The Next Great Adventure!

Dear friends, I have a big announcement for you.  I've retired from my position as designer for Ohm Beads and am taking over as owner and designer for Nettles Jewelry.  It is a wholesale line of jewelry utilizing recycled glass to make lovely frames for the art.  I'm thrilled about the new venture, but this also means I will stop retailing Ohm Beads and will miss all of you. 

On this note, I will be holding my last sale.  15% off all jewelry in my Charmish shop this Friday-Sunday.  Please use the code "NEXTADVENTURE" during your check-out for the discount.  Free shipping.

 You are welcome to follow my adventures and see some of my new line on our new Nettles Jewelry facebook page.  When the website is up next month, you'll be able to use the "store locator" to find shops and galleries near you that carry the Nettles Jewelry line. 

Thank you for being such sweet customers.  I will miss you! 

"Discovering the giant fern trees on a hike in New Zealand in March"

Cheers, and onto the next big adventure,
Aly Hennessey
jewelry designer

New island travel charm beads

New from Ohm Beads, this little cutie ukulele playing, hula girl, wearing her lei and singing the most charming Hawaiian charms, and Honu the sea turtle. I designed these for our travel series after being inspired by our first trip to the Island of Kauai last fall.

I want these charms to remind you of the beauty and peace of the Hawaiian islands, your favorite vacation/time there, the lap of the waves, gorgeous underwater world, scent of the night blooming flowers, fresh fish and fruit, ukulele songs, and the wonderful local people.

To buy them from me, click on the images and you'll arrive at my etsy shop. If you find they are not in stock at the time of your visit, just email me and I'll order you one. :-)

I wanna go back, to my little grass shack.....



Honu the sea turtle has a beautifully enameled back and the Hibiscus flower engraved on his tummy. With this little friend on your wrist, you can surf the waves daily.

Join me on facebook at Charmish Beads

Cheers,
Aly
designer

Guys Love Etsy

Over the holidays, and now, as Valentine's day approaches, I noticed how many of my customers are men. Welcome guys!

Etsy has been a popular place for women artists and designers to sell their work to the world, and the customers have predominantly been female as well. Guys have now discovered all the goodness to be found for their sweeties and their mothers here on Etsy. It's a bounty for gorgeous, handmade, special holiday gifts that can be found nowhere else!

I love that my customers give their fellas their wish list, or tell them, "Anything Charmish!!!"

I also am starting to see more guys buying and wearing charms on my leather bracelets. They tend to wear one at a time, or a few charms, spaced out along the bracelet with locks to hold them in the arrangement.

Welcome!

Goddess Series in European Charm Beads

Celebrate your inner Goddess with my new charm bead series. The first two charms are available.

The feminine divine has been honored, celebrated, and prayed to in most cultures around the globe. Ohm Beads is pleased to bring you the first two charms in our series of Goddesses.

Guan Yin charm bead symbolizes: grace, compassion, meditation, peace, healing and fertility.

Guan Yin is depicted sitting on a lotus, holding her vial of healing water, in quiet contemplation. Guan Yin is one of the most universally beloved of deities in the Buddhist tradition. Also known as Quan Yin, Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and Kanin (Bali), She is the embodiment of compassionate loving kindness. As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, She hears the cries of all beings. Quan Yin enjoys a strong resonance with the Christian Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the Tibetan goddess Tara.

And our second "goddess" in the series is the ancient image of feminine divine referred to as the Venus of Willendorf.

The Venus of Willendorf charm bead symbolizes: goodness, wealth, fertility, and abundance in all areas of ones life.

The real Venus of Willendorf is a small statue found in Austria, along the Danube river, in the early 1900's. The material she was carved from doesn't come from that region, so she was clearly carried to that location. She dates back to 24,000 - 22,000 BCE, which makes her the oldest representation of the human form. She's paleolithic. We don't know if she was ever considered a "goddess", but her mystery, age, and beautifully rendered braids, and abundantly round form have made her famous.

Celebrating Summer - Charm Bead Sale

Celebrating Summer Sale!
Today through the end of the week: All summer themed Charmish beads are $5 off.
Visit Charmish shop and type "summer" into my shop's search bar to find all summer charm beads- take $5 discount on each one.

Free shipping as always.

The summer list includes goodies such as: Tropical Drink, Sand Castle, Daisy Garden, sparkling Watermelon, Burger, Camper, Picnic Basket and more.

August 18-20, this week only. Enjoy summer savings at Charmish. Charmish is the only place to get your Ohm Beads brand charms directly from the designer - that's me! Happy Summer!
~Aly~

*** Charms are listed as the usual prices: I'll refund your paypal account as I ship. Or let me know what you'd like, and I'll set your reserved listing with the prices discounted. Thanks! ***

Sweet Pond Frog Charm Bead

Frog:

Your very own sweet frog friend to sit on your wrist and sing.

Chinese symbolism: female/yin.

Joy, luck and transformation!

Fits all major brands of European charm bead bracelets, solid sterling, with internal threading, and designed by me. This is our Ohm Beads brand frog, and available from me right here at Charmish.

Cheers, I mean RIBBIT!
Aly

Summer Sparklers

Three new charms with sparkling pave crystals, will make your bracelet glow! I'm thrilled with the way the Bluebird of Happiness charm came out. Lovely, meaningful, yet cute. Collect this one now, and in the spring, you can add the Red Robin version.

Shooting Star. You are the star, let's see you shine!

This sparkling slice of Watermelon is the penultimate symbol of summer! Enjoy.

In the Garden with Charmish

In the Garden with Charmish. Wouldn't it be fun to have a garden themed charm bracelet? I would definitely put in the cute Snail friend (the kind who doesn't eat your favorite lettuce!), the enamel Apple, and pretty flowers like the Daisy. I would add some pretty glass beads in greens, golds, and orange!

What themes do you have? I'm currently working on a Fantasy character themed bracelet with a rainbow of colored glass.

Nesting Doll - the Matryoshka Charm

This cute Matryoshka charm bead was created, by me, via a Charmish customer request. Yey!!!

What is a Matryoshka and why is it sometimes called a Babushka? Matryoshka is the Russian name for "nesting doll". A babushka is a grandmother. So sometimes the nesting doll depicts the grandmother figure, but it can take many forms, so the names are not interchangeable.

History of Nesting Dolls:

The first Russian nested doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter in the Abramtsevo estate of the Russian industrialist and patron of arts Savva Mamontov. The doll set was painted by Maliutin himself. Maliutin's design was inspired by a set of Japanese wooden dolls representing Shichi-fuku-jin, the Seven Gods of Fortune. Maluitin's doll set consisted of eight dolls -- the outermost was a girl holding a rooster, six inner dolls were girls, the fifth doll was a boy, and the innermost was a baby.

In 1900, Savva Mamontov's wife presented the dolls at the World Exhibition in Paris, and the toy earned a bronze medal. Soon after, matryoshki dolls were being made in several places in Russia.

Modern artists create many new styles of nesting dolls. Common themes include animal collections, portraits and caricatures of famous politicians, musicians, "robots" and popular movie stars. Matryoshka dolls that feature communist leaders of Russia became very popular among Russian people in the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, some Russian artists specialize in painting themed matryoshka dolls that feature specific categories of subjects, people or nature.

The biggest matryoshka

It cost 3000 rubles (it worth saying that a popular Soviet car cost in that time 5,000 rubles). The doll was sent to exhibition in Japan.

In the 80-s artists from Semionovo developed new types of matryoshkas Artist Serov designed new matryoshka "The Father Frost and Snegurotchka". This matryoshka was so designed that children could learn to count: inside a big "mother" 10 small was hidden.

DIY nesting dolls. I found a great source for nesting doll blanks. Paint your own in any theme. Make a set using photos of your family's faces and painting in the rest.

Japanese nesting dolls.

To learn more about STARTING a collection of Russian nesting dolls, check out this eHow article.

Enjoy! I'd love to see comments and photos from those who collect them!
Aly

Charmish is green!

Did you know that Charmish has a green office? Both literally and figuratively?

I purchase recycled office supplies, of 60-100 % post consumer content. Yes, even the fancy little charm boxes are made of recycled paper and cardboard.

I keep a file of old paper with a blank back side for use in sketching designs, making to do lists, and general office work.

I reuse all incoming cardboard packaging and envelopes. If the envelopes are clean and undamaged I send them out with orders or other outgoing shipments. If a box or envelope has been marked or damaged, it is used for office storage, or as a last step, packaging and boxes are shipped back to the recycling factory.

I have a request. Please recycle as much as you can on your end. Recycle your paper mail, envelopes, paper scraps, boxes, and breathe easy; next generation will thank us!

So if you receive a Charmish recycled, repaired package, with extra decorations of course, just smile, knowing I've done my job.

ARRRRR! It's the Pirate Charmbead Set!

Celebrate your inner pirate with this piratical charm bead SET which includes:
- the very original the peg-legged, one-eyed, carrot brandishing Pirate Bunny charm,
- the skull decorated, heart and sword Pirate Shield charm,
- and the Pirate ship itself.

A fantastical treasure for any pirate to behold!

ARRRrrrrr! Be sure to capture your set before International Talk Like A Pirate day on September 19th.

SAVE $5 when you buy all three in the set at once. Free international shipping.

Who IS this bunny? Hero or Villain?

Let us introduce you to Pirate Bunny, a humorous new charm from my pirate collection. He’s a peg-leg, patch-eyed, carrot-loving pirate who sails the seas in search of adventure. Brandishing not one, or two, but three carrots, pirate bunny will not be trifled with. He does, however, enjoy a good joke.

Pirate bunny is a great find for any bunny collector, fun to wear for Easter, and a MUST-have for Talk Like a Pirate Day. Yarg!

Knock Knock

Who’s there?

Carrot

Carrot who?

Do you carrot all about me?

I'm thrilled with the level of detail the jewelers were able to get on these pieces. Amazing! The pirate Ship has tiny cannons and even ocean waves on the bottom. The Pirate Crest has the tiniest skulls wrapping around to the back.

Zodiac Charms!

This week's " What's New Wednesday " features the new Zodiac series. Oooo, la la! The charms have three sides, so there's room to show off all the special features for each sign. You get a picture of your sign's representation, you get the symbol, and a special stone for each one.

These are first run, so I have only one of each to start, then I'll get a restock.

Charm bead give-away!

Share the LOVE give-away.

To enter in this drawing for a free LOVE charm bead, simply subscribe to Charmish blog or facebook fan page and leave a comment at either site. Check back next Friday to see who won! For Charmish Beads fans only. Happy Friday!!!!

Charmish Beads Facebook Fan Page link - join in the fun!
Or subscribe to this blog and leave a comment here to get in the drawing.
Or join my fav customers mailing list! You get occasional emails from me about new designs, specials, holidays, new releases and fun. (see box to the left) Leave a comment at this blog post to get into the drawing.

Have a CHARMING week, Ladies!
xoxo
Aly

Mother's Day Specials

Mother's day is May 9th and Charmish is stocked with very special beads just for her!

The heart with banner says, "I love you" on one side, and "Mother" on the other. Supplies are limited. After Mother's day, you can order this heart banner charm with ANY words or names or dates that you'd like. You'll have to plan ahead as it can take up to 4 weeks.
The other side of the Mother's day special bead. :-)




This are my new Girl and boy beads, featuring a heart with sparkling crystals. Customizable! The backs are left plain so you can add your child's name, birth date or special message, by taking them to your local engraver.

I felt that charms should be even more special and personal, so these are my first customizable offerings. :-)

Sweet boy charm. Great for Mother's day, new baby gift, or any mother's birthday.

I've stocked the store with new charms especially for Mother's Day. I'm offering next day shipping on all charms for Mother's day. First class mail gets it there, in the US, in 3-5 days.

Charmish fans

Charmish just opened a fan page on Facebook. If you are on facebook, look up Charmish Beads and come say hi! It's a great place to ask me questions about European charm beads, and sharing your ideas for charms you'd like to see made!

Locks and Stoppers

Greetings! I listed my first set of locks over Valentines, and since they've sold I've had several requests for more locks. So let's chat about what locks are and what they do and don't do for your charm bracelet.

There are two types of locks. Pandora locks clip over the little built in bumps on Pandora brand bracelets, allowing the bracelet to be divided into three sections. This is a wonderful feature for people just starting their charm collection. No matter how you move, some beads will always be on top rather than all sliding to the bottom.

Stopper locks are for bracelets without the little bumps. They have a strip of silicone inside to keep them from sliding. Clip them anywhere on your bracelet to create sections. Be GENTLE with the silicone as it can peel out. Pandora wearers can also buy stopper locks and just remove the silicone so the lock will fit on the intended bump.

Once the bracelet is full, your locks look like any other lovely charm bead, or you can take them off and start a second bracelet. You can have two matching locks or two different ones. Enjoy!

These are my two new locks. The top is the Spring stopper lock (with silicone for bracelets without bumps) and the bottom is Magnetic Hearts for Pandora bracelets with bumps. Now available in Charmish.

The Elemental Charm Bracelet

The Elements at your fingertips: Air, Fire, Water, Earth. Pandora style European charm bracelet. Collect the beads that represent who you are, what your life is about, who you love, what makes your world go 'round.

This is the first set created from my original drawings. Now all the pieces are united. Sold as a full set or individually. You can look into the symbolism of each element, choose the one that goes with your zodiac sign, or that of your loved one, choose an element that brings balance to your personality, or goes with your profession! Are you a pilot? Air! Do you teach scuba or windsurfing? Water! Are you a trail guide? Earth! Are you a firefighter, or chef? Fire! See what fun we can have with the elements?

Definition: The four basic elements are air, earth, fire, and water. Understanding what each element represents helps us evaluate where our individual strengths and weaknesses are.

Air = THOUGHT and represents intellect, mental intention, and connection to universal life force.

Earth = STABILITY and represents grounding, foundation of life, substance, connection to life path, and family roots.

Fire = DESIRE and represents energy, tool for transformation, connection to personal power, and inner strength.

Water = EMOTIONS and represents emotional release, intuition, and inner reflection.

Every day we warm ourselves by Fire,

Wash ourselves in Water,

Feel the Wind in our hair,

Walk upon the Earth.

Hand Jive

Welcome the latest in my hand series of charm beads: Live Long and Prosper. This is a Vulcan hand sign that we so often saw the solemn Spock make. It was said that Leonard Nimoy made up the sign, on set, just before that classic series to his homeland. Years later, he let fly that it was a Jewish blessing sign he had seen as a child. Shalom hand. I love that story.

Wear "Live long and prosper" charm bead. It's a little bit treky, a little bit kitch, a little bit of ancient Jewish blessing, and a lot a bit fun.



Peace. Peace, Man. Victory! Hi, I'm here and loving life.

It's the classic peace sign. Does it mean "peace" officially in ASL?

Peace out.

Friday New Designs Release Party

Dear Charmish Fans,
Thank you for all the lovely lovely orders November and December. Your support gets you fabulous charm beads, and allows me to create even more of my original designs for you, and keep more stock in my shop.

New Designs Release Party
I have some brand new Holiday designs as well as restock of some sought after favs, that I'll be posting tomorrow morning around 9am PST - Oregon time. Come in and see.

One lucky person will receive a FREE GINGERBREAD BOY charm! Each bead ordered Friday - Sunday night will count as a chance to win him for your very own (and order of four beads, puts your name in the hat four times, etc) . Random drawing on Monday night.

I'm getting orders out as soon as possible.
Love and Peace to you all!

Aly of Charmish

Search Option

The New Designs Release party was excellent, thank you for all who came to par-tay yesterday! I still have lots and lots of stock, so please tell your friends. The more that sells, the more NEW beads I can order.

Now that Charmish has so MANY charms in stock, let's talk about how to search the store for specific things you are looking for. I do have categories, but you may want to jump in and look for something more specific. Once you are open to Charmish's page, you can use the search box at the top to find something specific. Want to search for "cat" or "car" or "fish", put that word in the search box for Charmish's shop (don't' go back out to the main etsy search engine).

Happy weekend everyone!