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Trollbeads Universe

 

  The end of February brought more than cold winds over from Europe, it also brought us the Aagaards. Anyone reading this Trollbeads blog is well aware, or should be, of the Trollbeads family from Denmark. The end of February was a turning point for Trollbeads in the United States because that is when the Aagaards took over the Trollbeads distributorship for the U.S. I have written about it in past blogs so if you need to catch up you can check back at the older articles. As predicted this change has been monumental for dealers and for collectors in the U.S. I think one of the biggest changes this has brought about so far, most obvious to the U.S. collectors is the loss of the TrollbeadsUS.Com website. Lund Trading, the former U.S. Trollbeads distributor, had a dynamic site for collectors and many enjoyed the use of the registry and of the bracelet builder. Unannounced, the site was taken down last week. That means anyone who still had their registries on the site, lost them. But worry not because the Aagaards have a terrific site for you to play at www.TrollbeadsUniverse.com.You can have a registry, find retailers, find events and read about the history of every Trollbead ever in production. The history of Trollbeads in Europe is long and so much can be seen through the museum they have featured on the site.  It may take a while to adjust to the new playground but in time you’ll love it and feel right at home.

Here (no pun intended) is a friend you can see in Trollbeads museum on TrollbeadsUniverse.com.  He is one of the 3 Monkeys individually created by Svend Nielsen in 2003 and it was also retired from the line in 2003. Apparently there was no monkey business in 2003.  Whatever the reason for it's short life the 3 Monkeys are very rare. This week a very kind soul from Europe was willing to sell me her monkey, "Hear No Evil" and he arrived and stands proud amongst his fellow retirees at the U.S. Trollbeads Museum at Trollbeads Gallery. The museum grows daily!

With the introduction of the Spring 2011, Trollbeads also released a limited Edition at the same time.  The Limited Edition was Agate beads, in Pink and in Turquoise.  These beads were very unlike the Crazy Lace Agate Trollbeads released in 2010 so the release was brand new and totally unexpected.  These Trollbead stones are finished with a very high polish and are very smooth and have similar outlines to the Jasper and Picasso Jasper Trollbeads.  No facets just smooth rock.  The two colors also came in 2 choices, solid and striped.  While the solid Agate Trollbeads offer you a very drenched color, the striped Agates add pattern and intrigue to your jewelry.  Once again a hard choice to make and my advice would be to choose what you like and decide where you will use them later.  Photo below and the set at the end of this post shows a solid Pink Agate and the set at the top shows the solid Turquoise set.

Collecting Trollbeads is always about choices but making decision based on what other beads you have to use it with will stifle your collection.  Think about your Trollbeads collection as a painter’s palette, one you have all the colors spread across, and start from scratch designing new creations.  Ok, now think about the beads you said no to because they just didn’t work with what you had?  Your palette would be boring and you chance at self-exploration would once again leave you once again at the boredom door.  Is this where you want to be?  No, I know you don’t because if you did you’d be collecting some other bead brand!  So go back to your local dealer or back to the website of your choice and choose the wildest of the Agate Stripes and know your collection will always lead you to exciting places where you can reinvent yourself through Trollbeads!

The striped Agate has a very interesting story behind its development.  Like many of the interesting varieties of stones, Agates are formed from volcanic activity.  There are nodules or cavities within volcanic rocks that have had layers of silica type materials have form in regular spaces and some are thin and others wide.  These agates when cut opposite to the grain, or transversely, shows the layers as they occurred in time and it is these layers that give our Striped Agate, its name.  Hold the striped beads up to the light and you will see the light through the bead.  (Notice the bead to the right.)

The lighter silica striations go from white to a cloudy but light clear. Sometimes called banded Agate, it is the most exciting to me as a Trollbeads dealer and collector.  When you look at these new Trollbeads remember to purchase for its beauty and then be concerned as to how you might use it.  Don’t give up the chance to own something so strikingly beautiful because you are afraid of its use.

 For interesting ideas of what to use your Agate LE Trollbeads with join us on Trollbeads Gallery Forum and see what collectors are doing!

Also join us on Facebook and continue your Trollbeads journey by learning and seeing what the rest of the world is doing with their Trollbeads! http://www.facebook.com/TrollbeadsGallery

This is a reprint of an email sent to our Trollbeads Gallery Forum members.  I am posting it here so collectors who aren't aware of our Trollbeads Gallery Forum can read about it and hopefully join it's most amazing members.  If you haven't joined, please do you will find it most rewarding and very educational.  You can sit back and just read and enjoy it all or you can partake in the discussions and groups.  I consider myself lucky to be a part of this forum.

To join click here: Trollbeads Gallery Forum

 

Greetings to all of you, our Trollbeads Gallery Forum friends. I have been going through the forum's most recently uploaded photographs and I have to say the collectors here on our forum have some of the most incredible Trollbeads. Some of the photos and beads are literally breathtaking.  Speaking of breathtaking for those of you who wish to improve your photo taking ability there is a group hosted by Ginger, our TBGF Photographer extraordinare!  Please follow the link to our most recent Blog article where I write about our Forum hitting one more benchmark, 12,000 photographs.  Please leave comments for Ginger or leave them just in general!

With all the changes and upheaval with Trollbeads at the beginning of February the scheduled price increase of 2-1-11 was pushed to the middle of the month and we kept on getting updates and mixed messages so now as of Monday 3-1st our Trollbeads Gallery will have the new prices. The changes aren't enormous but just the same it was considerate for Trollbeads to extend the date to the U.S. market.  

Speaking of Trollbeads the changes have been smooth and we are very excited about upcoming changes and benefits the new distributor will offering the U.S. market.  The Unique beads are coming in beautiful and wonderfully varied. For those of you who are new to Trollbeads Gallery Forum or new to Trollbeads one very big benefit of the new distributorship is our ability to now offer the 6 bead kits for the price of 5 beads. To see what kits are available visit our What's New Page. The new Spring 2011 Trollbeads are proving to be a very popular release but I'm sure none of us are surprised at this!

"Trollbeads Fest! 2011" is coming along and is all set for September 23th and 24th.  We are reworking our Trollbeads Fest website and will have fresh information soon. We have been working on some great plans so clear your calendar and make your travel plans!  We have it listed under "Events" on our Forum.

If you are looking for individual Pink and Turquoise Agates and can't hand select at a local dealer we will be listing them on Trollbeads Gallery shortly. We will also be listing many more Picasso Jaspers in the coming week so keep your eyes on the What's New Page!!   Our Retired Trollbeads Gallery website will be offering many new "old" Trollbeads once I get them listed in the next few days. From Big Fruit, Crane, Large BOF, 3 Red Armadillos, many retired Pink Ambers to the Tulip Lock...we have a lot to share! From changing the prices and adding all of the beads I've mentioned I think I'll be very busy!

We are about to announce a photography contest (I have mentioned it) and we are just nailing down the logistics and prizes. My idea is to lighten up the end of winter by adding some comedy so start thinking up funny Trollbeads photos. If you follow the link to Facebook you can see the photo of the Baby Trolls Beach PartyI took last summer. We are thrilled to announce Isabel and Nicholas Aagaard will be judging the contest! It was originally planned for the Trollbeads Gallery Facebook page and may still be there but for those of you who aren't on Facebook I don't want to exclude you. If you are on Facebook and not yet on our page please join our by clicking "Like Us". Trollbeads Gallery Facebook!   You'll see Trollbeads here that I don't show on the forum... just for variety!

One more thing!  I want to remind you to go to "Groups" and check them out and please join your local group or create one if you don't have one for your state or your country. This is a great place to learn about your local Trollbeads events so it is very worthwhile joining!!  New members are joining everyday and our international members are joining in great numbers and our groups will be getting busier!  Welcome to all of you.  If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me at:

louise@trollbeadsgallery.com

Warm Regards, Louise

 PS. Here is one of the kits! Don't forget that Trollbeads are now available in kits! Save $31.00!

 

 

 

 

Our Trollbeads Gallery Forum is quite simply a very special place to be if you love Trollbeads.  Our members are from all over the world and it was only about a month ago when we hit 2000 members on our Trollbeads Gallery Forum.  With each member our collective knowledge grows exponentially and our members are both adding to and benefitting from this knowledge base by being a part of it. We have an amazing group of collectors and it is growing stronger!

Our newest benchmark was hit today, Trollbeads Gallery Forum hit its 12,000 Photograph!  Our Forum format allows members to add photographs in a stream, based on when a photo is added.  We limit the subject by allowing only photographs of Trollbeads and by keeping the photos on target we are making sure our Forum is the best format for both serious collectors and for new collectors.  The photograph section allows photos to be featured and I try to change these daily. The serious collectors are always interested in seeing other collections and the new collector becomes easily inspired by seeing all the different uses of Trollbeads.  Trollbeads are very visual and by sharing our passion through photographs we all connect through what we love. Another reason our forum photos are so popular may be how they allow our members to communicate to each other even though we may speak dozens of different languages.

One of our members Ginger is a phenomenal photographer (Ginger conducted a very popular photography seminar at the Trollbeads Fest!2010)and she has added a group on our Forum where she has given her techniques and tricks for taking good Trollbeads photos.  I advise everyone to visit and review her ideas. The better the picture, the better our Forum! You can ask her questions and easily follow her advise and become a super photographer. Don't be disappointed if your images don't come out perfect the first time. The photography of jewelry is very difficult but with Ginger, you have a great teacher. To be a member of her group you will need to join our Forum but here is a link to Ginger's Photography Trollbeads Gallery Group.

The image above is one of Ginger's photographs. Thank you Ginger!

If you're not a member of Trollbeads Gallery Forum, please join and travel through our photos and transport yourself to Trollbeads Nirvana!

Below is a brand new photograph from Ginger!  I had to include it!

Trollbeads New 2011 Spring Release is out and so is the verdict! There isn’t anything from the new release I would advise you not to add to your Trollbeads collection. Honestly it is, overall, the best of the best and I can’t wait to get to work with the beads in the gallery and really dig in designing with them! The best part of this new collection is the brand new availability of the Glass 1 beads in sets! A set is made up of 6 glass Trollbeads and you only pay for 5! Pictured below is the new "Beach Set".

 

 

  Sets have been available in Europe but TrollbeadsUS chose not to offer them in this way. With the new U.S. distributor we are able to offer a number of predetermined themed sets all based around beads from a particular release. Examples being the “New Black and White Kit” set which has 6 black and white Trollbeads from a 2010 release and includes the Black Armadillo, White Flower, Black Bubbles among others.

There is the ”Desert Kit” (shown below) which includes all three Desert Trollbeads, Deep Bubbles, Khaki Stripe and Desert Flower.

To view all of sets offered view the “What’s New” on Trollbeads Gallery. Two new sets have been introduced with the 2011 Spring Release using all twelve new glass beads, the “Beach Kit” and the “Flower Kit”. The “Milky Quartz” is the new Precious Stone addition and it offer us a white bead that ranges from bright white to a darker white so owning one is not going to be enough! The new Fantasy Pendant bead is the sterling “Shadow Flower” and it uses the Pearl of the Fantasy Necklace to form delicate petals that encompass the pearl. Beautiful silver work!

The “Double Heart” is a nice departure from the sweeter scale hearts already in production and it has a “techno-romantic” style to it lending it more to the contemporary look. Sales have been excellant and people seeing for the first time are surprised how much more they like it in person!

 

 

 

 

 

“Cherry Blossom” (shown to the left) offers a GREAT bead somewhat in the style of “Forget Me Not” but in a balanced bead. The size is so usable and round. The “Family of Kittens” and the “Family of Puppies” are needed addition as house pets go but they also serve to tell me I need stronger glasses. Both of these beads are wonderfully rendered once you see the detail. I am thrilled they have added more pet beads because we all know the dog and cat market is enormous and we definitely needed more to offer these loving pet owners. One of the best beads of this release is actually a surprise to me because before I saw it in person I simply though, oh this is nice. Then when it came in I ran around our stores and showed it to everyone exclaiming how amazing it was and that is the Palm Island. I mean let’s face it here in New England we don’t get very excited about Palm trees, or you would think! This bead is a beauty!!! You can’t see it in the website photo but the ball is a beautiful soft translucent ocean blue with, are you ready??? Sparkles!! It looks just like the shimmering seas and the tree itself is standing on a sand colored mound, hence the “Palm Island”. If the gang had this bead on Gilligan’s Island they wouldn’t have spent 98 episodes trying to get off the island. So my advice to you would be run, don’t walk to Trollbeads Gallery and order up! We have loads and loads of inventory or run to your local dealer as soon as you can!

Shown above is the Nielsen and Aagaard Family

This article has been written for you the Trollbeads collectors, to keep you informed about last weeks procedings between Trollbeads and Lund Trading.  Don't fear the changes, celebrate them! As I write this I am sure many other changes will occur before all is settled and I will report them to you.

As many of you know there are many changes in the air for Trollbeads and for its U.S. retailers. On Tuesday, January  31^st U.S. Trollbeads retailers received a letter from Trollbeads Corporate explaining they would be taking over the distributorship for Trollbeads in the U.S. and ending their relationship from Lund Trading as of January 31^st.  You can imagine as retailers we were very concerned as to what this would mean for the future of Trollbeads here in the states.    I personally needed to have more clarification before I was certain the transition would be smooth and without any legal ramifications. As retailers we have been working closely with Lund and have enjoyed a positive working relationship with the office support staff so the change has sent unsettled feelings though many retailers.  We needed more information to understand the reasons and the purpose for this drastic change but with the new bead release in the balance retailers were in a very difficult position.  Hour by hour we tried to work out what the best course would be.  Some retailers placed the new bead orders with Lund and some went right over to Trollbeads without looking back.

On Wednesday we received a letter from Lund’s attorney telling us, in brief, their contract with Trolllbeads was still in place and would be until 2014.  It went on to say that any attempt by any third party to sell to us would be dealt with by legal proceedings.   For retailers the legalese came across as threatening and at this point I was contacted by other retailers worrying as to the seriousness for them and for the orders they had place with Trollbeads and did these orders place them in legal liability.  In reading the document over while it felt threatening I believed the warning was only meant for Trollbeads.  It was also the next step any attorney would have taken at this point. 

Still at a point of not knowing where to turn and whose allegiance we should place out trust in, Lund took action and placed a temporary restraining order on Trollbeads at the a state level.  Trollbeads was in the position of having to send a letter through their attorneys, to retailers explaining due to the terms of the court order we were not to contact them in any way and vice versa.  Once again retailers were sent into a tailspin not knowing where the new beads would come from and if they would come at all.  It was my feeling that Lund had determined that the well -being of its retailers was not its main concern.  The letter from Trollbeads attorneys explained in greater depth the reasons what led Trollbeads to break the contract with Lund.  Among them being the owner of Lund, he reportedly had made secretive actions to create his own brand of beads while having parameters within his contract not to be involved with any competing companies.  In essence we were brought into the loop and given the respect due to us as the main vehicles that drove Lund to the success that it had within the U.S.  It wasn’t much to ask and Trollbeads showed us more respect in what was only their second communication, than Lund had in all of our years of dealing with them.  The letter went on to propose that in creating and producing his own line of beads, Lund’s owner had not only ignored the terms of his contract but he used information he received from Trollbeads to do so.  So there we were as retailers with no clear captain at the helm and I can say for myself as aTrollbeads retailer for 4 years and as the top U.S. dealer as I write this, I was extremely concerned and lost a lot of sleep.  We were assured this order would be dissolved but when?  Courts can take all the time in the world.

On Wednesday night, February 2^nd we received a letter from Trollbeads telling us a Federal Court judge dissolved Lund’s restraining order with lightning speed.  Trollbeads United States would immediately commence with the shipping of new beads.  It was great news but tempered by the fact we also know it may be only until Lund can come up with another blocking tactic.  In the long run it is evident who will be the victor but the turmoil Lund has involved us all in is not right. It was between Trollbeads and Lund and the retailers should not have been dragged into it.

 This change was more than necessary and it will mean great things for Trollbeads dealers and collectors in the United States.  The visions the Aagaard’s have for Trollbeads and what it wants to invest in marketing will make the company so much stronger and it’s visibility in the U.S. will rise to where it should be and for this we should all be excited.  What we will be a part of is a whole new generation of the Trollbeads evolution and of the Trollbeads family.  Trollbeads-United States will be managed and run by Lise Aagaard’s (CEO of Trollbeads International) 2 sons, Robin and Nicolas and her daughter Isabel.  For a short term they will be directed by Lise’s husband Peter, who will stay as long as the transition requires the added and experienced management.  All of this is very important for me because this familial continuity is why Trollbeads stands so far above all the other interchangeable bead brands.   The endless fount of inherited creativity along with the steady steerage by the Nielsen/Aagaard family exhibits a perfect balance between artistry and business acumen.   Earlier generations have created, nurtured and maintained this brand and with this next generation, it will continue to thrive and offer their collectors an even greater depth of Trollbeads development.

To see the new 2011 Spring Trollbeads Collection follow this link.

 

With all the outstanding Trollbeads releases in 2010 it has taken a full 5 articles to complete the story, with this being the final one.  The World Tour of Trollbeads continued with the set for Italy. The glass bead was created in the colors of the Italian Flag and the silver beads all had great meaning to the history of Italy including pasta wrapping around a fork!

The final World Tour Trollbeads set for 2010 was for Holland complete with 4 beads also including a windmill, wooden shows and a bead representing Van Gogh's Sunflowers! All great designs for a great country filled with many Trollbeads fanatics!

 

 

 

 

 

 

You would think the year was full and productive as it stood but next came the extraordinary "Skeleton" necklace, available only in Europe. It was sensationally dramatic with a gold collar and it was unlike anything yet produced by Trollbeads. This may have not been the most popular release due to its size and price but it served to show us there is still a wildly adventurous side to this great company!  I would love to find one for our Trollbeads Museum!

The most popular release was the introduction of the Limited Edition Picasso Jasper Trollbeads.  These are natural, organic and very popular! It's releases like this one that puts Trollbeads so far above the other brands and I hope they never stop testing the limits. Each Picasso Jasper bead has a variety of veining and colorations giving great drama.

Natural stone, when polished, has a quality to it that separates if from glass and amber giving it Trollbeads a nother whole medium to offer its collectors.

Trollbeads Gallery offers the Picasso Jasper here!

 

 

 

The last release for 2010 was the Holiday Trollbeads collection offering a few very spirited beads! New earring components, the Ice Bear, Sparkling Star, Pink Diamonds bead were among the new releases along with others shown in the image below.

 

Accompanying the Winter Trollbeads were two sets of new glass offered as a Limited Edition.Christmas in Hawaii and Christmas in Australia each offers a new depth of colors and designs never before seen!Trollbeads Gallery offers the Limited Edition Christmas Trollbeads here! They are available both as sets and as individual beads.

Thank you for your outstanding imagination and creativity Trollbeads!! We all very excited with anticipation for 2011!

 

As the year 2010 moves forward in the land of Trollbeads, the company puts forth a vote to the collectors to celebrate the completion of the Trollbeads Museum, a virtual museum showcasing the history of Trollbeads through all of the beads ever released. We were all asked to vote on the one bead we would like to see re-released to herald the new museum.  The winner was announced on May 31st...the big Earth bead designed by Nicolas Aagaard, a third generation Trollspring.* It would be released in the fall release. We love having the bead a part of the collection, thank you Nicolas!
The summer brought us the new earring componants and the announcement second annual People's Bead contest. The U.S. was thrilled that the winner was one of our own, Kristi Denning! Her "Ice Bear" design was introduced with much success in the Trollbeads December release.

 

 

 

Fall brought the introduction of the World Tour with the introduction of individual country sets of beads. The first stop was appropriately Denmark. The beads included an amber bead, a glass flower bead and 2 silver beads. They are shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The World Tour beads are available only within the country of release yet with the determination of most collectors, many share with friends around the world.  I think my favorite bead is the Frog Prince from Germany.  The German set is featured below!

We will finish up the year with our final article of 2010's year in review part 5!

*Trollspring definition=noun. authentic trollbeads offspring.

 

 

As we continue the accomplishments of Trollbeads for the last year we move on to the Limited Edition Spring Flower sets, Pink and Blue. As with other special releases these were available for a short time and only to Premier Dealers. Premier Dealers are the retailers who sell no other interchangeable bead line. The two Flower sets were composed of 6 beads each and were strategically designed for each set to create complimentary colors for a bracelet or if you wished, the beads could be purchased individually. For the U.S. this was the first time the very unique designs were available to the collectors. Unique beads or OOAK, as they are called in Europe, were being offered abroad in these designs for a while prior to this release.

Right on the heal of the Spring Flower sets Trollbeads stepped up to answer the desperate needs of Haiti following the horrific Earthquake of January 2010 by producing the Haiti Empowerment Sets of Trollbeads. This release brought an even wider and more extraordinary range of new Trollbeads designs to the U.S. and the success was great for Trollbeads, for the collectors and for Haiti. By the end of the release Trollbeads was able to donate close to $300,000 to Haiti’s Habitat for Humanity which provided housing for 50,000 Haitians. As you probably know Habitat for Humanity is a not for profit organization that helps communities build homes for low income home ownership. In Haiti’s case the displacement of so many people has caused an on-going desperate need for housing.

Like other Empowerment Trollbeads the center core is made larger so all bead collectors can partake in the cause. Pandora and Chamelia both require the larger opening.  Below are examples of the Haiti Empowerment Trollbeads.

Continuing the discussion on Trollbeads 2010 we move on to the Spring Collection.  In February 2010 Trollbeads released a beautiful collection of new bead designs.  For collectors it was a very welcomed release because it offered a series of black beads and we know how black can be both stylishly modern and pin-stripe suit conservative. Black Armadillo, Black Bubbles, Fashion Flower, Chess, and the new Zebra (not to be confused with the old retired Zebra) are staples in every collection. You can take a bracelet of black and white Trollbeads and add only one other color and it changes the look entirely. The colors that look the best with the black and white beads are red, hot pink and lime green.

 

 

 

The “Aventurine” bead was introduced and like many of the natural “Precious Stone” beads it comes in a variety of tones and lends itself to many applications.  See accompanying photo below.

 Don’t be afraid to use green in any design as it is in the middle of the color wheel and looks good with many complimentary and contrasting colors.  This release saw the two new tassel beads (shown in photo above) in white pearl and black spinel.  The earlier drop pearls had just been discontinued and the tassel beads have a more up to date, cleaner look.  Filling the gap for” baby” beads, the” Little Boy” and the” Little Girl” beads were introduced alongside the “Hope” bead.  Soft blue, soft pink and soft mint green pearlescent/opaque glass with one cz in each bead.  The silver “Zucchini Flower” bead is big and can be used on standard necklaces, Fantasy Necklaces and on bracelets.  I use mine on a bracelet.  The “Soccer Ball” was happily welcomed by all the soccer moms we sell to and this is one of only 3 beads with any hint toward sports so it fills void. There are other beads that deserve mention but will only name two more I use a lot.  The “Paradise Birds” and the “Carved Flowers” both have the heavier feel and width of the “Limited Edition China” (from 2009) and the “Jugend” bead.  The height and width of these beads allows them to be positioned next to glass beads and they are level with the glass so they don’t get lost.  Finishing up the release was the addition of the “Swan Lock”.  I don’t know any Trollbeads Collector who isn’t always wishing for a new lock and The “Swan Lock”  is regal and  beautiful  and has been very popular. 

As far as the versitality of your use of Trollbeads goes the Spring Collection also introduced the double stand leather bracelets.  These are youthful but can also be sophisticated depending on how you dress them up or down. The leather cord is square and just large enough to effectively hold each bead in place so there is no need to fill the bracelet. 

Offered in red, beige, brown and black leather there is such variety it ends up a challenge to come up with the best look.  A nice surprice for me was these bracelets when purchased in the larger size makes a dynamite necklace!

Ok Trollbeads we are all ready for the 2011 Spring release so bring it on!