Advent Calendar - Designs entered!

Are you ready to see some beautiful Christmas designs? Well, here they come!

We'll keep our designers' identities secret for now. You never know what more there is to come...

New entries will be added to this post!
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Some of the beads on this bracelet are very special to me as they were gifts and what couldn't be more relevant to Christmas time than presents! My white diamond and milky quartz were both gifts from my husband. The red coloured lilac edge was a gift from a very generous lady who is always thinking of others before herself. The gifted bead which I think is most relevant to the holiday season is my joyful bead which was gifted to me by my darling son. Happy holidays to one and all x


This necklace tells a Christmas story.

In the afternoon before the Christmas night a little boy met a fairy in the forest. They played together in snow, they make a snowman and met a mink hidden in a old tree.

Then each came back at home.

The fairy went back to her home in wood.
She slept near the Christmas tree by waiting for its presents.

The little boy was sleeping near the chimney when Santa Claus brought his presents.

All is quite, and tomorrow morning... they will enjoy and have a great moment with their family and friends !

I used Pearls to represent the snow,
Rainbow/green rainbow for the garlands,
the brown/green dillos and the pinecone to represent the christmas tree and the owl for the night,
I used an amber bead to represent the fire in the chimney (silver), the red dillo to represent Santa Claus and the angel face to represent peace, and the J.C. Birth.


The idea behind the bracelet is 2 family's coming together at Christmas, represented by the 2 colours. The silver beads are festive themed; Dala Horse for the toys, WT gnome for Father Christmas, WT clogs for the stockings, WT coffee cup for drinks shared and Thumbelina for the leafy garlands. I have chosen the festive colours of red and the dark blue with gold glitter.


I am sitting in my chair, looking at old pictures and remember christmastime with my children when they were little kids.
Singing christmascarols in the kitchen while we were baking brown cookies and gingerbread -
Sometimes it snowed and we had fun playing in the snow and feed the animals in the wood -
The children dreamed of toys and when the holy angels told about christmasnight, we decorated our green christmastree with red candles -
When I look at this bracelet they are all in my mind -
Now I am a grandma, the children are adults with children by their own and they will sing in the kitchen.....


Christmas Card for you!

The theme is snow, peace and harmony for our earth, love and understanding among men, and Christmas night with the Christmas tree, Santa and Santa’s kitten. Wearing the Christmas bracelet in the snow is just the best winter feeling.

Beads seen from left: Trollbeads Pearl (snow), Trollbeads Red Prism, Christmas Tree (unknown), Trollbeads Blue Glitter Christmas (Christmas night sky), Trollbeads Pearl Dangle (snow drop), Trollbeads Sparkling Star (Christmas night sky), Trollbeads Hearts OOAK (love and understanding), Trollbeads Harmony (Christmas harmony), Trollbeads Pearl (snow), Links of London Blue Earth, Links of London gold plated Red Snowflake, Links of London Blue Earth, Trollbeads Snow, Trollbeads White Christmas Glitter (snow), Links of London Green and Gold Enamel Ivy, Trollbeads Pearl (snow), Trollbeads Silver and Gold Stars (Christmas star), Charlotte Borgen Design Red Glitter, Trollbeads Kitten (Santa’s kitten), Santas Red Hat (unknown) and a lace lock.


No deer or organ in the bracelet, but the Dala horse and the music box are the 'stand-ins' ;-) The two OOAKs left of the pearl are 'The Holly and the Ivy' !

"The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown,
Of all trees that are in the wood,
The holly bears the crown:
O, the rising of the sun,
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir."


The holiday season for me is all about Christmas. I always use red and gold at Christmas - for the decorating, the parcels, the cards. I have attempted to re-create a traditional red and gold theme, with a pop of green. I love the texture in the beads I have chosen for my Christmas bracelet, all Trollbeads. I have used a mix of eight production beads and four ooaks making the significant number twelve....representing the Twelve Days of Christmas perhaps. The gold beads are also those which remind me of a traditional Christmas ~ Drum, Royal, Berries and of course Hearts for Love, which the Christmas message is all about. Happy Christmas everyone.


No story, only atmosphere. Sometimes a picture speaks louder than words :-)


Since I can remember Christmas, my mom decorated the christmas tree with silver christmas balls of glass, white bows of lace, garlands of white pearls and white candles. The only other color than silver or white was the orange of our dala horse in the middle of a dish filled with tangerines, oranges, christmas-cookies and nuts.

When I got married my mom gave me some of her silver balls and I continued the tradition until my kitten arrived. They were 4 month old at their first christmas and I wasn't aware how inviting a christmas tree with balls on it must be for them until I came down to the living room the next morning. They must have had a lot of fun in the night, for me there remained a lot of broken pieces of glass. Fortunately they didn't cut themselves.

So the next year I bought red plastic balls but I didn't liked them. A year later I noticed, that they weren't interested anymore in the christmas tree, so the following year I gave it another try with the silver(glass) balls. I had to buy some new for the broken ones and I decided to add some in other colors, last year it was midnight blue and purple, the year before rose.

This year I will have another premiere: I choose the balls after the trollbeads I intend to wear on christmas eve, I hope my family will like it!


I send you a picture of my Trollbeads Polar-bracelet. At Christmas eve I like to be with my boyfriend and his family in France and because there are little children too, we have a good lunch with delicious things and the evening we'll do a picknick with wine, olivebread, french cheese, etc. inside. The fire is burning and with the children in their pyjama's all exited about Santa who's gonna come that night... we watch a Christmas movie or even two all together. Because the children are to excited to sleep. The favorit movie the last years is the Polar Express... The movie about children who do believe in Santa and children who don't. We follow the Polar Express all the way to the North Pole passing landscapes of ice and snow, to Santa's house. That inspired me to do a Polar Bracelet : I added snowflakes, polar bears, seals, sparkling star ( as the pole star ), big earth for that special part of our planet... and of course I had to add snow and ice... I used all the white beads I could find in the Trollbeads collection and I think the result is North Pole. During the movie the children come to sit on my lap and they turn the beads on my bracelet... and look how they sparkle in the light. The youngest told me last year... "you have a piece of the North Pole around your wrist, does that mean that Santa is a friend of you?" I answerd him that Santa is a friend of all the people in the world if they are nice and friendly to eachother. So I'll start wearing the Polar-bracelet when I leave to join them for Christmas... and the North-Pole story will restart again and I absolutely love it !!!


Holiday Joy and Magic: These are the beads that make me think of the holidays from left to right - the spirit of the season (cherub and angel's feathers); humility and kindness to others (sparrow); peace on earth (earth); the gems a lady loves, (crystal triangles, triple pearl, and troll w/gems); the $$ it takes for said gems (troll coin); sweaters, coats, and grandma-mas who made us wear them (buttons); warmth and sweetness (mink); our moms' signature holiday beverages (teacup); and not last but least, a wish list and the little reminder that with love and patience dreams can come true (scroll and frog prince). Happy holidays to all!


They awoke to find the fated star glimmering even though sunrise was at hand. They quickly gathered their gifts for the journey, and because they knew that the road would be perilous with many thieves and brigands, they fitted their gifts to adorn their wrists. One was a gift of gold in the shape of a small flower as found on the aromatic frankincense plant found in the mountains of their Eastern homes. Another was a gift of gold in the shape of a bitter twig plant, like the anointing oil of precious myrrh. And last was a gift of gold with precious stones arrayed around the center, invoking blessings and wisdom in the wearer's life. They set forth to seek the King.

They came to a king who smiled at their gifts, and was pleasant. But when he heard the gifts were not for him, but for the True King, he grew nervous. He kept his face impassive and gave them shelter, hoping that these great men with great gifts would lead him to the one they sought after. The men left, ever pursuing, their gifts clinking softly as they traveled.

Finally, they arrived in a small rural village, where the star had led them. They felt drawn to a stable, where they found an infant, quiet in his mother's arms. It was there that they set their gifts.

Once satisfied that they had met the King of Kings, they continued on their way, using a different path as had come to them in a dream, foiling the plans of the nervous king. Their gifts shined softly in the low light of the stable; the only raiment for this infant King.





~ Christmas Presence ~


Xmas to me is about my love for my family and friends so this combo is built around that.
Starting with my love for my girls, my angel and princess. Being a mum is the most amazing thing that I have achieved. The white beads symbolize the special winter moments in lapland. I still remember almost crying as we were travelling through the snow. These have been the best xmas times for us, just family time, me my husband and girls x

The baby breath beads, one for each of my girls. The mask for the many emotions throughout this year. Sometimes sad, sometimes cross but mostly happiness.

The scroll given to me by my girls. The pink dillo to remind me of my youngest's special confirmation day. The tulip reminds me of my mum and dutch family. The heart ooak a reminder of my troll friends. This one was my very first trollfairied gift. I still dont know who sent it but it stays in my heart. The pink trollstone to remind me that like true friends once lost can always return especially at xmas.

And lastly my dragon lock represents my home country Wales.
The best thing I ever did was to move to Wales. At 16 it was hard to make my own life but I did it and now have the best family and look forward to having another wonderful family xmas this year.
Merry xmas to everyone from me and my family x


What color has Christmas? For me it is red and green with white and some gold and brown. Even in the middle of the year does this color combination build a longing and imagination of Christmas that is hard to resist.
How does Christmas smell? It smells of cinnamon, cardamom and other spices mixed with sugar and icecold wind and snow.

Christmas time is a time of familiy gathering together, of children laughing in the snow, of candles burning and people cozely snuggling together and reading the old christmas tales of angels and fairytales coming alive. It´s a time of silence and yet of carols and singing and music playing everywhere. It´s a time of longing for peace and love and thinking of people not beeing able to be with us.

It´s a time of darkness coming alight with the deep knowing of God watching over us.
May you all have a happy and peaceful christmas!!

From left to right: Sabo Gingerbread Man, pixiebead prism, TB OOAK, Murmelbead, OHM snowman kid, TB christmas 2011, TB OOAK, Pandora Angel, TB christmas 2011, TB OOAK Longevity, TB OOAK, OHM christmas tree, TB christmas 2011, TB red bubbles, OHM carolers, Artisan GITD snowman, pixiebead prism, TB stopper, Artisan lock, TB chain


A Finnish Christmas

One of my favourite Christmas experiences was when I spent Christmas Eve with a group of people from Finland. It was lovely to share Finnish Christmas traditions including wearing a red hat, going to the sauna, singing traditional Christmas songs, and hearing about the annual declaration of Christmas Peace from Turku Cathedral. This bracelet symbolises a Scandinavian Christmas, with the Nisse Elf representing Joulupukki, or Father Christmas.

Hyvää Joulua!

From left: Bright Red Prism, Navaho, Red Feather, White Diamond, Dala Horse, Angles Triangles, Scarlet Bud, Three Stars, White Stripe, Red Bubbles, Quatre, Nisse Elf, Red Stripe, White Bubbles, Sandi, Red Berry. All beads TB.


White snow along with the sparkles of Christmas lights…

A very Merry Christmas to all the new friends!


From home to home and heart to heart,
From one place to another,
The warmth and joy of Christmas,
Brings us closer to each other.


For my holiday bracelet, I chose a reflective palette, inspired by stained glass and mosaic beads. It quietly celebrates the joy from the beads that brought all of us here to this forum, and the connections made. Several of the beads came from other forum members and in this season, they remind me about how beads are swapped, shared and enjoyed here. The beauty is in the glass and the stories in the silvers, but the shared inspiration, generosity and comraderie in this place where we come for happy bead chatter and eye candy is special. Life can be unpredictable and we should take any happiness we can get; here it is from our beads!


Thinking back of the X-Mas days when I was a little child, bring back warm feelings and memories. We couldn't afford to have a X-Mas tree every year, but my mum always tried to make the house as cosy as possible, with paper bells, Santa figures and guirlandes along the stairs.

The times that we did have a real X-Mas tree, was a real party. Three boxes filled with all kinds of special X-Mas ornaments, lot's of birds with white feathers that we carefully hang into the tree. And these birds do resemble the Owl that is hanging on my X-Mas bracelet, I can remember that when I put a bird in the tree, it would immediately turn upside down, just like the Owl when I put it on my bracelet. When my mum put the birds into the tree, they remained seated and wouldn't turn upside down.

Most of the X-Mas ornaments were silver, with a slight red or green detail, and there were these three little Santa's that my mum used to hang into the tree.

And when it turned X-Mas, everything was quiet, the lights in the tree were shining bright, along with some candles and I used to play around the tree. When I turned a little bit older, I was very impressed that even though X-Mas should be all about peace, there are certain areas in the world where people wouldn't cease their fires, but still were fighting a war, even during X-Mas. And sometimes my dad was among those fights, as he was in the army and couldn't be with us during X-Mas.

For those who are still in the firezones, I sincerely wish, that this year all those battles and wars will end. For those who are going through a rough time, I wish that, when you look up to the lights in your X-Mas tree, a sparkle can give you all the strenght you need.

A very warm and loving X-Mas for everyone!


Icicles, Holly, Red Berries and Snow…….

The title of this old children´s Christmas song describes my bracelet perfectly. I remember listening to this song with my sister while waiting for Santa.

Green, red and white are still the traditional Christmas colors for me. I love the warm glow of candles and the nice smell of spiced cookies.

And I still like listening to Christmas songs and singing along. On Christmas I feel like a child again.


I don't want a lot for Christmas
There's just one thing I need
I don't care about presents
Underneath the Christmas tree
I want a turtle for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you.


One of my favorite Christmas memories is driving to my grandmother's on
Christmas Eve and seeing all the sparkling Christmas decorations and lights.
I remember taking off my glasses so all the beautiful lights would blur
together like a kaleidoscope. Christmas was always represented by red,
green and sparkling white with some touches of gold. I tried to recreate
this feeling with this bracelet by using reds, greens and whites from my
collection. The holly bead to the right of the Dala horse was from a Secret
Santa Swap last year and the Christmas heart bead from last year's release
represents the warm hearts at our annual Christmas Eve family gathering.
Berries to represent the holly berries, Zanzibar because it makes me think
of the desert/Bethlehem, Stars silver/gold to represent the Magi/3 Kings,
Dala Horse for the stable/manger and to give homage to my grandmother's
European background, Sparkling Star for the Star of Bethlehem and Unity
because the holidays bring us all, family and friends, in real life and
through the internet, together.


Christmas time is often bringing back childhood memories.
So come with me back, way back in time and meet a little girl named Pauline.
She'd been gifted an album by her friend Wilhelmine on Christmas 1888, that is filled with wishes and cherished memories.
This page was dedicated by one of her brothers, who signed "Your loving brother Fritz, Christmas 1890"
I often wonder, how life used to be back in these old days.


Wish that the good cheer and warmth of the Season bring Joy and Love




I live in a sunny place now but grew up where it was always snowy and icy around the holidays. My clearest memory about Christmas was decorating our beautiful green tree and putting all of the shiny ornaments on and then the star on top. Christmas eve we would go to church to the candlelight service and light candles and sing. I still can remember how glittery and shiny everything looked to me by candlelight and outside everything was white and icy. It seemed magical to me. This bracelet reminds me of this time in my childhood.


Since I was a little girl, the holidays have been my favorite time of year. Especially when it is time to pick out a Christmas tree. I would have one in each room of the house if I could. I love how the Christmas tree smell fills the house. Some of my favorite memories when I was a child are going with my family to pick out the prefect Christmas tree. How exciting it was to see all the beautiful Christmas trees waiting for a family to take them home and decorate with love and cheer.
Dad would drag it in from on top of the car and get it ready for mom and us kids. We would decorate it next to an open fire, eating freshly baked Christmas cookies, drinking hot cocoa and listening to Christmas carols. These are some of the best memories I have with my family, a time where everyone was happy and content, full of love and joy. And of course un-wrapping presents under the tree on Christmas morning.
To me, Christmas tree's represent warmth, love, family and togetherness. They always bring a smile to my face and a little warmth to my heart. I made a bracelet to try and capture those feelings. I hope you like it!

Beads from left to right starting at the lock: Luccicare green christmas tree, Beadimpressions christmas caterpillar, Trollbeads spirit light, Macrow green mirror dots, Pandora cathedral, Luccicare red frosted ornament, Trollbeads 2011 Christmas bead, Trollbeads candy cane (red) armadillo ooak, Trollbeads hallelujah, Luccicare white Christmas tree, Macrow green glitter, Trollbeads Christmas tree, Luccicare red glitter, Luccicare white Christmas tree with moon, Trollbeads hallelujah, Trollbeads 2-toned green armadillo ooak, Trollbeads red & white glitter dottie, Macrow white diamonds, Pandora Christmas tree, Macrow green diamonds, Macrow icicle, Luccicare red Christmas tree, Trollbeads clear with white dots ornament dangle, Trollbeads green with glitter ornament dangle




My Saturnalia Bracelet

Many of the symbols of Christmas echo its aspect of rebirth and hope
in darkness. Holly was thought to be important because it retains its
greenery right through the winter months, and as such is a symbol of
summer life in the winter starkness. Holly was the male symbol of this
greenery, and Ivy was the feminine, the two often placed together as a
symbol of productivity at the dark end of the year. There was also a
belief that evergreen plants and trees were refuges for the woodland
spirits through the winter months.
The Christmas tree may have also been a symbol of the above aspects,
although Whistler in his 'English Festivals' suggests that the tree is
a carry over from the Roman festival of Saturnalia, when pine trees
were decorated with images of Bacchus. The tradition of setting up a
Christmas tree within the home is generally traced back to Prince
Albert who started the practice in 1841. Mistletoe is another plant
associated with Christmas; sacred to the druids, its importance can be
traced back to Celtic times, although the original reason for their
significance is now largely forgotten.

Happy Saturnalia!


My favorite Christmas story is simply the glimpses of moments that I have stored in my mind of Christmas when I was a child. I have tried to capture the glimpses here, in what might not appear to be a "Christmas" bracelet, but is very much one to me.
I remember the snow piled almost as high as houses, hence the snow covered dotties. I remember icicles hanging from rooftops, longer than I was tall. Of course, I remember the building of snowmen. Lots of them. And counting the days. Trimming the tree, and the wonderful pine smell all through the house, a constant reminder of the holiday to come. I remember hours and hours of quietly gazing at a tree filled with multi-colored lights and mercury glass ornaments in even more brilliant colors. And tinsel. Everywhere. And counting the days. I remember the taste of ribbon candy, the fun of ice skating, and warm snowflake-patterned sweaters. And counting the days. I remember not liking blue Christmas paper (but paid homage to the misfit here). I remember wondering about Santa Claus traveling around the world in one night. And counting the days! I remember having my family all together, and the warm comfort and joy that a child has no idea will turn into a cherished memory. Here's to wishing you and yours happy holiday memories! And by the way, I still count the days.


Christmas Dreams

I have tried a lot of other colors at Christmas time, but I always come back to the one true Christmas color. Red is for me the essence and the spirit of Christmas. That´s what the chains stands for.

The shine and sparkle, which may not be missing at this time, brings me my amber bracelet. So many of my favorites for a great time of the year.


I just bought my first lab with flash, so I wanted to design my bracelet around it. I also wanted to include some beads from this Christmas release and from past years.


May you all have a blessed Christmas and all you wishes come true


My bracelet represents a cold and snowy Christmas Eve.


I absolutely LOVE Christmas! This bracelet has all my favourite beads and so many of these beads have so much meaning to me. Most of these beads were bought of me for Christmas and my Birthday, and I can't wait to get some more this year! I love my Chamilia Rudolf, I think that these were only available for a short time and it was the first Christmas that I started collecting, he is so cute and I would love to wear him more often. My wonderful other half tracked one down for me, it was so special. Another bead that is extra special is the Cherry Tree from the Christmas in Australia Kit, I really like the green one from last year and can't wait to get some more green on my bracelet this year (fingers crossed!)


My Christmas bracelet and what it represents to me:

When I think of a classic Christmas, of course the colors, red, green & white, with a touch of sparkle come to mind. When I was growing up, we would decorate our Christmas tree with the same ornaments every year, adding one or two new ones each year, usually gifts from my Grandmother. It was very nostalgic to open the boxes of decorations and re-discover them again. We would play Christmas music and have popcorn, hot chocolate and my mom's home baked tarts. I didn't like cherries, so she would make a special tart just for me with just cherry pie filling, but no cherries The first red dillo on my bracelet represents my special tart. We would always get a live tree (not a cut tree) and plant it in the yard after Christmas, the lovely red with green fern beads and the green glass represent those trees. The white and gold glitter beads signify the snow that would (sometimes) be on the ground and the sparkly tinsel hanging on the tree and the icicles hanging from the tree branches. Sometimes we would string cranberries for the tree and these are represented by the small berries. Holly has always been one of my favorite plants because it stays vibrant in color all year round, so of course my Christmas bracelet wouldn't be complete without it. I collected teddy bears as a kid, so would usually get a small one in my stocking, represented by the adorable "Hugging Bear". Panda mom and baby represents my mother and me, we've been through a lot together, and several Christmas's where it was just the two of us, but we've always been there for each other. Avery Elf is so cute sitting patiently waiting for his turn to help out Santa and of course the kitty cat...we always had cats when I was growing up, I still do and they ALWAYS think the tree skirt is the BEST place to sleep. Plus they love to be in the middle of things on Christmas morning when there are ribbons and balls of paper to chase. Put all together, my bracelet is also special to me because it represents a new "circle of friends" I've come to know and appreciate here on the forum. Everyone truly exhibits the "Spirit" of Christmas all year through and I count myself fortunate to be a part of it.


When we first moved to the semi-tropical coast, I wasn’t sure that I’d like the Christmas season. After all, it seldom snows, and flowers and plants bloom boringly year round. A snow man here is not made of snow but is either a dressed up yard decoration or a large balloon with a spotlight. But when I first saw a family’s small boat with a string of Christmas lights wrapped around its mast calmly floating on the water, I was enthralled. Now I regularly put appreciations of the seashore on my Christmas tree like most others around here. .. shells, fish, seabirds. Somehow a coastal town seems to be perfect for a season built on love, peace and good cheer. Happy Christmas everyone! xx






My picture may not be picture perfect there are creases within the the frame!
As you can clearly see :-)
But to those who are in it, they are as perfect as can be!
the ones that are still here to see and the ones that are watching over me :-)
and I'm so proud to say
This is my FAMILY

Love the entries so far and the stories about the choice of beads.

Beautiful bracelets - lots of inspiration

This thread was a bit difficult to find again!

Lots of Christmas inspiration for everyone!

I love the stories, the bracelets... all so wonderful and really inspiring! Thanks a lot!

I can feel the Christmas spirit !!!

All the pictures and stories are wonderfull.

Wow, gorgeous combo's and stories!

Seriously awesome combos! Fantastic work, everyone!

I shouldn't have looked!!! Now I need to go rework mine ;-))

Blimey, I'm actually starting to feel a bit Christmassy
Wonderful entries so far, I love reading the stories too

all wonderful bracelets, and the accompanying stories...so sweet,

Really great bracelets and so many gourgeous and heartwarming stories - I love christmas time (even starting before Halloween.... )
......and it doesn´t put any pressure on me getting ready with my bracelet..... no, not at all...... .......but I am still waiting for a bead to arrive.....

These are all fantastic !!

Beautiful combos!!!

They're all so different and yet they're all so well themed.

Looking again and again at all the beautiful bracelets displayed

Hoping there are many more beautiful designs to come!

Maybe the people that entered will get two prizes each lol people will get into it soon

I'm working on mine! I am just waiting on some beads I ordered from Luccicare on etsy.... Maybe they will be here today!!!

New inspirational photos

I am dying here wanting to ask questions about the artisan beads and locks realizing that answers to such questions will reveal the owners, sigh!

Christmas is about waiting too

Fabulous. I love the care everyone's taken in photographing their bracelets. They all look so....Christmassy! I have put mine together but need to take picks.

Some great designs here, lots of inspiration

All the beautiful designs and stories really help to get into Christmas mood

Oh, Jingle Bells! All so different and so beautiful. I'm loving seeing these bracelets, they're all winners.

What a lot of wonderful bracelets and all the heartwarming storys, I love them all.