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The Time is Here!!

If you are a long term collector of Trollbeads you probably know the time has arrived to kick off the People's Bead contest and this year has, I think anyway, the most fun challenge ever!

For the fifth year in a row, Trollbeads is offering you the unique chance to become a Trollbeads designer. Each year thousands of entrys are submitted and the final choices are always voted on by the "people".  Everyone has an equal chance This is your chance to have your bead added to a new Traditional Sayings Collection, and again this year we will have multiple winners!

Now you may be thinking why does Louise think this is the most fun challenge yet? Because when you look around and think of some of the "traditional" sayings they can be quite funny. Culturally it shows the character of your country's history or the character of all the origination of these sayings.  There are so many that come from authors, poets and the pop world from which we can draw inspiration.  Some sayings we may never know where many of them come from and that is fun in itself.  So many traditional sayings have been verbally passed down through the years and through the generations and that's another great thing about this topic!  It offers us a thread that will lead us to even more connections through Trollbeads and afterall that's what they are all about.

 Theme: Traditional Sayings

What: Illustrate your favorite traditional saying in a bead and share it with us!
When: March 18, 2013 – April 10, 2013
How: Upload your design on Trollbeads Universe

Different cultures have different sayings, and we are excited to see which saying means a lot to you and to see how you translate it into the shape of a bead.  Of all submitted designs, 100 beads will be chosen for the final vote and presented on Trollbeads Universe.

At Rogers Gallery/Trollbeads Gallery we have been honored to have 3 of the past Peopel's Bead Award winners join us at Trollbeads Fest.  During Trollbeads Fest! 2010 we had the first winner, Suzanne Hopping from Australia join us along with Kristi Denning from Maryland!  We have been most fortunate to have Kristy live so close to us and she has been to all three Trollbeads Fest.  Suzanne won for her Pax Trollbead (shown above) and Kristi won for her Ice Bear.  The Fest was actually right after Kristi learned she had won the contest and she was able to bring the model she has sent to Trollbeads. Look at the image below and see how she created the bead in 3-D. Trollbeads had suggested you can send your ideas and designs in any format worthy of your design. Try folded paper! Try sculpting clay or whatever you feel most comfortable with!

One of the Third Peoples Bead Winner, Maria Af Rolen also from the US, West Virginia via Stockhlom Sweden joined us during Trollbeads Fest! 2012.  Maria won for her spirituality themed bead "Stay Postive". I have just receive a note from Maria and we have her 2013 entry to show you!  Her Theme is "Man's Best Friend"!

Below I am showing the "Stay Positive" bead and the "World Within" bead which is also a 2012 People's Bead winner by Linda Karuso of Australia.  We are very fortunate to have all 3 Trollbead People's Bead Designers as members on Trollbeads Gallery Forum.

So my dear Trollbeads Friends get out your clay and sharpen your pencils the contest is on! You have only a couple of weeks so "shake a leg" and "get a move on it" and don't forget to vote when the time comes!

Here is a link to a great list of sayings to help you along! Old Sayings Collection

WATCH VIDEO HERE

Good luck to all! 

Louise Rogers

This is so exciting!!!  When you consider the thousands of entries Trollbeads gets for their annual People's Bead contest it is so exciting to have 12 of these finalists on Trollbeads Gallery Forum. This is the 4th year of the contest and this year was the first year a topic was given and it was based on spirituality.  If you haven't looked at the finalists yet on Trollbeads Universe please do and take the time to vote for your favorite beads...you can vote more than on one bead!  Quick-the voting is over on February 26th! So act fast!

The Finalists from Trollbeads Gallery Forum:

Sarah Schoenauer, Brenda Rappo, Kristi Denning, Iris Morrow, Sherrie Pennington, Anne Lilleby, Tina Parker, Linda Karuso, Maria af Rolen, Sue Dowling, Erica Mizzie, Suzanne Hopping, Michele Dellanno.

I wonder what the odds are that 12 winners are a part of this group.  I am not taking personal credit for anything but I have heard it discussed often there is something magical about our Forum and it has something to do with being a part of a group who collectively drench themselves in the spirit of Trollbeads day in and day out in the spirit of sharing your passion in an open and caring way.  I was never a joiner of groups but this has been a perfect example of what being a part of a group can do.  It's capable of providing the positive power to build your sense of esteem and knowledge on the group's common interest. It also affects your willingness to put yourself out there for the whole world to see and to vote on.  Our finalists first had to come up with a concept, then work the ideas into designs and then they had to have the inner strength to submit them.  I think of the commitment they all had and hope you can follow the link to TrollbeadsUniverse and vote for our winners. It is up to us to show the entrants how proud we are of all of them!

Congratulations to all. 

Louise Rogers

Photo above is the Pax and Ice Bear Trollbeads both People's Bead Contest winners from 2009 and 2010 by Suzanne Hopping and Kristi Denning respectively.  Below is Kristi holding the model of her Ice Bear at Trollbeads Fest 2010 and a picture of Suzanne and me (I'm sure we were drinking ginger ale) at the same Trollbeads Fest. Suzanne was visiting from Australia and Kristi is from Maryland. 

Trollbeads Gallery Guest Blog by Suzanne Hopping (First People's Bead Award Winner)

Suzanne Hopping (in below photo)

 It all started in 2003 when the publishing company I worked for as an Art Director, moved premises from a beautiful, renovated, old wharf jutting over Sydney Harbour, to new premises on the north side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

My work colleagues and I were very unhappy with the move as we had lost our stunning views, and amazing location on the water (even though the area we had moved to was very close to the harbour and full of lovely cafes and gorgeous little shops) and although it was still in Sydney it had the look and atmosphere of a quaint village.

While exploring my new surroundings I came across a wonderful little art, craft and gift shop, which sold beads. They had a large display of Pandora, which my workmates were getting into in a big way.

The owner of the shop, Penny offered me a gold Pandora bracelet full of gold charms, which a lady was selling, because she needed the money. I ended up buying it at a very reasonable price. I then noticed there was an amazing bead on this bracelet, which was unlike any of the other Pandora beads. I was told by Penny that it was called a Trollbead (the bracelet owner had it specially fitted onto the Pandora bracelet). It was truly the most magnificent bead I had ever seen! She then told me it was a Trollbead known as the Gold Wisdom! I felt so privileged to have this beauty in the centre of the gold Pandora bracelet I had just purchased!

Of course, I then had to find out more about the origins of this wonderful bead. I was very lucky, as, in the corner of the shop, was a small display of beads, which had been over-shadowed by the Pandora display. Penny told me they were ‘Trollbeads’ and the Gold Wisdom belonged to this family. I was totally gob-smacked by their originality and beauty. They were truly exquisite little works of art, a far cry from the production-line Pandoras, which as far as I was concerned faded into insignificance next to Trollbeads.

I was immediately hooked and started buying these little gems like there was no tomorrow!

In my obsession I fell in love with the translucent and crystal like properties of the Dichroic Ice beads and ended up with twenty-four of them! Yes, you read correctly, TWENTY-FOUR!

I bought every variety of the silver with precious stones. I was also fortunate enough to buy many beads that are now retired – such as the Tibet Tibet, the Purple Bud and many, many more. My only regret is that I wish I knew then, what I know now about Trollbeads, I could have had even more of the older retireds, which now grace both Louise’s museum and the official Trollbead’s museum.

Over the years my Trollbead obsession grew stronger and I ended up with a wonderful book about the history of Trollbeads, which I refer to regularly.

The Gold Wisdom no longer lives on my Pandora bracelet but has pride of place on my Amethyst World Tour Fantasy Necklace.

In 2009 I ended up winning the People’s Bead competition.

But that’s another story …

Trollbeads Fest! 2010 How did this come about?

From my first announcement of Trollbeads Fest! 2010 many people have asked me how this event has come about and how long had I been planning it.  A shadow of an idea came last year when I started plans for the Rogers Gallery/Trollbeads Gallery Trollbeads Museum.  Having the only on-line collection dedicated entirely to retired Trollbeads www.retiredtrollbeadsgallery.com ,I became aware of a great story not yet told and of a history not yet documented or celebrated. At this point in time there was no comprehensive information or collection anywhere that displayed the history of the individual Trollbeads from the beginning of Trollbeads time.* I began researching and investing in as many of the hard to find retired Trollbeads I could find.  As the collection grew every collector that knew about it wanted to know where and when they could see it and this is when the notion came to be.  We would put on an event that would accomplish everything I have ever dreamed of offering my customers, our Trollbeads Gallery Forum members and serious collectors.  I want to offer something so complete, so educational and so inspirational it would be the event all subsequent U.S. Trollbeads events would want to live up to.

 When I first brought this line into Rogers Gallery it was when most people in the U.S. knew very little about it Trollbeads.  It was a challenge for me to tell the story of Trollbeads and to do so before Facebook or any other form of social marketing.  It was before any national branding or advertising campaign.  I started it by telling one person at a time.  My belief in Trollbeads was and is so strong it was never about me “selling” them and it isn’t about selling the most Trollbeads, it’s about telling the Trollbeads story and it’s about representing a line of beads I believe in for their artistry and for their unsurpassed quality.  Selling isn’t selling when it’s sharing and with Trollbeads I really feel that I am sharing. In sharing something you believe in your energy for that product comes from passion.  The only real absolute truth in marketing is passion. In my peculiarly stubborm but strong way I created my own branding and conducted my own campaign to share the news of Trollbeads and it was all fueled by passion.I went as far as designing the first Trollbeads display table when other retailers has the countertop display racks.   I wasn't trying to be different to problematic, it was just the way I had run my gallery for 30 years and every artist or product I represent would get this kind of energy from me.

Trollbeads is the original interchangeable jewelry/bead line and no other subsequent bead line will ever succeed in surpassing Trollbeads in respect to its quality and its history and this is what I want to share and celebrate with everyone I can so how could I best accomplish this?

Trollbeads Fest! 2010

It had to be an event of magnitude that would surpass any Trollbeads Trunk Show by offering much more to the attendees in way of offering them a weekend long experience that would enrich their  Trollbeads knowledge, their Trollbeads friends, their Trollbeads Collection and most importantly enrich their own relationship with Trollbeads.  Collector member forums like Trollbeads Gallery Forum have become a conduit for Trollbeads friendships between people from all over the world and these resulting relationships and communities have become an intimate part of collector’s lives and they spend a great amount time loving their Trollbeads life.  I feel strongly I would like to offer something back in return and I what I have to offer you is Trollbeads Fest!

 Agenda!

Friday: A day at Rogers Gallery!

• Trunk show day Friday! Enjoy a day in the gallery buying and playing with beads. Lunch will be offered and you can spend time getting to know other Trollbeads friends
•  4:00-6:00 PM   Wine and Cheese event at Rogers Gallery. Be a part of the unveiling of the only U.S. Trollbeads Museum. Public images will be limited until after the unveiling.
• Registration 9:00 - ON. (Tickets should be purchased in advance.) $50.00 Entitles you to the event and the gift bag.
• On Saturday Receive a Trollbeads Gift Bag with Exclusive Trollbeads Fest! 2010 gifts including a glass Trollbeads Unique bead, official Trollbeads Playing Cards, Trollbeads Fest! 2010 Etched Coffee Mug, Trollbeads Gallery 2011 Datebook, Official Trollbeads Polishing Cloth and other Trollbeads Fest! 2010 memorabilia.
• Trunk Show Offers! Include Balloon Prizes!! Many,many Trolllbeads and Trollbeads prizes will be a part of the Balloon give away. For ever $150 you spend, you will get a Balloon!
• Stop at any one of our T.E.L.S. and learn more about how to TELL your story through Trollbeads.

1.       Learn to use the Trollbeads Fantasy Necklace in many different ways!

2.       Learn to use the Trollbeads Leather bracelet to best show off your beads!

3.       Learn how to use the new Trollbeads interchangeable earrings!

4.       Ginger, a Trollbeads Gallery member will show how to photograph your beads, even if you just have a point and shoot camera.

• Choose from our VAST collection of Unique Trollbeads, 1400+ BEAUTIES!!
• Shine up your silver Trollbeads. We will have a station set up with a Tumbler and assistant
• We will have our Retired Trollbeads Gallery inventory on hand to view and purchase.
• We will have our Unique Amber collection on view and to purchase.
• We will have all of new and old Unique Trollstones on view and to purchase.
• Suzanne Hopping from Australia, the 2009 People’s Bead Award Winner, will be signing the Trollbeads Coffee Table Book.
• Kristi Denning from Maryland, the 2010 People’s Bead Award Winner will be showing her bead prototype.
• Bead Swap!  In the Trollbeads Café we will have a special table set up just for swapping!
• Harbor Cruise!  The 5:00 Cruise has sold out. We have now added a 3:00 cruise.
• Dinner at 7:00 at the Waterfront Grille. $38.00 per person

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