Happy Holiday Charms!

All of the big design brands came out with some beautiful beads and charms this year. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites: Pandora's Santa Sleigh, Trollbeads' Icebear and Persona's Snowflake!

Fun Design Contest!

I just wanted to let you all know about a really fun design contest called the Design Your Persona & Win Contest. Basically, you design a charm bracelet online using their beads and try to get the most votes for your design in order to win your bracelet for free. The contest runs until December 10th 2010. So far my fellow purse forum members have found good luck when sharing their entry on facebook! I don't have facebook so I thought I'd share my entry here:

It's called "Beginning"
http://personaworld.com/contest/entry.php?id=24

What do you think?

Pandora's He Loves Me Charm

Pandora's He Loves Me Charm is a beautiful two-tone composition of silver, gold and Diamond. Despite the expensive materials, I really enjoy the intricacy of this piece. Pandora's He Loves Me Charm costs $195 Canadian.

What do you think?

Persona's New Floating Pansies and Stems

Persona's Floating Pansies and Stems comes from their Fall 2010 collection which has just been released. The vibrant pinks and greens seem to say: "Even though we're headed for winter, don't worry, the summer will be back soon!" Pansies and Stems is one of many Persona beads that caught my eye from their fall release. This vibrant charm costs $25 Canadian.

What do you think?

Links of London Thistle Charm

Links of London calls the thistle the true flower of Scotland. While I'm not a Scott, I can picture country side flourishing with prickly yet picturesque purple thistles. Links of London's dangling silver Thistle Charm costs $77 Canadian.

What do you think?

Pandora's Green Flower

I've had my eye on glass flower beads since posting Troll's Translucent Flowers about a week ago. Pandora's Green Flower bead caught my attention yesterday when browsing through Pandora's catalog. I don't know whether it's the vibrant shades of green or the fact that these white flowers look like they're actually on the surface, but I woke up thinking about Green Flowers this morning. Pandora's Green Flower bead costs $40 Canadian.

What do you think?

Troll's Translucent Flower

Troll's Translucent Flower charm melds a variety of, what I like to call 'mellow dark' tones. These mellow yellows and browns show us a fading flower inside of a murano glass bead. Beautiful! This charm costs $30 Canadian.

What do you think?

Persona's Flowers In The Wood

Persona's Flowers In The Wood bead features a variety of different sized flowers growing from a wood grain design. I really find this bead enchanting because it lacks borders and symmetry. Although I do like my elegant symmetrical beads, this unique charm is a welcomed change to the usual. Flowers In The Wood costs $25 Canadian.

What do you think?

Pandora's Love Birds Bead

Pandora's Love Bird bead shows us two birds flying together. One bird is 14k gold and the other is engraved into the bead's silver base. The effect of the raised and engraved birds reminds me of the chase, beauty and excitement of love. Pandora's Love Bird bead costs $110 Canadian.

What do you think?

Troll's Golden Quartz Charm

Troll's Golden Quartz Charm is from their brand new fall collection for 2010. It's sparkle and warm fall color has already attracted a lot of attention since it was leaked a few weeks ago. The only downside to this beauty is that it comes with Troll's rise in prices. The Golden Quartz Charm costs $60 US.

What do you think?

Links of London Vinyl Disc Charm

Links of London's Vinyl Disc Charm comes from their Links-ID collection that celebrates the creativity and street-style of London, England. The Vinyl Disc has an 18k gold label at the center of its vinyl-like threads. I love this charm for its impressive detail and its vintage nature. Links of London's Vinyl Disc costs $123 Canadian.

What do you think?

Pandora's Silver 14K and Cubic Zirconia Charm

Pandora's Silver 14k Cubic Zirconia Charm has my head in the night sky. With it's alternating silver and gold spheres encircling its CZ center, I can't help but see a star in the design. Pandora's Silver, 14k and CZ Charm costs $75 Canadian.

What do you think?

Persona's 18K Plated Drum Charm

Persona's Drum Charm is plated with 18k gold to create a nice two-tone look for your bracelet. This toy drum reminds me of the Nutcracker Prince (I know it's too early to start thinking about Christmas)

What do you think?

Links of London Rocking Horse Charm

This Rocking Horse Charm by Links of London reminds me of the imaginative adventures I used to go on while riding the wooden rocking horse that was passed down to me from my eldest sibling. Made of silver, this London charm costs £45 or about $73 Canadian.

What do you think?

Troll’s Black Onyx Bead

With its use dating back to Egypt’s second dynasty, Onyx has always interested me. The ancient stone has been used in jewelry for thousands of years and that’s a tradition I am glad to continue. Troll’s Black Onyx bead costs $50 U.S.

What do you think?

Persona’s Under The Sea Bead

Persona’s Under The Sea Bead features an illusive lime green stripe against an aqua base. This unique combination creates the illusion of coral reef lying just beneath the ocean’s surface. Persona's Murano Class bead costs $25 Canadian.

What do you think?

Pandora’s Silver 14K Anchor Charm

Pandora’s Silver 14K Anchor Charm features a 14K gold anchor dangling from a silver bead. This nautically themed charm keeps a dear sailing friend close to me when she’s away. Pandora's dangler costs $110.

What do you think?

Troll Ocean Gold Bead

Troll’s Ocean Gold bead features a family of mingling golden starfish. Their golden color shows us that stars sparkle in both the sky and the sea. This Ocean Gold charm is priced at $555 U.S.

What do you think?

Pandora’s Lion Head Bead

Pandora's Lion Head Bead reminds me of a treasure that Indiana Jones would find in some ancient ruins. This sterling silver charm features a lion's head accented by pale yellow Cubic Zirconia eyes.

What do you think?

Persona's White Glass Bead.

Persona's White Glass bead presents a pure white glass charm that is accented with flecks of gold. There is just something about Persona's gold flecked glass beads that draws me in. Remember Persona's Sky Blue Bead? No doubt this won't be the last I feature on my blog.

What do you think?

Troll's Juggler Bead

Troll's Juggler bead begins to emphasize the fantasy that many people relate to Troll's selection. This playful character is juggling balls of pearl, coral and lapis lazuli. Made of silver, this acrobatic bead costs $104 Canadian.

What do you think?

Links of London Carriage Charm

I am a lover of Jane Austen novels so, for me, this Links of London Carriage Charm makes me think of a romance that is antique and eternal much like her written words. This silver charm costs £45 or proximately $73 Canadian.

What do you think?

Pandora's Wood Bead, Muirapiranga

Persona's Muirapiranga Wood Bead is one of five shades of wood bead offered by Pandora. While all variations are quite attractive, this finish is my favorite because it reminds me of some old muskoka chairs our family used to have at the cottage when I was younger. The Muirapiranga bead costs $40 Canadian.

What do you think?

Persona's Lavender Shell Pearl bead

Persona's Lavender Shell Pearl bead draws the viewer in with its deep shade of color. Owning a few Persona Shell Pearl beads, including their very pretty Rose Pearl, I can say that these beads are most stunning when seen in person. Persona's Lavender Pearl bead costs a modest $30 Canadian.

What do you think?

Troll's Happy Universe Bead

Troll's Happy Universe bead combines silver and gold with a smiling moon and a smiling sun. Although I like the look of this happy little bead, I think it's the notion of a smiling universe that I like the most. Troll's positive vibrations come at a price of $365 U.S.

What do you think?

Persona's Paris Suitcase Bead

Persona's Paris Suitcase Bead is one of my favorite charms. With it's antique sterling silver matching the aged design of the traveler's suitcase, this darling bead looks like it comes right out of Ludwig Bemelmans' "Madeline." The Parisian memorabilia costs a mere $20 Canadian.

What do you think?

Pandora's Silver Amethyst Dangling Charm

Pandora's Silver Amethyst Dangling Charm is a real treasure. With a silver weave design and dangling Amethyst gem, this charm has both craft and glitz.

What do you think?

Persona's White Swarovksi Crystal Bead

Persona's White Swarovski Crystal bead is a dazzling piece that features a number of round cut crystals hosted on a sterling silver base. This bead will certainly add a little sparkle to your favorite bracelet design.

What do you think?

Troll's Honey Dew Bead

Troll's Honey Dew bead really looks the part. This translucent Amber bead comes with a sterling silver sleeve and costs aproximately $38.50 Canadian.

What do you think?

Links of London Bobble Hat

This Bobble hat charm reminds me of winter snowmen (and snow women), cold cheeks, and hot chocolate! Links of London sells this little charm at 45 € which translates to about $60 Canadian right now.

What do you think?

Troll Beads' Aventurine Stone

Troll's Aventurine Stone is a wonderful shade of forest green. Being from the quarts family, you can see the natural speckles of black and off shades of faded green. This Troll charm rings in at $52.

What do you think?

Persona's Sky Blue Bead

I am fascinated with Persona's Sky Blue Bead. It's as if I can see hundreds of tiny islands on the Ocean. Does anyone else see it? This Persona bead is made of Murano Glass and has gold flecks in it with a Sterling Silver Sleeve for an awesome price of $25 Canadian.

What do you think?

Pandora Red Glass Gold Charm

This Pandora bead is a new favorite of mine. It features soft pink circles in red glass with a gold sleeve. Quite a credit charge mind you, ringing in at $220 Canadian.

What do you think?

Sharing Some Charming Charms and Beads!

Hi Everyone!

I am a charm and bead lover and this is my blog. Having collected hundreds of beads over the past 9 years I decided to start my own blog to share some of the best! I encourage you to join in conversation with me and hope you all enjoy these beads and charms as much as I do.

Thanks,

Miss. Charming Charms!