Trollbeads information that can inspire your creativity with your own Trollbeads collection. Share your thoughts, be involved and please leave comments!

As many of you know Trollbeads Gallery as well as other U.S. Platinum dealers, will On Monday. August 16th will have the new Trollbeads listed. http://www.trollbeadsgallery.com/

 

 With the release "Autumn, 2010" a new face has come upon the scene and joined the ranks of other extremely talented jewelry designers. In the Trollbeads Book released this year we were given a view into the designers lives and into their creativity.  We got to know them and know their work. Now we have Kim Buck and let me tell you a little about Kim. Kim is a Danish jewelry designer who works for George Jensen, a world renowned silver company with over 100 years of Global recognition.  For an interesting view of the company and to understand Kim's background see the link below.  Buck's work is fresh, exciting and very original. As a Danish artisan he keeps to the Nordic cool, clean and sophisticated line in his designs but manages to work in his detail without the eye even recognising it and when you see his beads you will understand what I am talking about. I am very excited about his new Trollbeads designs, I am sure you will love them too and I can't wait to see his future designs for Trollbeads.

Visit his website and see his extraordinary work. http://www.buck.dk/

Visit the website of George Jensen Global.  Watch the videos!!

If you love Trollbeads and haven't done so, join our Trollbeads Gallery Forum ...we have just listed all the information about Trollbeads Fest 2010.  Join to Register.

More about Trollbeads Fest in a bit!

Word has just come from Trollbeads U.S. that a new Trollbead release will out to Premier Platinum Trollbeads dealers by August 16th-17th. Trollbeads Gallery will send out an email the second we get them in.

We have not been given marketing images yet so I can't show you how beautiful they are but I can give a description.  First, you all know they are re-releasing the beautiful old Earth Bead, designed by Nicholas Aagaard, a member of the third generation of the famous Trollbeads family.  Earth is a large scale Trollbead and quite handsome.  It's a great bead for men but will work well on necklaces and large bead bracelets for everyone! I can't wait to see the Earth bead on the leather necklaces.

The new glass bead sets are wonderfully different.  Two sets of 6 beads each, available separately.  One set has the tones of a "lake in the forest in autumn". Two of the beads have a wonderful thick glass swirl on the surface and two of the beads are Flower beads.  The other set of new glass beads are like tiny canvases of contemporary art.  Red, Green and other strong colors and will be sure to add a spark of color to your holiday bracelets and autumn bracelets.

There is a new set of silver horoscope zodiac beads.  Each bead is a tiny sculpture and they are all very Troll like in their style and detail. The rams head is another very masculine bead and until I see the beads in person, I can't comment on the others but I can't wait to see them!  Also in silver are 3 new "shape" or design beads and I think they will be great for men or woman.

There are 3 new Precious Stone beads.  Golden quartz, which is GORGEOUS!!!!  It is faceted and will give texture, warmth and  sparkle to your jewelry designs.  Chalcedony and Tigers Eye is in the smooth stone finish and the same size as the smooth version of the Rose Quartz bead.  All three new stone Trollbeads are such great additions to the Precious Stone group which like so many other reasons, places Trollbeads so far above any of the competing bead lines. 

It may seem like a long wait in Troll time but in a week's time we will have them!

Thank you Trollbeads for another phenomenal batch of beads!!

Amber Trollbeads are one of the most exciting of the natural or “from nature” beads in the Trollbeads line.  Amber is a very intriguing material because of its age and for its qualities.  Amber jewelry has been around for thousands of years but Trollbeads is the first and only modern day interchangeable bead line to use Amber for their beads.  Trollbeads has worked with amber and developed techniques to shape, drill and polish it until a bead is created.  Trollbeads has 4 amber beads in four tones, Alabaster, Honeydew, Maple Syrup and Caramel Sunset.

Trollbeads also offers unique amber beads available in sets as picture below.The unique amber Trollbeads are remarkable little sculptures!!

The excitement surrounding amber and the amber Trollbeads is all about ambers’ prehistoric age. The age of amber ranges between 30 to 50 million years old.  It started out as very thick and sticky sap that dropped from trees.  This sap was so sticky anything that came in contact with it would become stuck and as more sap ran, whatever was stuck became encased in the resin.  The value of amber is less based on its color and more on the inclusions and what they are.  I have seen whole bugs trapped, in perfect condition, within an amber Trollbead.   It is remarkable to hold something so ancient. Historians found that the Paleolithic era had amber gemstones (45000 - 12000 B.C.) and the nomadic hunters of the Mesolithic age (12000 - 4000 B.C.) used amber in their hunting.  The hunters carved phases of the moon, the animals and visually recorded the hunting season on amber.  During the Neolithic era (4000-1900 B.C.) amber jewelry became a symbol of wealth and the rich were using it as gifts.  Later in future B.C. centuries the Greeks and Romans used amber in decorative inlay work alongside gold and ivory creating art objects and vessels.

Through different mining operations around the world scientists have collected thousands of pieces and discovered there are over 1000 species of extinct insects in amber.  Imagine the knowledge scientists have gained from this incredible prehistoric material.  

As with all stones and gems there is a wealth of material on the healing powers of amber.  It is said that amber brings great relief to people with pain and medical problems with the neck, head and throat areas of the body.  Wearing a necklace of amber has supported this theory and there is evidence that amber helps the nasal passages.  In the thousands of years of amber’s history many cultures recognized the health benefits.  An amber bracelet has been and still is advised to people suffering from rheumatism and arthritis. Amber is also used to counteract fatigue. This is one of the reasons why wearing amber jewelry is recommended for anyone older than fifty.  Today in many health spas they use amber, which is ground to a dust form and added to cream when giving messages. Be it fact or folklore it is a popularly held notion that the use of amber jewelry ensures health and good luck. If you believe in the diverse healing benefits of amber than you’re on your way to a healthier life.   I don’t know about you but I have decided to wear my Trollbeads Amber bracelet every day.

Trolllbeads Gallery Unique Amber

Trollbeads Gallery Amber

 List of Amber Facts:

• Transparent
• Hardness is 2+
• Deep dark orange red to a light transparent
• It is very light (is said to float in salt water) With or without silver core, I can’t say!
• Age: 30 to 50 Miliion Years old. 
• Found all over the world but notable mines are in the Baltic region.

At  the time of this writing Trollbeads has released a total of 11 Precious Stone beads.  Our last Trollbeads Gallery Blog article was all about Labradorite and this article will be about Aventurine.

Of all the green Trollbeads , Aventurine is the richest and the most variable in respect to color and translucency.  From the picture I have featured here you can see the wide variety of tones which makes it a fun Trollbead to hunt for.  I am personally collecting as many tones of Aventurine Trollbeads as I can and I plan on using them on a bracelet starting with the lightest to the darkest.  When you read more about the stone, I’m sure you’ll want more than one because as far as folklore and features, there isn’t much it can’t do.

While Trollbeads only uses green Aventurine, it actually exists in a fairly large assortment of colors and within each color, a large assortment of tones.  Besides the green and blue-greens, Aventurine comes in blue, brown, yellow, orange and red.   Because Aventurine can have semi-transparent tendencies  if you look close in the right light, an Aventurine Trollbead will sparkle deep within the stone. (see photograph) The sparkle effect, called aventurescence, is due to small particles of reflective minerals such as mica, which is silvery.  Our darker toned beads tend to show it more but that is due to the contrasting tones between the silver mica and the deep emerald green.  The hardness on the Moh’s scale is very similar to Labradorite, at 6.5.  Aventurine has been mined from all over the world.

The name “Aventurine” comes from the Italian phrase “per avventura”, which translate to “by chance”.  The story is that in the 18^th century  glass workers in Venice were working with molten glass when by accident some copper shavings fell into the vat of glass.  The effect was beautiful as the copper sparkled within the glass and this all happened “by chance”.  The aventurine stone looks just like this glass, so the stone was assigned this name.  I love the connections that occur within the Trollbeads world and this stone’s very name has a direct connection to Italian glass and so many Trollbeads are made from Italian glass. 

Due to its lengthy history and worldwide availability, Aventurine has filtered into many cultures and like many stones has centuries of folklore and benefits attributed to it.  I have compiled a list of some of the stones attributes.  Like I said before, apparently there isn’t much this stone can’t do and I am very glad I am making a whole bracelet out of it.

• Tibetan Folklore says that aventurine cures myopia and invigorates creativity.
• Aventurine brings prosperity into your life.  A talisman for fortune.
• A general good luck stone, it has been used in games to the holder the extra power to win.
• Provides emotional well being by reducing stress .
• It helps you to see past the roadblocks in your life by helping you to recognize solutions.
• For centuries it has been used as a fertility charm whether it be for a child or a fresh idea.
• Is used for success in goals involving wealth, strength and independence.
• Assists in helping you give up old fears that hold you back from success.
• Will help you heal from emotional trauma and the wounds left behind.
• Has been said to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Relieves allergies and migraines, calm the nervous system and strengthen the heart.
• Placing it your garden and in your home will proteck you from geopathic stress caused by underground water and fault lines.
• If you wear this stone it will protect you from environmental pollution.
• Protects the heart chakra.
• Very good for your lower back (sciatica). 
• Decisiveness: - Assists one in making the "right" decisions.

Exciting News!!

Another Trollbeads Denmark Contest!! I have just received word that Trollbeads Denmark has sent the notice out to its distributors, dealers  and customers, they have decided to run a 2010 People’s Bead Contest.  They feel that because they received thousands of beautiful and inspiring bead designs for the 2009 People’s Bead Contest, they decided to run it again! This time around there is a very quick time frame and they are asking everyone to submit ideas, drawings and photographs of  your designs for a future Trollbead! The deadline is August 22^nd.  So put your Troll-creativity into warp speed and start drawing! Just imagine a bead you wish was in the line and draw it. It's all about the idea and not the actual drawing so don't worry if you can't draw!

One hundred of their favorite designs will receive a bracelet and a lock with the winning bead as a special gift.  From this group Trollbeads Denmark will pick ten finalists.  From this group of ten all have a chance to vote for the 2010 winner!  We will have a week to vote for our favorite bead.

The winner will have their design added to the collection this December.  As a Trollbeads designer the winner will receive royalties from all the winning beads' sales and the winner will also receive the bead in 18K Gold.

The winner of the Trollbeads 2009 People’s Bead Contest was Suzanne Hopping from Australia with her exquisite design for the “Pax” Trollbead. Suzanne’s design won from over 8000 entries submitted.  Her bead is a dove with its wings around earth holding an olive branch in its beak. It is a beautiful bead in image and in meaning.  Suzanne and her design winning bead is in the large coffee table book “An Icon In Jewellry Design-Trollbeads”.  If you don’t have a copy yet you may want it! 

 Suzanne is now a friend of ours and of many fellow collectors on Trollbeads Gallery Forum and we are very excited because she will be coming to Rogers Gallery/Trollbeads Gallery, all the way from  Australia for a very special event (October 15 & 16,news to come!) and she will be at our event signing the books!   

People's Bead Contest 2010

In 2008 Trollbeads introduced the first release of Precious Stone Beads.   It was the beginning of what would become a very strong category for Trollbeads.   Designed by Lise Aagaard, they are faceted beads made entirely of stone with the standard Trollbeads silver core.  The stone beads are roughly 13 mm x 6 mm which makes them wider than the glass Trollbeads and taller than the Prism glass Trollbeads.   Each facet is cut into the raw stone as a diamond cutter would cut a diamond and for this reason the Precious Stone beads create a totally new reflection for your Trollbead jewelry.  The Prism beads have facets but Prisms are glass beads created in a mold so the facets have softer edges and aren’t as sharp and reflective as the facets in the stone beads.

One of my favorites is the Labradorite Precious Stone Bead.  Although the color of the stone is gray with streaks of black veining, the stone displays an array of colors according to the angle of light refraction.  This is what makes this one stone so much more fascinating to people.  The arrays of colors that “flash” within the stone can be greens, blues, pinks and yellows. The flash is referred to as “Labradorescence”.  Troll collectors are always on the hunt for the flash colors that go with a particular color theme Trollbead bracelet but they end up being more and more charmed by the unpredictability of the flashes and the color ends up not mattering as much.  Each stone seems to speak to the person selecting it.

Labradorite, sometimes referred to as spectrolyte, is a mineral that belongs to the plagioclase feldspar group. The chemical elements are a combination of sodium, calcium, silicone and aluminum. This mineral distinguishes itself through its mysterious and captivating iridescent glow and each Labradorite Trollbead will have it.  I have personally seen all four color families as mentioned above, but I have also seen the exterior of the stone come in light grays to very dark grays.   On the Mohrs Scale, which ranks the hardness of stones on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the diamond, Labradorite is a 6.5.  Labradorite ranks at the top of the semi-precious stones in both brilliance and hardness.

I have enjoyed researching the various stones and discovering the different meanings each stone has.  There is so much legend and lore to stones and I can see why Trollbeads has chosen to add stones to the line as so many of the Troll beads are developed from lore and legends.  For many centuries, the occult used labradorite to relieve conditions such as headaches, depression and anxiety. The curative powers of labradorite heal illnesses associated with the eyes, brain and the intestinal tract.   In today’s world Labradorite is considered a “power” stone.  Having the stone will allow you to see through layers and illusions to determine what your actual dreams are.  It is also believed that labradorite will strengthen your intuitive powers, stimulate your imagination and creativity and also help you to develop new ideas through deeper interest and enthusiasm.  As a talisman Labradorite helps you see more clearly, without distractions, in meditation.  Do you have your Labradorite Trollbead yet? Trollbeads Gallery is happy to hunt for the best Labradorite bead for you and will send photographs if needed.

 From the Trollbeads Description: This stone is also known as the transformation stone, or star stone. It is said to contain dust from the stars and the bluish-green iridescent light that shines from its heart, is the light from a star fog embedded there by alien creatures from strange worlds. It gives strength and constitution.

This is the second of two articles discussing the sale of Fake Trollbeads on Ebay.  As an authorized dealer of Trollbeads I do research on anything that may damage the brand Trollbeads.

This is a follow-up from the first article I wrote about the Ebay seller Wiki Piki.  To get to the bottom of the situation I purchased beads from Wiki The beads came in last week and they were definitely fake, albeit good fakes but definitely counterfeit. 

I went to "My Ebay" and registered my complaint.  I checked the box that tells Ebay that the seller I purchased from was advertising the brand version but delivered a counterfeit item.  They actually have a box for that.  This gave me some hope that Ebay would take action against the seller.  I was then able to check off that I wanted a full refund.  Today I received my full refund.  That should make me happy, but it doesn't.  For one thing the seller was admitting guilt by refunding me my money immediately.  For another thing Ebay, whose computer systems are huge, obviously knows about the incident but still allows Wiki Piki to continue to sell. I checked today and the seller is still selling the fake Trollbeads to unsuspecting buyers.

How can Ebay allow this to happen?  I may be naive but I really hoped they would take responsibility when the facts were presented to them so clearly.  Apparently not.

How many collectors are buying these beads thinking they are real Trollbeads? I'm sure if someone is new to collecting they wouldn't know the difference.  This is the way the market gets diluted and later when a collector who has unknowingly purchased these beads goes on to resell them, the line becomes more diluted. This is why brands bring lawsuits against Ebay.  Take this one example and multiply it by the thousands of fake beads being sold on Ebay and imagine the detriment. 

I am not advising this because I am a dealer, but in order to be totally safe in your purchases, to protect your collection and the brand, buy only from Authorized Trollbeads dealers. If you can't find the Trollbead you want from a dealer, buy from a seller you know has first hand knowledge of the provenance of the Trollbeads they are selling and who have a good reputation.  Do your research before you buy, the future value of of your collection depends upon it as does the future of Trollbeads.

ADDITION: On August 1st I received information from Ebay that this seller is no longer selling on Ebay.  Our efforts worked!!

Trollbeads Gallery continues to share and support our love of Trollbeads through out our Forum and Facebook page.  To thank our Facebook friends and to find some new friends we are offering a wonderful group of useful Trollbeads gifts. Our Trollbeads Facebook Page is having a drawing every Friday through the summer.Join in the fun and win a great group of useful Trollbeads products.  The silver earrings were created by Tina Yelton at Whimsy and are so much fun to design your combinations and wear!

To enter the drawing all you need to do is to click on the Thumb's Up to

"LIKE US" tab and you will be in the running! 

Just follow the link and join us!  The prizes shown in the photograph are listed below:

1 Troll Collector's Clutch

1 Troll Polishing Cloth

1 Pair of Whimsy Silver Earrings that hold Trollbeads!

August 14th Update!  We have changed the prize from earrings to a sterling, stick style, Trollbeads holding necklace.  Our summer prizes have been enjoyed by our Facebook page fans!

Trollbeads Gallery Facebook Page

www.TrollbeadsGallery.com

www.Retired TrollbeadsGallery.com

TrollbeadsGalleryForum

Our drawings are held at Noon and we send the winner a message notifying her/him of their win.  The winner has 48 hours to email us back or we choose a second name!

If you haven't yet joined the Trollbeads Gallery Forum you may want to join for the following reasons and when you discover what is there, you'll have many of your oiwn reasons!

 1. Hear about new beads, bead retirements and any pertinant updates from Trollbeads first.   Timely information like this can be the difference between getting a bead and not!

2. Share your collection through photographs, everyone wants to see the Trollbeads you have. Beyond anything else on the Forum our 8000 plus photographs have inspired more collectors than any other source available.

3. Meet collectors from around the world and hear what they are collecting and how they are using their beads.  Remember Trollbeads has been around for 35 years and some of these collectors have retired beads we have never even seen before.

4. Make many new friends who share a passion with you. Many of our Trollbeads Forum members have traveled great distances to meet each other and to go Troll hunting together.

5. Read fun commentaries such as:

"The Top 10 Reasons you should embrace your Trollbeads addiction". (Under the Troll Masters Group)

6. Join one of the 3 dozen different groups. Including:

"Those that revere retired Trollbeads" group.

"Trollbeads for Men Club" group.

"Troll Master: For Addicts with 4 bracelets and above!" group.

"Troll Jedi Masters-Collectors with 10 or more bracelets." group.

7.Learn about the upcoming 2010 Trollfest!! 

Link to Forum: http://trollbeadsgalleryforum.ning.com/