Trollbead Bracelet

When I was a girl I used to think having a charm bracelet would be so grown up. I loved the idea of collecting the charms on special occasions and for them to represent special things. I never had a charm bracelet and I think as I got older they fell out of fashion really.

For my 40th birthday I wanted something special to mark the occasion, that's when I discovered Trollbeads. I loved the story behind them and the idea of being able to build it up over time with beads that had a personal meaning for me.

'Trollbeads jewellery is made from 18-carat gold, sterling silver, Italian glass, freshwater pearls and precious stones, and is created from a blend of traditional and modern techniques.

You can choose gold or silver or of course both. I went with silver, I have to say partly because of the enormous price difference, but I like silver too.This is what it says on the Trollbead site about the beads

'Trollbeads is an exquisite set of interchangeable jewellery pieces which let you create your own look. At the heart of the collection are the beads themselves. Each piece in the Trollbeads collection has its own little history, taking its inspiration from mythology, astrology, fairy tales, fauna, flora, cultural diversity, and last but certainly not least, the familiar things of everyday living.'

I like the idea that no 2 beads are ever truly the same. While they may be more expensive than similar beads that have come on to the market, it's because they aren't mass produced, each has it's story from it's design on paper to reaching you, I love where the inspiration is taken from.

'The gold and silver Trollbeads are modelled using the so called ‘cire perdu’ or ‘lost wax’ method. This 3,000 year old technique allows for fine details to be reproduced from wax to precious metals. Each glass bead is handmade from red-hot glass in the open flame and no two Trollbeads are ever completely alike.'

Here are some of the beads I've collected over the years

When Andrew bought me the hearts, they were to represent the 4 of us and our love for each other.

Four hearts close together. Hearts of fire, hearts for Christmas, hearts for the one you hold dear

A mermaid. When she was small, Imogen was desperate to be a mermaid, she was my little mermaid.

The little mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale. This mythical sea-creature symbolises female mystique and magnetism, which is sometimes fatal to men.

This bead is called Wisdom, something we all hope to grow in

Five precious stones, which together symbolize wisdom. An opal for loyalty, an amethyst for peace of mind, a garnet for devotion and grace, a turquoise for courage and success, and a lapis lazuli for competence.

Teacup... my favourite drink is a cup of Earl grey tea, good for what ails you.

Tea is a good drink. A symbol of care that keeps us warm. This cup is for you - for all the wonderful times we've shared.

A lucky knot

A lucky knot for fortune and happiness.

Kitten, I need a puppy too!

Few creatures are as adorable and playful as kittens, jumping at anything they can get a hold of, their eyes full of eagerness. This is quite the little troublemaker.

Lotus flower. Imogen chose this charm for a birthday present quite a few years ago.

The lotus flower appears in the legends of India and ancient Egypt. It is a symbol of light and enlightenment, forged where the rays of the sun meet the pull of the moon.

Three flowers

Three beautiful flowers, each with its own dichroic glass orb. A new, bold and beautiful combination.

Fairy. I love fairies, who doesn't!

At dawn the fairies sprinkle morning dew on every blade of grass and cornflower, vanishing well before we wake up to the sight of their fairy masterpiece gleaming in the sun.

I have glass beads too between the silver ones and a couple of silver ones recently that aren't actually trollbeads (though still rather lovely)

I'm very lucky and my troll bracelet means an awful lot to me. It's full now really, so I'm not adding any more to it... perhaps I could start a new one for my 50th?

If you're interested in trollbeads you can look them up here, and just to add that I'm not affiliated with them in any way, I just like them!

Take care
xxx