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  This article has been written by Anna Teresa Bellinzis, a Trollbeads collector from the Netherlands and our own Trollbeads blog contributor! This is her third article! Thank you Anna Teresa.

Trollbeads fans can be divided in several groups. The ones that immediately pop up in my head are young mothers who start collecting after their first child is born. They buy beads that really have a special meaning for them. I think of baby boy, baby girl and hope. And also the letter beads, cherub, baby and one of the Horoscope signs.

There are people that wear Trollbeads as the modern bead that it is. They buy beads at specials moments. Graduation, a new house or job, birth of a child, anniversary or birthday. They collect bit by bit beads and their bracelet grows quietly to a piece of jewelry with a great story behind it.

There are grandmothers who buy a Trollbead bracelet for their grandchildren, having the Trollbeads as a part of their relationship makes them closer.

There are men who want to express their creativity and love with a Trollbead bracelet that is really personal and that can express how they feel. You know there are men that need help in that area!

There are collectors who are attracted like bees are to honey to the gorgeous beads that are like little pieces of artwork. Of course the meaning of the bead matters, but the color, the shape and the detail really stand out.

They can’t pass a jeweler without peeking in the bead case. Stare and drool all over a single bead as if it is their first one.

Collectors that can stare and drool all over a single bead as if it is their first one. I guess I belong to that last group collectors. I see Trollbeads as a finishing touch of my outfit. And since I like to wear every day another outfit, I like to wear different beads every day. Some days I like to wear serene outfits and make a matching ton-sur-ton bracelet and necklace . Other days I really want to sparkle and shine and make a splashing bracelet. So I have beads in almost every color and every style. Before I go to bed, after putting my clothes ready for the next day, I take my bead box and start making my bracelet. Of course I can change my mind in a minute. So when I pull out the bracelet after brushing my teeth my husband starts laughing out loud and asks: Are you going to wear something else, dear? But sometimes I ask myself: why bother? Who cares which beads I wear? Do you get compliments every day about your designs? But I know people do notice, my mother for one. Last night sitting at her kitchen table she took my wrist and looked for minutes at my beads. She really liked the purple flower mosaic, adored the fairy and loved the happy universe. She said that if she had Trollbeads she would play with them every day. Her pleasure is a real compliment for me and the money I put into my hobby. But even without compliments like that, I will always wear my beads. Just because they make me feel pretty.

Photographs (and beads) are from Anna Teresa!

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