Pwetty beads

My comissioned beads arrived today and I am sooo pleased with them. I already have beads on my bracelet to represent Adam and Louis and I comssioned 2 beads from Manda at Mango beads for Theo and Dad. Theo's bead is called Buzz and is inspired by Buzz Lightyear, seeing as he is such a big fan and the second bead, for Dad and is inspired by Glenfiddich Whisky, his favoured tipple.

It's difficult to see from the photo but Glen is absolutely gorgeous, the green glass is a perfect colour for a whisky bottle and the burgandy circles have gold flecks in them.

This is the bracelet with all my beads so far.

Toot Toot Mango Beads

I got a bead from Mango Beads (Manda) a couple of weeks ago as a pressie from Mum and I've had a nightmare with Royal Mail.

Manda posted the bead Recorded Delivery on the Monday and by the Friday (when I was going on holiday) it hadn't arrived. I contacted Manda who offered me a full refund but I suggested we wait until I got back from Holiday (the following Friday). I got home to find the envelope in an RM baggy with a note apologising that it had been damaged. There were holes in the baggy and the envelope so I feared the worst . On opening the envelope I found my bead and leather necklets were all in there but there was a tear in the organze bag and tissue paper right through to the bead so I suspect someone had seen the 'handmade jewellery' sticker on the envelope and had opened it but decided it wasn't their kind of jewellery. The clasp on one of the leather necklets was broken so Manda said she'd replace it.

I collected a recorded delivery envelope from Manda this morning and not only did it have my replacement necklet but also a fabulous free bead too, it's the unnamed one in my photo.

Talk about customer service, that is amazing, I am so impressed. Makes me want to buy another one of her beads just to send more business her way.

Left to right the beads are

Mango Beads (Buddy) - Unnamed Freebie

Mango Beads (Buddy) - Ceylon - Pressie from Mum

Trollbead - Blue & White Armadillo - Pressie from DH for losing 1 stone

Trollbead - Silver elephant - Pressie from DH for losing 1/2 stone

Trollbead - Green & Lilac Armadillo - To remind me of DH

A String of Beads (Dolly) - Baby's Blanket - To remind me of DS2

Trollies, Dollies and Buddies

I have found some jewellery that I like / want. I actually asked Adam for some which is very unusual for me, I don't ask for jewellery.

I don't buy jewellery for myself either, I think it should be bought for you for a reason, something that gives the jewellery a sentimental as well as monetary value.

Trollbeads and their friends Buddies and Dollies are beads. The idea behind them is kind of like a charm bracelet but instead of dangly charms, the bracelet has beads (which I prefer 'cause I don't like dangly bracelets). You buy a plain bracelet (or necklace) and add beads individually. I really love this idea 'cause each bead can have a meaning and the whole bracelet kind of tells a story (depending on why you bought your beads of course) so here goes.

- The bracelet was bought with birthday money from my big sis

- The first bead is for Adam - a Trollbead, Green Lilac Armadillo. Green and lilac 'cause that will go with the bead I have planned for Theo and armadillo because Adam has a thing about armadillo's, somthing to do with the book 'A Prayer for Owen Meany' by John Irving

- My second bead is for Louis - a Dolly from A String of Beads called Baby's Blanket.

I've got 2 beads on order from Manda at Mango Beads, 1 each for Theo and my dad. Theo's is going to be Buzz Lightyear inspired (green, grey and purple I think) and Dad's is Glenfiddich inspired (green, gold and black) I'll add pictures when they arrive.

These are the only beads I intend to buy for myself, the rest I'll let others buy for me which will give them the sentimental value I want. (and at between £14 and £20 per bead, very affordable gifts if I do say so myself )

Trollbeads are Danish in origin (I think) and there entire collection of available beads (together with a list of UK suppliers) is on the Fable Trading website. Buddies (Mango Beads) and Dollies (A String of Beads) are one off beads made here in the UK and tend to be sold out within 20 minutes / half an hour of going up for sale so you have to be really quick to get on of those .

Right off to add new links to bead pages now