, showing signs of oxidisation. The beads had the corrosive material inside the beading holes, where the wire had once been. Everything needed very careful, and sympathetic cleaning, which took quite some time. Also, some of the original beads were missing, so this created yet another problem, that of not enough beads to complete the Rosary. The client then forwarded yet another Rosary to me, also having belonged to her Mother-in-Law, of equal age, but also incomplete. It was with some of these beads that the Rosary could now be completed.

 

After meticulous cleaning of the Centre

The cleaning of the Rosary parts was a painstaking process. Each bead had to be cleaned individually inside and out to make sure all the oxidisation had been removed. The chain was discarded as unusable. The Centre, however, was quite a revelation. As I started to clean it, the image revealed itself to me, and it was astounding! There was a relief of The Madonna on one side, and though indistinct, on the other side I think it was St. Joseph. Until it had been cleaned, neither image was truly visible.

The Crucifix revealed itself very slowly through the cleaning process. I had no idea that the Corpus Christi was brass, I thought it had all been made from the same brown stone. It was only when I eventually got to the delicate process of using my Q-Tips with the cleaning solution, did it finally come to light. The oxidisation had been quite severe on the surface, but the cleaning process was successful, likewise with the reverse, revealing the glass vial for the Holy Water.





After cleaning and remaking (front)

After cleaning and remaking (reverse)

So this is the Rosary on its completion. The old chain was replaced, after discussions with the Client, with antiqued copper. The brown beads, and the Cross are made from a brown agate, but the white translucent beads are made from glass. The copper links going through each bead were made by myself, and had to be done really carefully so as not to shatter the already aged agate and glass. Finally finished, and reassembled, it looked beautiful, but still showed genuine signs of age and use as befits a restoration.

My Client was very pleased with the results and sent me this email with permission to use it in the promotion of my work. Personal details have been omitted.

"Good morning Louise,

The rosary has arrived, [...] I am delighted with the rosary, I think the copper wire really enhances it, and the beads look much better with a hundred years of hard use cleaned off. I am very pleased with the white translucent beads as well. They are not too obtrusive, but enhance the colour and delicacy of the brown beads. The essence of my mother-in-law's rosary has been retained, [...] It has been rendered fit for another 100 years' use.

All the best, and many thanks for taking on the rosary restoration, [...]"

Although I have repaired Rosaries before, this is the oldest Rosary that I have not only repaired, but restored. It was a pleasure and a privilege for me to be entrusted with such a task, and the results were more than gratifying. Moreover, my Client was also very satisfied.

Well, that is all for now,

Best Wishes,
Louise
Le Rule Originals
www.leruleoriginals.co.uk



 







THE LE RULE ORIGINALS NEW WEBSITE IS NOW LIVE

Well, after many weeks of trial and error, and a mammoth learning curve, I have finally managed to build my new website, which I feel is a great improvement on the old one; and the bonus is that I now have a new skill!

 

The New Website Home Page

If you haven't yet dropped by for a browse, this is what you will see on the Home Page. Here you will also find, from time to time, Special Offers, and News. At the bottom of each Product Page you will find a link to follow me on Facebook, and Twitter. There is also a link at the bottom of the Home Page to my Blog, which will all be updated at regular intervals. The site also has a Reviews section now, so that you will be able to let me know how I'm doing. I feel that the site is much more welcoming than the old site, and also has a few more options for the customer to choose from. For example, the currency can now be changed, which is always useful. On the old site, if an item was out of stock, it could no longer be viewed, however, now the item can still be viewed, and the customer can opt for an email to inform them of its return to stock. I feel that it adds a higher degree of Customer Service, and in a silent way lets the customer know that they are important. I always opt for this on websites that have this option. There is also a new Magnifying Glass for each product. All you need to do now is hover the cursor over the item picture, and to the right you will see an enlarged image, in great detail, of the product that you are viewing. If you would like to see the whole image enlarged, then click onto the image for that, and it will appear on the left. I love this option, and I feel that it enhances the shopping experience.

 

There will be new categories coming in the near future, so look out for a new style of bookmark and speciality cards for all occasions, as I am no longer limiting my cards and bookmarks to religious occasions.

 

I hope that you enjoy your visits to my new website at www.leruleoriginals.co.uk  and I truly look forward to serving you and yours.

 

Best Wishes

Louise

 

 

BACK IN THE GROOVE

It has been quite some months since I did my last blog. So many unforeseeable things getting in the way, but now I'm back, and well and truly in the groove!

 

I am in the final stages of building my new website for www.leruleoriginals.co.uk which will be going live within the next 7 days. I will announce it on Facebook and Twitter when the new website goes live.

 

I have had to do this because I have had a parting of the ways with my previous hosting provider and web-designer, and actually this has given me the opportunity to build a site that I alone control. So if it goes wrong, it's down to me, and if it goes well, then I remain a happy person. The process has been both an anxious and enjoyable one, and has given me such a steep learning curve, that I can now notch this up as another skill that I own, and that's always a good thing.

 

So, down to business...Le Rule Originals still offers my hand-crafted items, the Anglican and Catholic Rosaries, the Prayer Ropes, Chotki, and the cards for religious occasions; Baptism, Christening, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Sympathy. I have now decided, however, that I will also be offering cards for occasions other than religious. I have had beautiful comments regarding my cards. I have also had customers asking if I would also consider making birthday cards for them, which I have done.

 



On Your Confirmation Card in Parchment

After receiving requests for birthday cards with Braille, I have decided to go ahead with my speciality cards for all occasions, which will, of course, encompass the BRAILLE. I normally only do Braille to order, however, I feel that as there are so few sites out there that offer a Braille service that I will have a selection of ready-made cards which already have a generic Braille message incorporated.

This is my Braille Writer

 

I started doing Braille cards after I learned how to do Braille for my own needs. I will explain...I am gradually losing the sight in my left eye due to glaucoma and a retinal haemorrhage. I will eventually lose sight completely in that eye, however, the sight in my right eye is fine, and the preventative treatment for the right eye is, so far, a success. Learning Braille was my way of coming to terms with the possibility of complete blindness. On the positive side, it has given me...please excuse the pun...an insight into a genuine problem, that of cards for the blind, or the partially sighted. My cards for the blind always have texture, together with the message(s) in print as well as Braille. I do this so that the sighted person can enjoy the card also. I feel that it is so important to have texture on the cards for the blind as their sense of touch is so much more heightened than that of the sighted person, and it is another way that they 'see' the world around them.

 

I can personalise any card that I make, whether it be in a printed format, hand written ornate calligraphy, or in Braille.

 

 

Baby's Christening

 

I really enjoy doing parchment work, as with the first card (On Your Confirmation). Although it is time-consuming, it is very rewarding. Some parchment cards are colour printed, then worked in the parching style, while others are hand painted, sometimes in water colour, pastels, Dorso chalks, or Indian ink. All styles give totally different effects, and it really does depend on the style of card as to which method I use.

 

 

Christening Card for Twins with hand-painted parchment

This card, for example, has been hand painted in water-colour pencils on the reverse, and gives a more delicate appearance. The sentiment down the left-hand side is printed, and then painted on the reverse with the water-colour pencils.

 

I would appreciate it if you would log onto my new website www.leruleoriginals.co.uk and leave a comment, to let me know what you think of it; likewise, please feel free to leave a comment about my blogs.

 

Well, I think I will finish there, and I wish all who read this Blog, a very Happy and Peaceful Easter.

 

 

Best Wishes,

Louise

 

 

Hi everyone,

We are almost half way through May! Where is the time going? Soon I will be getting ready to make the Christmas Cards for the website. I know... Christmas in May! But you have to start early if you are going to make enough. After all, for me it is not just the Christmas Cards, but also the First Holy Communion Cards, the Confirmation Cards, The Baptism Cards, for babies and adults alike. Then there are the special cards, like Twins cards for example. There are two sets of twins in my family, both sets to my eldest son. He has 13 year old twin boys, and 6 year old twin boys, and I know how difficult it was for me, before I started this, to get cards for twins.

I really enjoy making the cards, I go off into my own little world while making them. Here are a few examples:

These Twin Christening Cards are almost A4 side-on an this one is finished with white ribbon set against grey with yellow flowers. I have done this for Boy and Girl Twins.





Here I have made the same card, but in blue - for a boy - there are many people who insist on buying blue for a boy. I must admit, when my boys were babies I would dress them in something blue. Blue mittens, little knitted helmet - I'm going back over 40 years now. There wasn't a lot of choice for baby boys clothes then, not like now, plenty of choice, making it almost too hard to decide what to get!

Of course, little baby girls, sugar and spice, and all things nice. This card is set for a girl, but instead of pink, I have chosen a soft lilac, and in 'person' so to speak, it does look really good. Can you imagine twin girls all dressed up in pink and bows and pretty booties. Lovely! Over 40 years ago, when my boys were babies, the choice for girls was staggering, and even more so today! For example, my boys used to where romper suits. These were like little dresses, but with buttons underneath so that it didn't look too girlie, and it made it easier to change nappies etc. then soon after came the babygrow - yay - then baby boys and baby girls looked the same unless they were dressed in the appropriate colour for their gender.

I like doing mixed textures on my cards. These examples have parchment crafted toppers, which have been hand-painted in coloured inks.

Take a trip to my website to view the full range at www.leruleoriginals.co.uk I'll see you there!

Well, that's all for now everyone. Enjoy your week.

All the best,

Louise

Beaded Tassel Bookmarks

Hi everyone,

Just a short blog today, so I thought I would talk about the bookmarks that I sell on my website http://www.leruleoriginals.co.uk.

I make beaded tassel bookmarks, which have either an excerpt from the Bible on them, The Lord's Prayer, or a Latin prayer, or the Apostles' Creed, in either English or Latin, etc. They are all laminated, which serves two purposes, it keeps the bookmark clean and adds to its durability.

The tassels are made from Anchor fade-proof cotton, and some tassels have glass beads on them, or acrylic beads. Some tassels have wooden beads from the ancient olive groves in the Holy Land. The ancient olive trees are regularly pollarded. This is a process whereby older wood is cut out, which keeps the trees healthy. It is this pollarded wood which is made into the beads. Any item that I make that has Holy Land Olive Wood, comes with a Certificate of Authenticity confirming its origins.

The bookmarks are wonderful keepsakes, very often bought with one of my cards, for example, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation. I also do bookmarks that are completely personalised. Why not email me at louise@leruleoriginals.co.uk to let me know what you would like. A couple of years ago I was asked to make over 300 bookmarks for a primary school in celebration of their school's anniversary. I followed their design, and they were thrilled with the result. I can do this for you too.

If you would like to see the bookmarks that I sell on my website, then please click on the link below to see them all.

http://www.leruleoriginals.co.uk/bookmarks-c-87.html?osCsid=c551aac68d8468239207aa12f4d2fda9



Braille Messages on Cards

Hi everyone,

Today I thought I would share with you all why I offer, free of charge, personalised Braille messages on the cards that I make.

I am in the process of loosing my sight in my left eye. This is due to two things. Firstly, I have glaucoma in my left eye, which could also affect my right eye in the future, and has resulted in my loosing some of my sight from my central field of vision, and secondly, I have also had a retinal haemorrhage in that eye, resulting in patchy sight loss, so it is possible that I will become registered as partially sighted in the future.

After some deliberation, I decided to learn Braille, a 'just in case' scenario, a kind of 'fail safe mechanism' if you like. As a sighted person, I was surprised how easy it was to learn how to punch Braille, but imagine trying to learn it once you have lost your sight - wow - can't imagine. It was then that I decided to offer Braille messages on my cards. I do it free of charge for three main reasons. The first reason is, there but for the grace of God go I; secondly, I don't charge for the written sentiments, so why charge for someone's disablement; and thirdly, many people know others who are blind, but have no way of sending them a greeting that they can read for themselves. Can you imagine having to rely on somebody to read your messages just because it isn't in a form that you can read for yourself? No, neither can I, and this is why I do it.

I have done several commissions doing Braille messages, these have included Birthday Cards, and Sympathy Cards. I have also added Braille messages to the cards that I offer from stock.

This is my Braille Writer and Punch. Braille is worked through cells of six dots in each cell. From this each letter is formed. You can buy larger Braille machines that resemble typewriters. I have decided that if I loose my sight totally, that is what I will have to have. This Braille Writer works really well for me though, and has allowed me to offer the Braille message service.

Well that's all for now!

Enjoy your day!

Louise

L