Around The World in 80 Charms

One of my favorite things about Etsy is the ability to find local artists and craftspeople.  And for them to find me!  I was recently contacted by a woman who lives here in Nashville, who wanted a custom bracelet made to commemorate her world travels.  I told her I'd be more than happy to create one, and asked for a list of the places she wanted represented.  She sent me back a list of 30 countries including Egypt, Morocco, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, China, Laos, Cambodia, Japan, Thailand, Poland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Tanzania, England, India, and Nepal!  Talk about jealous.  I would love it if I was able to visit half the places she's been.

After explaining just how many charms could fit on a single bracelet, we narrowed down her list to her all time favorites, which was still 20 charms. They include a train, a lion for Africa, flamenco dancer for Spain, St. Peter's Basilica for Italy & the Vatican, Big Ben for England, an elephant for Thailand, Star of David for Israel...

the Eiffel Tower for France, Asian dragon, Parthenon for Greece, whirling dervish for Turkey, sampan for China, passport, Great Pyramid for Egypt, coo coo clock for Switzerland...

the Taj Mahal for India, windmill for the Netherlands, a camel, beer stein for Germany, plane, and Buddha for Laos, Cambodia & Thailand.  Due to the large number of charms, there are fewer bead pins than I usually use.  They are a mix of Czech glass in shades of warm sand, rich amber, jet black and crystal clear.  

I'm thrilled with how it came out, and hope the customer enjoys wearing it as much as I enjoyed making it.  

California Dreamin' ....On Such a Cloudy Day

Do you ever ask a question, only to answer yourself just a moment later?  I hadn't intended to create another travel or place themed bracelet so soon, but somehow I've got two more in the works.  One I already finished and another that's in pieces in my "to be created" bowl.

While I was working as a costume shop manager in Kentucky for the last several years, I got to know a wonderful dance professor named Lisa.  She always seems to be more full of energy and fantastic stories than anyone else.  I've often joked that she is my Fairy Godmother of Fun, swooping in to pull me out of my everyday routine, into an adventure at a moments notice. While Lisa adored her students in KY as much as I did mine, she longed to return to the home of her heart, California.  After a few years of looking, she found a new position teaching there, and is moving away this month.  While I'm thrilled for her, I'm also going to miss her terribly.  Her going away clearly called for a charm bracelet designed just for her and her dream of a new adventure in California.

I started with the idea of the dream of California as part of the American consciousness.  The idea that anyone can start anew there, can find their best self in this golden state of sunshine and promise.  And yes, the Mamas and the Papas did come to mind.  The idea of longing for the sun and warmth of California on a cloudy day.

The charms include a map of California, a dreamcatcher, disks that say "dream", shells, a surfboard, sun tan lotion and a palm tree from the beach, peace signs, grapes and a wine glass, a film canister, the bear and star from the state flag, a sandal, and of course the sun.

The beads are a mix of Czech glass and semi precious stones in shades of ocean blue, azure sky, plum wine, sand, and golden sunshine.  Since Cali has always had it's share of the hippy vibe, I included aquamarine which is thought to help connect you to your spiritual being, dragon veins agate to heighten creativity and protect against bad dreams, and purple jade to attract love to your life.  I can't wait to send it to her once she moves in a few weeks.  (Because everyone deserves to have gifts arrive by mail when they move into a new place!)  And even more, I can't wait till we could afford to go visit.  

California Dreamin' Charm Bracelet in my Etsy Shop

Meanwhile...  I'm working on another travel bracelet already.  This one is a custom order for a woman who lives here in Nashville, commemorating all the traveling she has done around the world. And she's been EVERYWHERE!  I couldn't believe the list of places on the list she sent me, and will be lucky if I ever get to see a handful of them. Since the last charms finally arrived today, I'm hoping to get the bead pins worked out this afternoon.  Here's a peek at the charms.

Who even knew you could find a whirling Dervish charm?  Or a tiny Taj Mahal?

Where Would You Go?

Working on my Egyptian Adventure Charm Bracelet got me thinking about the other places I'd like to eventually travel.  So far I've created travel bracelets based on several places I've been, including London, Paris, and New York, but there are so many others I'd like to see.  And of those possible future trips, one stands out.  New Orleans during Mardi Gras.

While I wouldn't turn down a visit to New Orleans any time of year, the costume designer in me just can't resist the idea of all those amazing costumes covered in rhinestones, feathers, and elaborate headdresses.  Bedecked in that much fabulous, who wouldn't want to party?

I dug through my stash to come up with charms that represented the spirit of "laissez le bon temps rouler".  Music, masks, and mirth.  I found saxophones, trombones and trumpets to represent the city's jazz traditions; a multitude of masks; shrimp and champagne for the city's cuisine and celebratory nature; and fleur de lis for their French heritage.

The beads were an easy choice; the traditional colors of the Mardi Gras are purple for justice, gold for power and green for faith.

All in all, it's a lively bracelet and I hope I've done New Orleans and Mardi Gras justice.  Now to begin conjuring up my next dream trip.  Munich during Oktoberfest?  Venice for Carnival?  New Year's in Sydney Harbor?  La Tomatina in Spain?  While I'm sure I'd love throwing the tomatoes, I'm not sure I'd like to be washing them out of my clothes later...  What about you?  Where would you go?

New Orleans Mardi Gras Charm Bracelet in my Etsy Shop