This is Anna Teresa Bellinzis' Second Guest Blog. To read about Anna Teresa, go two articles back.

Have you ever tried to explain to someone, not Trollbeads connoisseur, what you like about those “little glass beads”? Because that is what they are in the eyes of the uninitiated. Beads that look similar to other brands and are too expensive. Many people have gaped at me after I told them what the beads cost. And that I am on different forums discussing the ‘little glass beads’, driving miles and miles to get a retired item, make hundreds of photos of them and wear every day different combinations... People know about my hobby but don’t understand how a jewellery brand like Trollbeads really can grab you. Well, it did and I have to admit there have been days that I could not speak two sentences to my husband without mentioning the word Trollbeads. And there have been moments that he really could not hear the word Trollbeads again. But this addiction, or should I say passionate hobby, has brought me so many good things. For instance. I have Trollfriends all over the world. From Australia to America. Friends that I have met in person. Friends that I have helped obtain special beads, friends that help me go through tough moments. We understand each other. Help each other make our collection even more beautiful than before. I can even count jewelers to my new group of friends. We email, phone and share information. For me Trollbeads doesn’t only stand for buying beads. It is the complete package that brings me joy. Find that one perfect bead. Make a stunning bracelet with it. Capture the beauty of it in a photo and share that with sympathizers. Like I said before: playing with beads is like meditation after a day hard work.

I like to share my happiness with other people. Specially with my family. (Also very handy to make your husband partner in crime.) So I have bought my husband a leather bracelet with freya lock and different (retired) beads like tupilac mouth, lucky knot, happy fish, triangles, anniversary Viking, four frogs and the retired letterbeads of me and our sons. (His bracelet is pictures above)  My oldest son (6 years old) has his leather bracelet with elephant lock waiting for him. When he gets his swimming certificate he can enjoy his retired clown, tupilac mouth, tupilac big, anniversary faces and turtles. Beads that I picked with much care for him because every bead has his own story that stands for my son. Every night he enters my room and wants to see his ‘funny faces’. His joy fills my heart with so much love. Below is my son's bracelet and a photo of him with his Trolls.

So when I talk to people about my  hobby, they may not understand my love for those funny looking trolls, but they see the spirit in my eyes and hear the enthusiasm in my voice because that is what Trollbeads brings me.  

ATB 3/2011