New Year's Bead and Blog Resolutions 2017

I'd already given my New Year's Bead and Blog Resolutions quite a lot of thought for 2017, so although making some of the decisions has been more difficult, as I've not known what I wanted to do for sure until recently, by contrast writing them down once I'd decided has been fairly easy.

• To blog less, but with more intent - this has been something I've been mulling over for most of the year, but especially since April.  I've been so busy in 2016, that I've blogged less and often at times when I didn't have much to say, or rather I had too much to say so I didn't say much about any of it!  I even considered killing the blog in 2017 rather than carry on in such a haphazard fashion... however... as I also enjoy writing along with everything else I do - I've decided to blog much less, but with more intent...
• So expect fewer and/or shorter posts overall during the year, as I'll only blog when I have something I definitely want to write about, not just because it's a new month!

• To make a "thing" with metal clay - I've been sent 4 sample metal clays; this is a material I've been fascinated with, ever since Tracy over at Black Boots Long Legs started to make her own beads and designs!
• I want to make something in metal clay but from a definite idea, rather than just playing, as I only have a little of each of the four.

• To spend the same or less in 2017 than I did in 2016, but to consider more - Last year was the first time I've come close to being comfortable with the amount of money I spend on jewellery.  This is something I definitely want to repeat this year!
• My goal for 2017 is to spend the same, or a bit less, but with more intent on what I'm buying.  So going for the things I really want, but to think more about the things I buy out of habit or because I "collect", do I really want or need those? This might be a hard habit to break!

So that's all from me for now... I'm starting as I mean to go on,with intent!

I look forward to our chats in 2017 and I hope you have a very Happy New Year in 2017.

Do you set yourself any resolutions, bead or otherwise?  Feel free to share!

2016 New Years Bead Resolutions in Review

Well hello blog! Long time no see...

I've finally got around to having a sort through my bead box, and in doing so my thoughts turned to the resolutions I made at the start of the year, how I got on with these, and that I really should get my arse in gear to tell you the results!

Making resolutions is something I've done for the last 4 years - so I really couldn't end the year without doing my annual review.

My New Year's Bead Resolutions 2016

• To become a better beadmaker - this is a little vague and broad at the moment.  It's been spurred on by a rather unsatisfying session I had on New Years Day at the torch, where I learnt I not only can't bead and talk, but that not beadmaking for 4 weeks does make a really big difference to what I can produce!  I'm fairly sure this resolution is much more than become a more consistent beadmaker, although I'd like to do that too, along with learning a whole host of techniques that I'm spectacularly bad at, at the moment!  Perhaps this will morph into mini goals as the year progresses, we shall see!

• To spend less in 2016 than I did in 2015 - This is my repeated bead resolution, I've actually achieved it every year, so it's not because I can't reduce my spending... and I am starting to get into the ball park of what I'd like to be spending on beads per year, not what I actually spend. So I've kept it in for another year as a reminder that I'm not quite there just yet.

• To share more of my beadmaking journey - I've not really done this much apart from where the blog naturally crosses over with my beadmaking e.g. my Element bracelet where I wanted to make a glass set to go with my silvers.  I've been promising to do this more lately, so I'm going to set it as one of my resolutions to talk specifically about beadmaking, and learning to make glass beads, from my point of view.  As I'm writing this down, I think it might help me with No.1 too!

Okay, in no particular order... I dedicated my AtoZ to my beadmaking journey, so there were a whole 26 posts dedicated to glass.

However once the AtoZ finished that was pretty much it.  Not only for the spilling the beans about the beadmaking, but also for a lot of my blog posts and content, it's been rather sporadic for 2016!  So what happened?

Well a whole heap of things; I started going to college in April for half a day a week to learn more about glass fusing and kilnforming, I continued to make beads and fused glass and sell them via my new business and the day job got super busy.  Something had to give and that was usually the blog, and er, a lot of my social life!

For those curious about my beadmaking journey, the most updated place for information is probably the Born of Fire - facebook page (apologies for those not on Facebook), or my Born of Fire - Instagram (on occasion), or (rarely) my Born of Fire -Twitter.  The Born of Fire - website gets updated once in a blue moon when I remember... or I have to pay the fees!


To become a better beadmaker, looking back as what I was making December 2015 to what I made throughout the year, I think in many ways I did, but I also fell down the fusing rabbit hole, which was inevitable I guess given I started college in April so there were a whole load of new ideas I was trying out!

One of the best changes I made was attending Flame Off in April.  In turn this gave me the confidence to finally try some group lampworking courses which I had been too nervous to do before.

After a quick 1-1 lesson in Borosilicate to give it a go (different glass, different rules), my first course was with the lovely Marcel Rensmaag to make eyeballs!  We did make other things but it was the eyeballs I really wanted to try out.

Later in the year was a quick fire course with Ray Skene.  This really boosed my confidence and I learnt a whole host of new tricks, my favourite make from the day was my leaf pendant!

Finally on to the money, to spend less in 2016 than I did in 2015. In spite of a trip to Denmark, where I had a lovely splurge on Trollbeads and Eske Storm Jewellery, I managed it!  By quite a considerable margin actually, my spending on jewellery is finally coming down to something I consider more reasonable for a jewellery addict - although it's probably still a lot by "normal" standards of course!

All things considered I think I did okay on the 2016 resolutions.

What did you get up to this year that was different to last year?

Or did you want to do more of the same as it was so good?

Budgets and Decisions... and a pre-order discount!

Bank Holiday Weekend in the UK and I have a rather sedate time planned.  

The weather is somewhat grey today, and as I had unexpected expensive expenses this month (as both my car and my fridge/freezer needed repairs and replacement respectively) - you can imagine some online shopping for beads with my budget next month seems super exciting by comparison!

I've actually been really good over the last few months and have been underspending my budget which is practically unheard of, plus it means I have a bit extra to spend for September.

So what to choose? 

As a fan of Ohm's Bead of the Month I've been given a break as I was less keen on August and September's offerings, lovely charms just not for me!  The new Trollbeads release is ready for pre-orders for September delivery and X Jewellery have just released details of their new collection, oh, and I did rather like the new Thomas Sabo Karma release and it's not long before details will emerge on Redbalifrog's next release, Enchanted Glade.  Plus at the end of next month it's Endangered Trolls first release partnered with the fabulous Alex of ACA Kreations. 

I was going to wait to see what Redbalifrog had to offer, and I definitely wanted a Troll from Endangered Trolls and Alex's collaboration, so I thought my spending would be at the end of September... but I have been tempted down a different path a bit earlier than planned.

New twisted bangles in silver and copper from Trollbeads - release date 9th September 2016

Trollbeads 15% off Bank Holiday Weekend deal via Acotis, who are offering the 15% on new pre-orders as well as existing collection, spend over £100 and you can throw in a free travel case too!  

I had to stop at just Trollbeads as they are offering the deal across all brands!!

My choice?  One of each of the new twisted bangles and lots of stoppers are on order... I still can't get them until September but it will be something to look forward to next month!

What's tempting you at the moment?

Meeting myself coming back...

I don't think anyone would be surprised if I mentioned I was a wee bit busy at the moment... it seems to be just what I do these days rather than being anything out of the ordinary!  It does make blogging a tad difficult though... loads of content, not enough time to write about it!

I did almost meet myself coming back at the end of the month due to two epic trips - of the travel kind not the oops accident kind thankfully.

The first trip went without a hitch and a marvellous time was had by all, but the second, which although last minute, should have been relatively straight forward... turned into a large saga.  I don't mind, as I often think some things happen for a reason, and it led to a chance conversation as I was somewhere I wouldn't normally be at that time... which led to another conservation which I had no idea was even possible, which, if any of it goes to plan (ha!), could lead to some exciting opportunities next year - so it's had a very interesting, but totally not expected outcome... nor anything I could have possibly imagined...

...and yes, that will remain cryptic for quite some time, but when I can eventually tell you about it, whether it happens or not, I'll remind you of this post!

In other news, I have been steadily buying bits and pieces, however, unbelievably I'm well on target for my New Year's Bead Resolution of spending less, go me!  Yay for preloved beads, lovely artisan makers and sales with HUGE discounts!

There have been a lot of Skeletons turning up; on X links, bone beads and full skeletons, not THE skeleton though before anyone gets too excited.  I've been a very happy bunny to have so many arrive!  I haven't taken many photos (bad Mars) so I'll just tease you with these two, the X link and the Bone Bead which is my new favourite bead.

One of my big treats was via a sale.  I added the Trollbeads Amethyst and Malachite Fantasy Necklaces to my collection; I'm ashamed to say that after waiting so long for an opportunity to buy them during a sale I've not done much with them... it's the whole meeting myself coming back effect.

I've indulged in some of the new Trollbeads Spacers, or new stoppers, but more on those another day... and I've even bought myself a Pandora Bracelet, well ordered it at least!

Yep, all of this in the last 6 months and I'm still on track, I can barely believe it myself!

What has surprised you this year?

Do you think I'll blow my "half year" budget in the last 2 weeks of the month?!

Sticking to my Budget?! 16 days to go!!

Well, this is a surprise post!

I started 2016 with good, nay, great intentions of really cutting down on how much I spend on beads, and then promptly managed to spend January, February and March's (strict) allocations all before the end of January!

In my defence, (there's always a defence), February's allocation was for OHM's Love Cage and if I hadn't have preordered in January I don't think I would have got one...  March's allocation also has a defence too (see earlier bracketed comment) which was spent on a preloved Amethyst and an old letter style bead both from Trollbeads.  Sometimes with beads you are looking for you really do need to grab them when you see them if they are at a good price preloved.

Oops I almost forgot that February also included some of the new oxidised stoppers from Trollbeads too... I actually have no excuse for that one as I could have picked those up anytime!!

I am exactly halfway through March and provided I don't spend anything for the next 16 days, I will be on target with a strict budget for the first quarter of the year... if I achieve this - it really will be a first!

Mars xx

Collections pass me by...

I've been reflecting over the last month on the changes in my bead buying and to a certain extent my interest in collections; I've become far less bothered about the main collection release dates at the time of their release.

Trollbeads Cambridge Preview Event - January 2015

2015 started as it usually does, and I really enjoyed the preview evening at Trollbeads Cambridge for the Spring Collection and the event at Jeffries Jewellers in South Wales for the Trollbeads Easter Collection in March, but after those two releases I've somewhat lost my way.

Wrist Shot - Jeffries Jewellers - Easter Event March 2015

I've not gone to see any of the new collections on release day, and I've not seen some of them at all - and I'm not talking about just the recent Spring or Valentine beads released in 2016 either.

If I look at what I bought over the course of 2015, it was a real mix of new, preloved, main brands and artisans - but, and here is the main difference... compared to previous years there has been a lot less of buying new collection pieces on, or near, release day*.

Ohm's Bead of the Month - October 2015

*with the exception of the Ohm's Bead of the Month beads and Elfbeads Deal of the Year, as those were a buy now or forever regret your decision kind of purchase!

So where is all this rambling taking me today, well nowhere really, since I started with my New Year's Bead Resolutions I've become fascinated with my own spending habits and bead acquisition in it's own right and I've noticed a stark contrast to how this year has started compared to previous years.

But don't worry, I've already spent March's bead budget before January finished - some things never change!

Have your bead buying habits changed over the years?

2015 New Years Bead Resolutions in Review

Although I've been stupidly super busy, I have a few days off ahead of me and a determination to get around to reviewing my New Years Bead Resolutions for 2015, there are only two... how hard can it be?

My New Year's Bead Resolutions 2015

• To book myself another Lampworking Lesson - At the start of this year it had been 18 months since my first (and only) lesson.  I wasn't going to set myself any more than a "1 session resolution" as I wanted to see if I wanted to continue any further before committing myself.  I also needed to check out if my shoulder would physically let my right arm be in a position to hold a glass rod.

• To spend less in 2015 than I did in 2014 - At the start of the year I wanted to reduce my jewellery spending in general.  I knew my bus would take up a large proportion of my income, and I didn't set any complicated way of doing this other than it being less overall.

I did a review in July at the mid-point and I was well on track with both resolutions - so what happened in the latter part of this year?

To book myself another Lampworking Lesson

Considering it was as simple as booking myself another session I was well under way by July, I was renting bench space in a fab jewellery workshop and even had some of my own basic kit and glass stock.

I'm still not sure I can believe how much difference another 6 months has actually made...

Bird's Eye View of my home "Studio Space" from August 2015

Six months later... and I have my own studio space set up at home, my own kit and even my own kiln.  I guess I did like lampworking after all!

I could write an entire blog post on any aspect of my lampworking and in the New Year I will keep my promise and tell you all a bit more about it - each month I learn something new and there is another tale to tell!

This month I have been busy learning how to core my beads with a one piece silver lining.

One of my beads cored with 1 piece silver bead lining

This week I'm trying out my very first glass fuse... or "bad coaster project" as I have named it.  As usual I've just jumped in; so I am expecting a coaster with very bad bubbles in; having read the appropriate chapter after I started firing it!

To spend less in 2015 than I did in 2014 

At the halfway point this year I was doing very well on this goal, although I did hint that it may get a little less controlled in the months that were to follow...

Alex Cramariuc - Elements Silver Bead Collection

My first slip was the gorgeous Elements Set from Alex Cramariuc, an absolutely beautiful set of heavy silvers that marked the start of my spending spree.  Half of which I've not even told you all about yet.  In fairness, I must point out that my Halloween splurge was actually diverted holiday funds after my mega virus, but it all still needed counting up for the final tally.

In the second half of the year I did spend more than the same period in 2014.  However due to my exceptionally good start to 2015, where I was considerably more constrained, I did actually finish the year by spending less than in 2014! I didn't even scrape it; it was by a wide margin, which, er, probably just highlights why I needed to cut back a bit...

So what's the plan for 2016?
I don't really have one for now, I shall try and finish the year by not buying any more jewellery and spend more time on making some - that sounds like a good enough plan to follow for the next few days... I might just manage it!

Did you set yourself any goals for this year?  What happened?

Will you plan for 2016?

My Crazy Life... All the B's!

Life on in with Mars can always be a little chaotic but these last few months have been more so than usual...

Being a Secret Santa

This week I've been a Secret Santa - well once I found a pineapple (it's a cocktail thing) and as my partner lived nearby I turned up in person complete with a Santa Hat with bells on, well once I'd found out where she'd moved to... I did say it was chaotic didn't I?  So glad she was in; I could never have got that pineapple through the letterbox!

My Secret Santa lives in France, and after a chaotic week at work (hunting pineapples in strange cities before meetings), it was just the best thing to sit down and open a whole host of very carefully selected goodies - my partner knows me so well!

I am in love with how France Italy* packs it's Trollbeads, it was the most beautiful packaging and such a lovely gift unwrapping experience...

Italy just has the coolest Trollbeads packaging...

Lucky spoilt me received the recent glass Halloween Bead - Trick or Treat, and the new Love Dragon which is clutching a little heart.  I love asymmetric beads, so the dragon has found a very happy home here with me and I can't wait to incorporate the glass onto a bracelet for next year.

*although my Secret Santa lives in France, she shared with me that she bought my beads in Italy and it's their fabulous packaging; so my apologies to the Italian retailers... it's your packaging that ROCKS!!

Bead Buying Bonanza

I've been very naughty with my bead buying, I think I lost sight of my budget at the back end of the Summer - I've actually forgotten what I've told you all about and what I haven't!

There was a glut of artisan beads, both glass and silver, from some of my favourite designers and some newly discovered artists too.  Brand wise there's been Elfbeads, X Jewellery, Story, the fabulous new Black Friday beads from Trollbeads (Midnight Brilliance) and quite a few preloved Trollbeads stones and the odd chain thrown in for good measure.

Some of the new beads that have made it onto a bangle!

The downside to all of the chaos is that I've had very little time for bead play, so I have a ridiculous amount of lovelies just sat waiting to be made into bracelets and put onto bangles.  Apparently it's not just me as I have a few friends who are in the same position - although I am partly to blame in one case...

Bead Making Bonanza

...because I've been making too many beads that have found their way into her hands.

I'm really enjoying playing with glass; currently I'm learning how to finish my beads by manually lining them with silver tubing in one solid core, rather than gluing in two end caps.  

I can be a bit shy with showing my beads, but I really love the photo I took of this bead using a new bit of photography kit - here it is before I put the silver core in...

I think I actually held my breath when I cored this one, as it was one of my favourites out of the last big batch of beads I made.  Erm, I must confess I've lost a few beads along the way whilst I'm practising.

Blogging

I'm away with work and quite busy in general at the moment, so poor old Curling Stones for Lego People is having to take a bit of a backseat at the moment.  So please know it's not a lack of interest on my part, as I love writing and chatting with you all - it's just that my daily life is getting a little too chaotic to keep to a regular writing schedule at the moment... but there will always be something to read at least once a month!  Even if that is how busy I am!

Would you like to know more about my journey with making beads?

A Delirious Ramble and a Budget Blown

Just so we are clear; let me start by saying how thoroughly fed up I am.  I've just dragged my arse into the shower to try and freshen up from the most malingering bug/virus I've had since October 2009...

Somewhere in Wales - from my sick bed

Obviously I wasn't writing a blog in October 2009 or I might have told you about it at the time in between hacking up my lungs and wondering if there was enough oil in the tank to last the week.  If I had been writing a blog back then, this is the photo I would have shown you, taken from my sick bed during the year we spent living in the middle of nowhere, it was great - the place not the bug.  At least now I can drag myself a few yards to the corner shop to stock up on more meds; back then it was a 6 mile drive to the nearest corner shop!

What does this have to do with beads, or a blown budget you might be wondering?  Will she get to the point?  Almost there... bear with me!

Festival Nights

Today I should have been on my way in my little bus to a festival, one that I've been looking forward to since I didn't go to it this time last year - ticket bought back in December, and the fact it coincided with a certain significant birthday (the bus's not mine) was all the more sweet.  Making time to catch up with old friends, make new ones and just chill out in what has been a busy year so far.

So I've been chilling out, but not in the way I imagined, I'm literally chilling out, then boiling out and then repeat.

So beads & budgets, where am I going with this?  I'm not sure, other than having been able to sell my festival ticket at the last minute (I was hanging on with grim determination in the hope I would be better) I had some unexpected funds in the bank.  Add this to the rather large amount of diesel I now don't have to put into the bus, along with some spending money I won't be spending and a large amount of time where all I can muster the energy to do is look at the Internet... and guess which Rabbit Hole I fell down?

Photo by Samantha Marx

Yep the bead one!

It all started innocently enough with OHM's Bead of the Month announcement for October.

For those of you on planet Earth who haven't cottoned on yet, the wonderfully creative and quirky OHM team have been releasing Limited Edition Bead of the Month beads for a few months now...

OHM beads - Bead of the Month - August 2015 - Black Sheep

I have one already, have coveted a few more, and have just bought my second, the very wonderful Deadhead - a cross between a pumpkin and a Day of the Dead Sugar Skull, my kind of bead!

Of course once that was in my virtual shopping cart... I suddenly realised that if I was putting in an order, I might as well have a browse to see what else I fancied as I was shopping with one of the retailers who stock lots of my favourite brands... 2 locks and 2 more silver beads from Redbalifrog and some rubber X Jewellery links later (and some deleted Bali Clicks items where I'd gone a bit overboard and seriously overspent the overspend) and I was done.

Now to sit back and wait for the pitter patter of tiny packages hitting the mat... although sadly, despite my love of jewellery, I really wish I was hearing the pitter patter of tiny raindrops on my bus windows instead.

Come join in with the misery...

What have you looked forward to for ages, only for it not to happen?

New Year's Bead Resolutions - are we nearly there yet?

For the last 3 Januarys I've set myself some New Year's Bead Resolutions for the year, as a way of focusing my bead collecting and to some extent how much I spend on shiny things!

As 2013 & 2014 were rather successful in shaping my bead collection, I only set 2 resolutions in 2015 as a result - overall I was quite happy with how things were going.

July seemed like a good time to look back at the first six months to see how I was doing...


Resolution 1 - Book another lampworking lesson

Lampworking Taster Session with friends

I've achieved so much from this resolution, without actually booking a lesson... What I did instead was book a taster session and as a result of this I'm on a voyage of self discovery in glass.

Glass Rods - waiting to be turned into beads!

Since that session I've been booking workshop time (literally renting a bench) and experimenting with glass.  I now own a "rejects" jar, a rod of "love them but can't core them" beads as well as a couple of rods of cored beads.  As each session comes along, if I take my time, there are less beads going in the rejects jar and more that I can, and am wearing myself.

Trollbeads Bangle & Silver Beads with Glass Bead by Me!

I'm really enjoying working with glass, it's a fascinating material to work with, I think of it as art meets chemistry and I absolutely love it!


Resolution 2 - Spend less in 2015 than 2014

I surprised myself when I looked at the figures for the first six months, especially as I stumbled upon my dream wish list silvers last month, took the plunge and bought the whole set in one go!

I'm on track with resolution No.2 despite these lovelies!!
Limited Edition 2009 Chinese Silver Set

But it's true, adding it all up I've actually spent less so far than I had by this point in 2014, I'm sure this has been helped tremendously by the money that I've spent on my bus rather than jewellery, but the fact remains I'm well on track with this one too!

Let's just see what happens over the next six months shall we? I fear Alex Cramariuc may be my undoing for the next 6 months....

Did you make any promises to yourself this year?

What has caught your imagination (or your pocket) so far this year?

M is for Money

I couldn't really do the whole A to Z theme of being Addicted to Beads without mentioning the dreaded M word... it usually comes under B for Bead Budget but I wanted to show you my Beadmaker Bead for B!

Image by Patrice Sheperd of Sheperd Creations

Like any good addict this means I've shown you lots of lovely beads first before we mention the unmentionable.  I did hint at it slightly in A, but there's no getting away from it... being Addicted to Beads does cost money, unless you have a fairy bead mother!

Here are some hints to limit the financial damage:

1. Always be aware of special deals - have a wishlist of things you would like so when a deal comes up you can act on it.  Some deals are permanent or appear regularly or some retailers might discount regularly. (e.g. some brands do buy 5 for the price of 4 so worth buying in multiples of 5 less often, than single beads more regularly)
2. Always look out for sales - if the bead is not limited and you can wait for a sale, this is often a good way to buy beads.  (Requires patience and popular beads may never be in the sale)
3. Always enter competitions - I've acquired a couple of beads in this manner, once a whole set!!
4. Don't be afraid of Customs - work out the maths.  Sometimes even with the exchange rate and factoring in any Customs charges/handling fees it might still be cheaper to buy from another country.
5. Liquidated Stock (controversial) - when Dealers liquidate their stock they often flood the market with heavily discounted beads.  This is when I often pick up a lot of what I call backdated wishlist items or multiples of beads.
6. Buy 2nd hand - another slightly controversial one as you have to be more aware of fakes, so I'm talking the more trusted route of other collectors who you know frequent official dealers that you trust when they tell you where they bought the bead.  
7. Love Baked Beans on Toast! - Okay so that's technically a coping strategy rather than a saving money idea!

I always try to visit my local Dealers too and have gone in to deliberately buy at full RRP just to support them - as if I don't, and others don't, then we won't have any local ones as there will be no demand... so use these with due caution!

How do you fund your own addictions, any tips to pass on?

Beads, Budgets & Collection Conundrums!

Well last month it appears was all about breaking the budget... I should have known I was tempting fate because just as the last "naughty" parcels were dropping on my doormat and I'd been chatting with a friend over coffee about savings; my electric toothbrush and then my washing machine went kaput!

So, there was one last naughty parcel to come before I reached the "no more orders expected" point.

Time to look at what I'd got left to spend on the new collections... which now, as you might have guessed (or know if you've read yesterday's post), was a lot smaller than my original proclamation of "Ooh how exciting I have a bigger pot than usual for new collections!"

When I first started to draft this post it was small; by the time I came to publish this post it was zero... oops! (Make that two last naughty parcels to come)

So that means I not only need to pick the absolutely must have, want to use them right away pieces from my wish list, but I must also wait until next month.

Given that we are then edging towards Christmas releases, do I wait even longer to make choices out of all of the collections yet to come, ignore new ones completely and pursue an existing project (taking advantage of the US 4 for 3 promotion running in October), or dabble in the available collections now and risk no funds for anything else - argh!  

This is before I even think about the Elfbeads launch and superb offerings from Great Lakes, or get touched by his noodly apendage offering from Ohm Beads.

So, before my brain implodes with the possibilities; today I am going to concentrate on the just the collections I mentioned yesterday:

Based on what I like and would most likely use I have a short list of the most favoured contenders... okay so this is actually a long list... I've not added up the cost of this little lot as I already know some of these pieces represent my whole budget by themselves - but these are my top picks!

Redbalifrog Frog Lock and Trollbeads Giant Lotus

Trollbeads Lapis Lazuli 

Trollbeads Lotus Top and Tree of Awareness

Trollbeads Sleeping Bat and Spooky Bats Lock

X by Trollbeads Bronze DNA and Bronze Flow Links

X by Trollbeads Bronze Lovers Bond and Zip Me Lock

X by Trollbeads Hanging Around and Protect Links

X by Trollbeads Royalty and Skull Me links

As you can see both X releases scored very highly on my wish list, I love *all* of the Halloween release and I'm a big fan of the new bronze links!

For Trollbeads, again Halloween was a winner with the bats, which along with X I would wear all year around, bats & skulls are not just for October you know!

Out of the huge offering from Trollbeads for Fall, I favour just 3 key silver pieces, although they are quite substantial and 1 of the stones, from Redbalifrog it's the Frog Lock; I think that is one of the nicest locks I've ever seen.

So what to choose?  Y'know what... I still don't know!

Out of my top picks which would you choose if you were me?