Reinventing the Charm Bracelet - A New Way to Wear Them

My dearest and most treasured first piece of jewelery was my childhood charm bracelet. I remember receiving the bracelet with a chewed little gold heart (the heart was a pendant that I wore all the time as a very small child--you can see in the pictures the rough surface--first day of school is to blame--separation anxiety from my mother :( . The other charm that accompanied my bracelet, was my first tooth, which my father encased in a bezel setting.

As the years passed, each charm that I received reflected my individuality and what and where I was going in my life. A few that you can see are a ballerina, boat, Christmas tree, and the most recent one, Mother.

No two charm bracelets are alike and that is what makes them as unique as your signature.

My charm bracelet was not worn for many years because it got caught in things and jingled too much.

I missed wearing it because of the personal history behind it and because it was such a sentimental and endearing piece--charms given to me by my parents.

One day as I was admiring it, a light went on in my head--a brainstorm, a great idea--that would allow me to wear it again, in its fully glory!

I had the bracelet transformed into a charm necklace. Originally when I had it modified, I took a simple gold necklace, had my father cut it in half, and each half was soldered to both ends of the bracelet.

After several years of wearing it this way, I once again, wanted to update its look--the result can be seen in the photos above.

For many years, I wore my vintage choker round link necklace on its own. This time, the charms were removed and individually added to the links on my choker.

You can see how elegant and classic this piece looks. It has given my charms a whole new dimension, as well as new necklace for me. Not to mention, that I have a new gold bracelet, charm free, which is now going to be given to my little girl, for her to begin her own collection.

Reuse, Recycle, Reinvent......

Exciting New Ideas For Your Earrings

Everyone loves earrings and whether you have pierced ears or non-pierced ears, you can give your earrings a whole new dimension in design. If you have a pair of pearl studs and a pair of diamond stud earrings, why not combine them as one. The diamond solitaire, depending on size, could be set at the base of the pearl. Of course, the backing has to be removed and redesigned. This can also be applied with any combination of gemstone stud earrings. You may have a unique cut or color gemstone that would look exquisite combined together. Imagine rose quartz with amethyst, black onyx and tiger-eye, blue topaz and sapphires, diamonds and everything.


Chandeier earrings are glamorous as well as very tres chic. If you have a pair of dangle earrings that are short and wide, they would make a good base. Now see what you have in other dangle earrings. If you have 3 or 4 earrings that yo do not wear, imagine what a spectacular pair can be created. The add-ons dangle at different levels.

If there are earrings you don't wish to wear any more such as a pair of gold hoops, why not have them soldered together horizontally or vertically and have the birthstones of your children or grandchildren set in the center for a one-of-a-kind pendant.

With an odd 1/2 pair of stud earrings, you can have it modified to wear as a ring by adding a shank. If they were dangle earrings, you can have the closure removed, add a bale and have it redesigned into a charm or pendant. If you don't want to wear your earrings as studs, why not convert them into a dangling pair. As well, you can have an odd pair of earrings made into a tie or hat pin.

Again with an odd 1/2 pair or several pairs, you could have the backings removed and have them spaced apart and soldered on a chain . Now if you have a link chain, they could be set between the links at various inches apart. Imagine how beautiful it would look as a jeweled neck-piece. A single earring could be added to the center of a chain simply by having the chain cut in half and soldering each half to the earring. Wouldn't an odd diamond solitaire that has been sitting in your jewelery box look gorgeous as a beautiful diamond solitaire necklace.

I hope I have inspired you with these new ideas. Have fun looking through your earring collection. Let me know what you have come up with. I would love to hear from you.

Positively,
Baya

Calling all Ladies with Charm Bracelets

I remember as a child receiving my first charm bracelet with a charm. My "first charm", oh yes, my father with his great sense of humour, took my "first tooth" and encased it in a small gold setting and that was my first charm. As the years passed, each charm that I received reflected a part of me--ballet slippers, trophy, my first ring, etc.

Charm bracelets are as unique as your signature and no two are alike. I enjoyed wearing my charm bracelet throughout my growing years, but after a while, I can honestly say that I got bored of it.

It was tucked away for several years and when I started wearing it again as a young adult, it became an annoyance--it got caught in things and jingled all the time. Too bad I never thought to wear it around the Christmas season--Santa and I would have had a lot of jingle belling in common :)

Well, it got put away again for a few more years.....but when I rediscovered it, I looked at it in a whole new light. Instead of wearing it as a bracelet, I thought how about wearing it as a "charm necklace"?

With a simple modification, the closures were removed and a chain was soldered to each end of the bracelet. Today, I wear it as one of my signature pieces of jewelery. It is not tucked away in my jewelery box, but worn in its full glory.

Another suggestion would be to have the charms removed and wear them as individual pendants, or have them individually soldered to a chain with large links. Not only would you have a new neck-piece, but a new bracelet.

And yes, I still get questions about that tooth......

Positively Always,

Baya