Milagros Necklace

MILAGROS
Milagros "Miracles" are small devotional charms that are traditionally used in most Latin American Countries. These votives are placed in small shrines, church, nichos, retablos, saints or altars.
Milagros also refers to an ancient aspect of Hispanic Folk Culture: Small silver or gold votive offerings.
A person attaches a Milagro to a saint for a special request of a miracle for a particular aliment of the body.



I love creating Milagros necklaces and bracelets. They are a reminder of faith and knowing that a miracle will occur.

This necklace I used a stunning 4 inch copper patina heart Milagro, may represent the Sacred Heart of Jesus of human heart aliment, I also used other smaller milagros, Catholic Medals including a vintage St. George medal, vintage copper chain and turquoise.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Altered Art Necklace

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, or of the Scapular
July 16 The Church celebrates on this day the feast of the Scapular of Mount Carmel. The scapular, which derives its name from the Latin word scapulæ, meaning shoulders, is a dress which covers the shoulders. It is mentioned in the rule of Saint Benedict as worn by monks over their other dress when they were at work, and it now forms a regular part of the religious dress in the old Orders. But it is best known among Catholics as the name of two little pieces of cloth worn out of devotion to the Blessed Virgin over the shoulders, under the ordinary garb, and connected by strings. The devotion of the scapular, now almost universal in the Catholic Church, began with the Carmelites. The history of its origin is as follows: During the thirteenth century the Carmelite Order suffered great persecution, and July 16, 1251, while Saint Simon Stock, then general of the Order, was at prayer, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him, holding in her hand a scapular. Giving it to the saint, she said,
"Receive, my dear son, this scapular of thy Order, as the distinctive sign of my confraternity, and the mark of the privilege which I have obtained for thee and the children of Carmel. It is a sign of salvation, a safeguard in danger, and a special pledge of peace and protection till the end of time. Whosoever dies wearing this shall be preserved from eternal flames."

I found a way to display Religious treasures and I was inspired by shrines to be able to create this necklace as one.

I added a vintage image of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, this was from a broken Scapular, I also added a tiny cross with a vintage Rose and tiny cross with vintage rhinestones.

I created this necklace similar to a rosary and added a stunning Jesus charm with open arms attached to a string of Swarvoski Pearls. I also added some vintage and new medals, St. Anthony, Miraculous Medal, Angel.

ST. ANTHONY
He is known as Miracle Worker; Doctor of the Church; He is especially invoked for the recovery of things lost; as well as against starvation,; patron of amputees, animals, domestic animals, the elderly, expectant mothers, faith in the Blessed Sacrament, fishermen, harvests, horses, lower animals, mail, mariners, oppressed persons sailors, scholars, sterility, travelers
Prayer to Saint Anthony the Wonder-Worker
Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received from God the special power of restoring lost things, grant that I may find {mention your petition} which has been lost. As least restore to me peace adn tranquility of mind, the loss of which has afflicted me even more than my material loss. To this favor I ask another of you: that I may always remain in possession of the true good that is God.Let me rather lose all things than lose God, my supreme good. Let me never suffer the loss of my greatest treasure, eternal life with God. Amen.

This is one of my favorite bracelets I love creating in honor to St. Anthony. He is such a wonderful worker on lost items. I've had my personal experiences when praying for his intercession and very fast.

On this bracelet I used a vintage acrylic cameo set in a ornate setting. I also used other vintage and new Catholic medals including Sacred Heart of Jesus, made in Germany, Miraculous Medal, St. Jude and others. I also used two vintage broaches, one being two pearl hearts. I also used some beautiful soft peach color glass lampwork beads to enhance the colors of the cameo.

Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes: France, 1858
Our Lady appeared to 14 year old Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France, 18 times from February through July, 1858. During the apparitions she told Bernadette to dig a hole which later in the day produced a stream of water, bringing about thousands of spiritual and physical cures even to this day. Mary pleaded for "penitence! Penitence! Penitence!" and urged us to "Pray to God for sinners". She called herself the "Immaculate Conception".
HOLY WATER OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
O ever Immaculate Virgin, mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comforter of the afflicted, you know my needs, my troubles, my sufferings, cast me a look of pity. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a priviledged sanctuary, whence you dispense your favours, and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal, I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence & implore your maternal intercession.

On This bracelet I used a beautiful blue enamel medal of Our Lady of Lourdes on Grotto with water ecased on back of medal. I also used other Catholic Medals including Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, St. Anthony, St. Catherine and others. I also added beautiful blue/silver foil glass heart-shape lampwork beads and pearls.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Charm Bracelet

I created this bracelet to honor Our most faithful and loving Sacred Heart of Jesus.

I found this beautiful vintage cameo, made in Germany, of Sacred Heart of Jesus, I added some handcrafted angels made with Ruby quartz beads. I also added more vintage German medals and brass Czech. medal.

My experience with Our most loving Sacred Heart of Jesus was when I was 19 yrs old, yes, it has been a while and I still remember as it was yesterday. I had been going through a difficult time in my life, I had just lost my father and also had been married for only one year and raising our first baby, had been a difficult time for me and I was crying in my room for the death of my father when I found myself in this room and in front of me, there was Jesus with His white robe and a white glow around Him, He took His hand and placed it on his body where His heart was and all of the sudden a heart appeared on His hand, and this heart was pulsating. I could see it perfectly and hear the beating. He approached me and told me that no matter what my problems were in life, He will make them better and that He endured all the pain for me and all of us and to trust Him and lay all my burdens on His heart and that every time I come across a problem or are feeling down, just think of His heart and lay my problem and sadness in His heart and I will find His heart everywhere as a reminder of Him.

Up to this date, if I am going thru a difficult time, I find a heart, not man made hearts, this can be, a rubber band shape of a heart, a leaf, even garden rocks. My last one was when my mother passed, I was in the garden and I found a large rock shape like a heart and it always bring me peace and hope.

I hope that by sharing my experience makes you feel that He will always be with you and leave your burdens in His heart.

St. Francis of Assisi Charm Bracelet

St. Francis of Assisi, lover of all creation, champion of justice, Patron Saint of animals and the environment, founded the Franciscan Order.
St. Francis of Assisi experienced all of God's creation as sacred. He saw God in "Brother Sun" and "Sister Moon." He preached to the birds and animals.

I had an experience with St. Francis that I will never forget.
Approx. 4 yrs. ago, my beloved chow was diagnosed with brain cancer, and if you are a dog lover and owner, you well know that they are so loyal and loving that even close to death they refuse to let go so many times we have to make that tough decision.
His illness got worse to the point that part of his head was caving in and it was difficult for me to let go, but I just could not cope with seeing him that way either, his vet stated that there is nothing to be done except give him love and comfort, he wasn't eating either.
One morning I decided to go pray at an old mission close to where I live and I just prayed for God to take my dog's suffering and if that meant to take him, I was willing to let him go. I went to the local gift shop and purchase a St. Francis of Assisi's medal and prayer card.
When I got home and was walking on my hallway, one of my sons told me that behind me there was an apparition of a man with a robe like a monk with his hands in prayer position and a white glow around him walking behind me and just went straight to our dog and was praying and was petting him. I showed him the St. Francis of Assisi prayer card to my son and he confirmed it that he was the one walking behind me and was with our dog.
I prayed to God if He was allowing St. Francis to care for my dog or take him I will accept it. That night I had a dream that I had gone to this beautiful place and there was a large building that looked like an old monastery and there were a lot of people dressed with robes and had many, many animals including birds.

I was greeted at the gate and was introduced to St. Francis and was told the I must leave my dog with them and they will take care of him until he heals and will let me know when he was ready to return. Everyone, including the animals looked so happy.
Well, the next day, with my heart broken, I had to make the decision to let go of my friend. We took him to the vet. I'm sure many of you know the pain and void it feels loosing such a friend and sometimes more of a friend, like a family member.
I wanted to share this for those missing their friends and to let them know that they are in a great place being taken care of and we will see them again.

As time passed, I kept missing him so much, but knowing he was in a great place being taken care of that gave me comfort. I just prayed to God that one day He would allow me to have another great friend like him.
Deep down inside I believed what St. Francis had told me in my dream that he will return to me and he will let me know.
More time passed and one night I felt a beautiful presence come in to my room and told me with a beautiful soft voice that my "bear" ,that was his name, was ready to return and then he left.
I was so confused because I didn't know what to do, or what to think if I needed to search for him or what. I didn't look for him. I figured if God is going to give him back to me, He will send it to me.
One day my sister-in-law called me so excited telling me that I wasn't going to believe this but her neighbor gave her a mix, German Sheppard with Chow and it looks a lot like my "bear". I knew that all chows look alike so I didn't get too excited thinking it may not be the same.
When I got to her house, we, my kids and myself, could not believe it. As we were driving towards her house, here comes running towards our car this beautiful chow, so excited to see us like he knew us. When we got out of the car, he was just kissing everyone. We took him home and up to this date he does things my old dog used to do and not chow traits, things either my husband or I thought him that has been unbelievable.
I wanted to share this story for those missing their friends, that there is hope that you will see them once again here on earth and if not, they are well taken care of.

St. Cecilia Charm Bracelet

I created this charm bracelete in honor to St. Cecilia using musical instruments as well as vintage and new medals like St. Therese, Sarah, four way cross, St. Joan of Arc and others.

I surrounded the beautiful cameo and medals with beautiful silverfoil glass lampwork beads, glass pearls and Czech. glass beads.

ST. CECILIA
Patronage: Academy of Music, Composers, Martyrs, Music, Musicians, Rome, Italy, Musical Instrument Makers, Poets, Singers

Prayer to St. Cecilia
O Glorious Saint,who chose to die instead of denying your King, we pray you please to help us as His fair praise we sing.We lift our hearts in joyous song to honor Him this way,and while we sing, remembering, to sing is to doubly pray.At once, in our hearts and in our tongues, we offer double prayersent heavenward on winged notesto praise God dwelling there.While in our hearts and tongues we try with song to praise God twice,we ask dear saint, to help usbe united close to Christ! Amen

"Religious Treasures" Altered Art Catholic Charm Necklace

I was so inspired to create a necklace with religious treasures like pieces of broken rosaries, medals and pocket statues and I finally was able to create one similar to a shrine. I found this wonderful pocket watch that I filled with vintage lace, vintage pearls, medals and a vintage pocket statue of St. Christopher making it a portable shrine that you can wear all the time.

I used vintage chain, turquoise beads and more vintage medals making this necklace a very unique and special piece.

ST. CHRISTOPHER:

PATRONAGE: TRAVELERS, TRANSPORTATION WORKERS, TRANSPORTATION, MOTORISTS, PESTILENCE, CAB & BUS DRIVERS, STORMS, SUDDEN DEATH, TRUCK DRIVERS

His fame derives from the pious legend of him being a "Christ-bearer" . He was a powerfully built man who wandered the world in search of novelty and adventure. He came upon a hermit who lived beside a dangerous stream and served others by guiding them to safe places to cross. He gave Offero instruction in the truth of God. Offero took the hermit's place, but instead of guiding travellers, he carried them safely across the stream. One day he carried a small child across the stream; the child's weight nearly crushed him. When they arrived on the other side, the child revealed himself as Christ, and he was so heavy because he bore the weight of the world on himself. He then baptised Offero with water from the stream. Christopher's service at the stream led to his patronage of things related to travel and travellers, people who carry things, etc.

PRAYER TO ST. CHRISTOPHER
Dear Saint, you have inherited a beautiful name - Christbearer - as a result of a wonderful legend that while carrying people across a raging stream you also carried the Child Jesus. Teach us to be true Christbearers to those who do not know him. Protect all drivers who often transports those who bear Christ within them. Amen.

St. Rita Charm Bracelet

Patronage: Abuse victims, loneliness, sterility, bodily ills, desperate causes, difficult marriages, Philippines, forgotten causes, impossible causes, infertility, lost causes, parenthood, sick people, victims of physical spouse abuse, widows, wounds

Prayer to Saint Rita
Dear Rita, model Wife and Widow, you yourself suffered in a long illness showing patience out of love for God. Teach us to pray as you did. Many invoke you for help, full of confidence in your intercession. Deign to come now to our aid for the relief and cure of {name of sufferer}. To God, all things are possible; may this healing give glory to the Lord. Amen.

I created this bracelet in honor of St. Rita using a third class relic medal embracing the medal with various colorful lampwork beads and pearls. All with different designs, shapes and sizes. I also used many other Catholic medals, including St. Jude, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Monica, St. Augustine, Assumption of Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Olives, Our Lady of Charity and others.

St. Therese Charm Bracelet

Patronage AIDS sufferers; air crews; aircraft pilots; , ; florists; flower growers; foreign missions; illness; missionaries; parish missions; sick people; sickness

Thérèse de Lisieux or Sainte Thérèse de l'Enfant-Jésus et de la Sainte Face, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus born Marie-Françoise-Thérèse Martin, was a Roman Catholic Carmelite nun who was canonized a Saint and is recognized as a Doctor of the Church one of only three women to receive that honor. She is also known as The Little Flower of Jesus


Thérèse is known for her "Little Way." In her quest for sanctity, she realized that it was not necessary to accomplish heroic acts, or "great deeds", in order to attain holiness and to express her love of God. She wrote,
"Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love."

In honor to her love of flowers I added flowers to this bracelet in her honor. I added a beautiful color medal with her image as well as a relic medal. I made this bracelet look like a garland of flowers with glass and lucite leaves as well.

Our Lady of Czestochowa Charm Bracelet

The Black Madonna of Czestochowa The Icon was, according to legend, painted by St. Luke the Evangelist on a cypress table top from the house of the Holy Family. The picture shows the Madonna in fleur de lys robes.
The painting displays a traditional composition derived from the icons of Eastern Orthodoxy. The Virgin Mary is shown as the "Hodegetria" ("One Who Shows the Way"). In it the Virgin directs attention away from herself, gesturing with her right hand toward Jesus as the source of salvation. In turn, the child extends his right hand toward the viewer in blessing while holding a book of gospels in his left hand.
One of the oldest documents from Jasna Góra states that the picture travelled from Jerusalem, via Constantinople, to finally reach Czestochowa in August 1382. The Black Madonna is credited with miraculously saving the monastery of Jasna Gó ra (English: Bright Mount) from a Swedish 17th Century invasion, The Deluge, which actually changed the course of the war. This event led King Jan Kazimierz to "crown" Our Lady of Czestochowa ("the Black Madonna") as Queen and Protector of Poland in the cathedral of Lwó w on April 1, 1656. This legend was however created much later than the actual events, as in reality the icon had been taken away well in advance so as to prevent it from falling into the hands of the advancing Swedish army.
Another legend concerning the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is that the presence of the holy painting saved its church from being destroyed in a fire, but not before the flames darkened the fleshtone pigments. The legend concerning the two scars on the Black Madonna's right cheek is that a Hussite robber drew his sword upon the image and inflicted two deep strikes. When the robber tried to inflict a third strike, he fell to the ground and squirmed in agony until his death. Despite past attempts to repair these scars, they had always reappeared.*
*Wikipedia

On this bracelet I wanted it to be bright and lively that is why I love that color combination. Most of the time colors or beads just come together for a specific bracelet and in this bracelet these were the beads that stood out the most and that is the outcome. I love the purple jade with the pink crackle quartz together with the blue crystals just makes the medals really stand out. I added a vintage medal of Our Lady of Czestochowa as well as Her relic.

St. Padre Pio Catholic Charm Bracelet

FATHER PIO ( visible sign in his body of Christ Passion)
In September 1918, while praying before a cross, he received the stigmata and the first priest ever to be so blessed.
I. O my Jesus, You have said "Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you". Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of... Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be to the Father...Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
II. O my Jesus, You have said "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, He will give it to you" Behold, in Your name, I ask the Father for the grace of... Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be to the Father...Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
III. O my Jesus, You have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away". Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of...Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory be to the Father...Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of You, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your tender Mother and ours.
Say the Hail Holy Queen and add St. Joseph, foster Father of Jesus, pray for us.
This novena was recited daily by St. Pio
"Yes, I love the cross and only the cross. I love it because I see it always on the shoulders of Jesus. Now jesus sees clearly that all my life and all my heart is vowed to Him and to His sufferings" - Padre Pio

Father Pio was truly a remarkable man.

I created this bracelet using a very unique relic medal of St. Pio's face image. Surrounding it with stunning lampwork beads with shimmer inside each bead. I also used other unique, vintage and new medals.

Virgin Mary "Our Lady of the Rosary"

On this bracelet I wanted to capture the beauty of the porcelain cameo depicting Our Most Beautiful Lady of the Rosary. The picture on the cameo is replica from an antique colonial picture.

I was just amazed how everything just flow and came together with the colors matching the colors on the cameo. I added a couple of vintage medals as well as more Catholic Italian medals of various Saints. I also added a one decade rosary bracelet attached.

St. Jude Thaddaeus Charm Bracelet

Patronage: Desperate situations; forgotten causes; hospitals, hospital workers; impossible causes

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. He is also often shown in icons with a flame around his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles. Occasionally he is represented holding an axe or halberd, as he was brought to death by one of these weapons. In some instances he may be shown with a scroll or a book (The Epistle of Jude) or holding a carpenter's rule. (Wikipedia)

On this bracelet I was inspired to use this two color combination. I always have imagined St. Jude with a very strong personality and being a husky big man and this beads represent just that, boldness and strenght. I used a very unique relic medal of St. Jude, other Catholic Medals of: St. Anthony, Sorrowful Mother, Ecce Homo, St. Agnes, Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Virgin Mary "Our Lady's Tears" Rosary and Charm Bracelet

ROSARY OF OUR LADY'S TEARS
Next to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus there is nothing more touching and effective than the tears of Our Heavenly Mother. How many tears She shed on the Way of the Cross and when She stood beneath the Cross, She shed bitter tears in reparation for the many insults Her Divine Son then and which He would receive in the future. She wept bitter tears for the many souls who would not submit to the Commandments of God, and so would be lost forever. In recent centuries, too, She wept tears of sorrow.
This Rosary was revealed in 1929 and 1930 by Our Lord and His most Holy Mother to Sister Amalia in Campina, Brazil. Our Lord's words to Sister Amalia on November 8, 1929 were: "My daughter, whatever I am asked through the tears of My Mother, I shall give lovingly."

Every time I create a bracelet representing Our Lady's Tears, it is very touching and emotional for me because I cannot imagine as a mother being able to endure all of Her pain and suffering seeing Her Son the way He was treated and humiliated and how He died for us.

Many years ago I had a dream that I was at the foot of the cross and actually saw Our Lord expire in front of my eyes and up to today, I cannot describe the feeling of feeling helpless and the pain and sorrow and the many tears shed at that foot of the cross that is why for me this bracelet means a lot and I want to convey that Our Blessed Mother still suffers when Her Son died for us and sometimes we forget that He died for us and Her pain and suffering and I hope this bracelet helps as a reminder.

St. Michael Charm Bracelet

GOD'S MARSHALL
(Name means, "Who is like God" Glorious Saint Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ)

"The very name of Michael urges us to honor this glorious spirit; it is a cry of enthusiasm and fidelity, for it signifies: "Who is like unto God?" Satan trembles at hearing this name, for it reminds him of the noble protest wherewith the bright Archangel answered the call of the rebel angels. Michael proved his strength and prowess when he fought the great battle in Heaven. From that hour he has been known as "Michael, the captain of the armies of God, first Prince of the Holy City, to whom the other angels yield ready obedience. They most willingly and gratefully recognize his supremacy, for after God, they owe to him their preseverance in grace and their eternal happiness. With loving submission, they receive from him their various offices. They are attentive to the slightest wish, because they recognize in his commands and regulations the will of God, their sovereign Lord and King.*
* St. Michael and the angels

Prayer to Saint Michael
Dear Saint Michael, your name means, "Who is like God?" and it indicates that you remained faithful when others rebelled against God. Help police officers in our day who strive to stem the rebellion and evil that are rampant on all sides. Keep them faithful to their God as well as to their country and their fellow human beings. Amen.
"Hail, bright Archangel, Prince of Heaven! Spirit divinely strong!
To whose rare merit hath been given to head the angelic throng".

I was inspired to create a bracelet in honor to St. Michael as protector of police officers and finally I was able to find a unique medal depicting St. Michael protecting a police officer and I added some charms related to police officers as well.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

In 1531 a "Lady from Heaven" appeared to a poor Indian at Tepeyac, a hill northwest of Mexico City; She identified Herself as the Mother of the True God, instructed him to have the bishop build a temple on the site and left an image of Herself imprinted miraculously on his tilma, a poor quality cactus-cloth, which should have deteriorated in 20 years but shows no sign of decay 474 years later and still defies all scientific explanations of its origin.
God of power and mercy, you blessed the Americas at Tepeyac with the presence of the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. May Her prayers help all men and women to accept each other as brothers and sisters. Through your justice present in our hearts, may your peace reign in the world. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

I was so inspired to create this bracelet in honor to Our Most Hummble Lady of Guadalupe using this joyful colors, by adding green jade, turquoise howlite, pumkin color glass pearls enhancing the colors of the medal of Our Lady.

St. Francis Xavier & Patron Saints Charm Bracelet

A man of remarkable energy and organizational ability, Xavier ranks among the greatest missionaries of all times. Canonized in 1622. The list of his principal miracles may be found in the Bull of canonization. He was declared patron of the Orient in 1748, patron of the Faith in 1904, and with the French nun St. Teresa of Lisieux, patron of all missions in 1927. He is also the patron saint of sailors. His feast day is December 3.

I created this bracelet to make honor to this remarkable Saint and the ones including in this bracelet which are: St. John the Baptist, St. Monica, St. Augustine, St. Agnes, St. Marc, St. Therese, St. Florian, St. Ignatious, St. Padre Pio, St. Joan of Arc, St. Jude, St. Stephen all surrounded by beautiful green foil glass lampwork heart beads and green glass pearls.

"Angelic Lullaby" Charm Bracelet

I was so inspired to create this beautiful bracelet with this picture, just to think how beautiful it would be singing the lullaby to Our Savior when He was a baby surrounded by Holy angels.

That was truly my inspiration. I used some metal angels and I handcrafted some angels with clear quartz gemstones and white aurora borealis Czech. glass beads.

Our Lady of Fatima Charm Bracelet

O Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of the most Holy Rosary, you were pleased to appear to the children of Fatima and reveal a glorious message. We implore you, inspire in our hearts a fervent love for the recitation of the Rosary. By meditating on the mysteries of the redemption that are recalled thereinmay we obtain the graces and virtues that we ask, through the merits of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer.

I was inspired to create this bracelet with Our Lady of Fatima relic medal surrounding it with other Catholic medals like St. Monica, St. Augustine, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Benedict and others. I added beautiful glass lampwork beads made in a very unique design with different colors infused in it includding shimmer.