Retired Beads Hunting is Reborn

Bringing the Fun Back into Retired Bead Shopping

Well, after a few years of de-trolling, I was surprised and delighted to see a few things upon my return to the Troll world:

1) The prices on many retireds have continued to climb & this may sound like a bad thing - but if you are a newer collector this may actually be a great time for you to start collecting from the latest 2018 retirement. Retired bead prices indicate that there is still great interest in the retired market. I remember when the Kimono Kit came out & it was a hard sell. Many retailers took a quite a few years to move all of the beads, but now the kit is averaging 50 Euro per bead. The Mexico & Pearl locks are relatively newly retired, but are fetching decent prices on the second hand market in a much shorter time frame.

2) The "mothership" stock levels of newly retired beads seems to be much lower than in the past. When a bead retires, its not that desirable if it is hanging around for 8 years, in stock at trollbeads.com, seemingly refusing to die. I've noticed the stock for the recent retirements have run out online in many places already. This births a consipiracy theory that Troll is hoarding stock for future promotions, or my favorite: practicing better stock management by reducing levels before retirement. And this means:

3) The fun of hunting for retired beads in-shop has just been reborn! So here are a few of my favorite recent retired beads that are disappearing fast:

Decorative Baby Rabbit - Sporting the alluring flower pattern from Soren Nielsen.

Christmas Rose - again by Soren Nielsen

Babylonian Nymph - Lars Sogaard. You may have overlooked this one, but the detail of the nymph's body is amazing. And even though insects might not be your thing, I find the detail in this complex bead mesmerizing.

Prisms! All of them! Any of them! These are classic beads that are already proving scarce. Historically they have resold & traded well. I'd get out & find them sooner than later if you'd like to get them at a decent price.

So if your "must have" bead list is still unfinished, and you notice your desired bead is not available on-line, now is the time to panic & start using your weekends to shop for retired beads. You may find some unusual glass treasures when you are out, or even a rare retired bead. It's still possible. Try businesses that have carried Troll in the past & discontinued, or locations in smaller towns that may not see the trollie traffic that busier places do. If you happen to find something interesting, drop me a note!

Skye Silver Beads

If you haven't found this hidden treasure yet, check out this small silversmith jeweller on the Island of Skye in the U.K.:

http://www.skyesilver.com/index.shtmlhttp://www.skyesilver.com/index.shtml

Skye has just released a new batch of stunning beads for us to enjoy. Inspired by Celtic designs and the local residents (of the animal kind), the beads are alluring, the quality is exceptional, and the customer service always friendly. Skye does ship internationally, just contact the owners for more information, or hook-up with them on Facebook.

A few of my favorites:

Quatrefoil bead:

Heron:

 

 

Ram:

Who's for some Candy?

Just discovered today that a preview of the new Lori Bonn charms are up on-line! LB is a smaller company focusing mostly on the US market, so you may not have stumbled upon them. If you haven't considered creating at least one LB masterpiece then I'd like to tempt you.

Check out the preview here: www.elisailana.com/

If it's not your style, you may an least enjoy the eye candy appeal of the bright colors & tidily themed releases. A pic of my own bracelet.

Shiny Things

I've always liked shiny things. Generally, I like the ones that cost too much. (Well, according to my husband anyways.) Thomas Sabo, Trollbeads, Chamilia, and the odd Pandora usually take care of any spending money I may allow myself. But occassionally, I like to browse things that don't cost an arm & a leg. And an arm. And another leg.

So recently I stumbled on this cute line of charms & charm bracelets from Fossil. No, they are not sterling silver and uber expensive. But that makes them perfect for having something fun in the jewellery box for the days you need a change-up, for a gift for a friend that despises over priced materialistic brands, or for an affordable wish-list you can give to your family without blushing.

Priced between $24 and $38 Cdn, with bracelets at $54, they won't bread the bank. What I love most is that they offer silver, gold-tone and rose-tone, so you can push the boundaries on the traditional silver look. They also offer a charm builder, so if you are curious check out: www.fossil.com

Random Eye Candy of the Day

Fall colors with Picasso Jaspers.

Fall Release Video

The Fall 2012 Trollbeads has been released, as you should have noticed by the fact that your email inbox was probably bombarded by various sources & shops eager to be the first to announce it. Take a moment to travel to: http://www.trollbeads.com/en-us/content/USD/news/autumn-2012/ to enjoy the Fall release video, or just use the link below.



They also have a guide to help you determine which Chinese Zodiac you are, which is helpful as the Chinese New Year doesn't coincide with the Julian calendar (AKA our Jan 1st) so you need to look at more than just the year.

Facebook Wars

If you hang around on Facebook, you will have noticed dealers and selling a lot of Unique glass & amber beads by posting photos on Facebook or hosting "Facebook Unique Parties". This can be a great way to score a fun bead, especially if you don't have a LD nearby that carries uniques. But beware! The competition for the beads can get pretty intense between collectors, so have a thick skin going in.

The World Tour beads were released June 15th. I think it was great of Trollbeads to co-ordinate the worldwide release for the same date, not an easy task! There seems to be a shortage of Blooming Sakura & Skyline glass beads, two of the more popular WT releases. The gold & silver "Love is Timeless" watch bead as well. So if you need one now would be a good time to go on the hunt as they are only available for a short time.

OOAK Glass

http://www.diamonds4ever.dk/system/applications/products_new.php

Diamonds4ever has some lovely Trollbeads Uniques up today. Sometimes it is nice to just buy a single glass bead to perk up your bracelet, or to fill in some color gaps in your collection. Take a peek!

Attn TBHQ, We do shop Internationally! Duh!

JOYFUL! People are freaking out everywhere about this. So here is what I know:

1) If you can't wait, buy one now from: http://www.acotis.co.uk/trollbeads-joyful/md11502/p_65713/ Joyful has been released in the UK as a Ltd Edition timed to correspond with their Mother's Day. But you may pay more than in your country, and there is shipping too.

2) If you are like me and prefer to dance on the knife's edge, (well, I like to think of myself as a daring & risk taking Trollie,) put your faith in the rumors that this bead will be coming to the US, Canada, South Africa, Denmark, NL, Germany, Italy & other places soon. For North America, it will coincide with our Mother's Day in May, so late April release is probable.

3) If you are absolutely annoyed that Trollbeads HQ in Denmark did not take the advice from my past Blog post, http://trollgirl2.blogspot.com/2011/10/10-things-trollbeads-needs-to-do.html and time Ltd Edition releases to be the same date WORLDWIDE, then email them or post on their FB site to let them know. Why bother? Because our local dealers lose business when everyone orders their Joyfuls from the UK, which makes it harder for Trollbeads retailers to be in business, which makes it less likely they'll keep carrying Trollbeads, which means we can't pick our beads in real life, which would make us sad, which would make me sad, etc etc etc.

So let's not let Joyful make us all SAD, and contact TBHQ and your TB distributors to let them know your opinions. This is the internet age, we all shop online, PayPal and international shipping options are our best friends & we all are on International Forums. Trollbeads, please dig your heads out of the sand & stop treating us like we don't know how to turn on a computer. Sigh....

Eske Eye Candy

Oh you naughty ladies! It's not what you think! ;) Here is a picture of my current Eske bracelet, most of the silvers are designed by him. He will have his own online shop up & running soon, so stay tuned...

(silvers: Thor's hammer, World Tour Denmark Viking Ship, Fabled Faces, retired Viking, the small Sleipner Drum from his own work, and the Elephant Lock.)

Eske Storm on Facebook

Eske is on Facebook! Follow the link & LIKE his new page:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Eske-Storm-Goldsmith-Design/229975643749477

Attn. US Fans

Find the details about the Valentine's Trunk Show deals on Trollbeads US's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/TrollbeadsUS?sk=app_275817399152934

Attn. Hong Kong Fans

Hong Kong fans: Excellent promotional deal was spotted on the Trollbeads Hong Kong's Facebook page. Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/?sk=nf#!/Trollbeadshongkong

Valentine, be mine!

Valentine's Day. Let's face it boys, if you want to make her happy, the only currency your bead-obsessed lady is likely to accept is, well, more beads. So I've chosen a few ideas for you, that will step out of the cliche "Pink & Hearts" type of gifts.

For the girl that has every bead, try a Trollbeads ring! The Baby's Breath and the Daisy are two of my favorites, just make sure to get a gift receipt so she can exchange the size. Another great idea (and often overlooked) is a Safety Chain and/or stopper beads. They are a must for any girl's bracelet but one of those not-fun type of Trollbeads items that she may need.

A few of my other picks: Swan Lock (very romantic), Glass Trolls or 3 Flowers with the dichroic glass, these may be beads she won't buy herself but the dichroic adds a new dimension to a bracelet. For a more traditional gift, the Bright Red Prism, Pearl Tassel, Cute Teddy silver, or the White Heart (black & white) glass bead are in keeping with the love theme but versatile too and can work into many color schemes.

I really love the White Petals glass bead, with lavender and white on clear glass. This is soft & pretty and perfect for the girl who hates pink but likes pastels. The faceted black Onyx gemstone and the new Red Tiger's Eye are a sure hit for darker colors. If she doesn't have one in her beadbox yet, the Ltd Edition Troll Coin is a great collectors item too.

If you are feeling the "Star Crossed Lovers" vibe, or just want her to be really impressed, why not give her the silver Sparkling Star silver bead or splurge for the Gold & Silver Stars bead. Then Google Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, be inspired by the bit about "two star crossed lovers" and write it in the card.

For you US boys, Trollbeads US is having a Valentine's Day promotion with some great offers. February 10th to 14th, you can get a Free bracelet with purchase of Decorated clasp, Buy 3 get the 4th free on beads, and $50 off gold/silver (over $250) or $100 off a gold bead (over $500). You can pre-order online at several shops, but try www.ordertrollbeads.com or locate your nearest dealer on www.trollbeadsuniverse.com

If you really want to impress her, consider ordering the Limited Edition RAF Benevolent Fund Heart Bead from the U.K. You can preorder from www.steffans.co.uk

Of course it won't arrive by Valentine's Day, but that's OK, she won't mind receiving a "consolation" bead until it arrives. ;)

New Eske Storm Dealer

Eske's new "Four Foxes" bead, courtesy of Beads4Love.com

I really love Eske Storm. If the name doesn't ring a bell for you, he has designed the "viking" theme beads for Trollbeads, including Migaard Serpent, Viking, Fabled Faces, and the Elephant Lock to name a few. It's long overdue, but I'd like to share a new webpage that is selling more of Eske's work. These are his own work, not under Trollbeads, but with TBHQ retiring a few of his designs recently, here is a great place for you to get your Eske fill.

http://www.beads4love.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&language=en

Tip of the Day

If you didn't order your Coffee Cup from the Austria World Tour release, don't. Especially if you'd prefer a smaller version. ;)

11 days until the new release!

Lazy Days of... Spring!

I've been lazy, not posting over the holidays and have been steadily watching my daily hits falling from 400 to about, oh 80 or so. Naughty! But I'm back with some news... Oh yes! Oh yes, I've seen the Spring beads. You will be very, very pleased with them. This is a really stellar release, but enough gushing and some dirt for you:

Greens & Creams dominate the glass, with some burgundy shades to co-ordinate with the silver core Ruby. Yes this stone finally makes it into the "peasant" budget by ditching the expensive gold core for more sensible silver. A Cream Armadillo dominates - (remember those lovely Chai Buds & Glass Stones that we miss so much???) - well someone at TBHQ was listening and although not quite the same as our old favorites, you'll be pleased with the new spring cream glass.

The silvers are amazing; among my favorites are a silver elongated Phoenix bird to captivate your imagination, a leaping rabbit in the style of "Decorated Bird" from the Fall release, a small silver Flowers bead offered in gold or silver, and some bending-the-mind barrel silver beads that offer a new look from anything we've seen before. The Double Heart clasp is a must, and re-invents the design of the past TB locks. I think this will be a crowd pleaser.

No, I haven't stolen any pictures to share with you. Well, I have, but quite frankly the fan-sponsored forums do a much better job of sharing the sneak peeks & details these days. They've almost put my blog out of business. So I'm just going to summarize a few tips for everyone who doesn't have the time to regularly read the forums/FB groups:

Jan 27th - Spring Release and WorldWide Price Increase

I've had many requests for the Retirement list. Please refer to this excellent blog by a Canadian retailer for the info on the Jan 2012 retirements:

Part 1: http://tartooful.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/trollbeads-2012-retirements-part-i-glass/

And Part 2: http://tartooful.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/trollbeads-2012-retirements-part-ii/

If you aren't on FACEBOOK you need to sign up. Trollbeads US has been running daily contests giving away the new Ltd Edition China Zodiac beads.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/TrollbeadsUS

Dec 9th Rumored Releases

If you haven't found that perfect gift for the Trollbeads collecting family or friends yet, hang tight! On December 9th Trollbeads is releasing Maternity & Paternity in an affordable silver version. These are great beads with a universal message and will make the perfect stocking stuffer. (Hubby if you are reading this I'm sorry, but I still want the gold silver version. :P )

A rumored set of 12 Chinese Zodiac beads are also scheduled to be released. These are similar in design & will complement with the Ltd China silvers. Before you make your list of zodiac signs, make sure you realize that the Chinese New Year does not start on Jan 1, which means your Zodiac may not be what you think it is if you go only by birth year. Google should be able to retrieve a Zodiac calculator for you to find your & your families signs.

If you are shopping for the girl that has too many beads, or you are like my husband and can't tell one bead from the next, consider getting her some Trollbeads earrings. The basic silver hooks and a set of earring "dangles" cost under $100. Here is my pick for the season, the Snowflake. You can shop online @ www.trollbeads.com - they ship worldwide, gift wrap, AND all you need is two finger typing skills & your credit cards. C'mon, you can do it!

***I have had a request for the retirement list as the link published has been disabled. I will post this later this week.

2012 Retirement List

The 2012 Retirement List has been released here: http://www.trollbeads.co.uk/jewellery/charm-beads/retired-trollbeads/retiring-trollbeads.html

I will compile a list later and repost, but until them start making a list of your must haves & order them soon!!!

Where to Order WT Austria

Where to buy? Why not here:

http://www.trollbeads-online.at/Trollbeads-Laenderbeads/WorldTourAustria/