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A charm bracelet, an Awesome Way To Create Memories |
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 There are more ways than scrapbooking to make a history. I have been fascinated by charms since I was a little girl. I remember one of my first bracelets had a little charm with a ladder and a ball and something that moved. There were about six charms in all. I wish I had it today. My first sterling silver charm was an airplane to commemorate my first airplane ride. It was from Las Vegas Nevada to Salt Lake City Utah in the summer between my freshmen and sophomore year of school.
Tera Leigh from California wrote in Real Simple magazine November 2005 about her charm bracelet that was given to her by her grandmother. It dangles more than 150 charms. She says "it's an amazing piece of her history that has become a talisman for me. It's like tapping into a little of her power and getting a little boost of confidence."
I combined my charm bracelets into a necklace. I am not sure I would recommend doing this as it is heavy around my neck. My latest foreign charm is from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. It is a sword my daughter brought back for me last year. My latest one from my travels in the United States is a moose from Jackson Hole Wyoming.
I have about 90 charms and each one has a history I plan to write so my daughters will know where they came from and the story behind each one. I actually have four different bracelets and one necklace. My one bracelet is gold charms I earned by completing one project a year in a young woman's group I was in. I have one charm bracelet with just hearts on it. Another bracelet I received as a gift from my family a charm a month from a store called Shepherd's Bush. Each charm has something to do with that month.
I have a charm watch. As I travel to different places I put charms on my watch band. The funniest story I have about a charm is the elephant I bought when I was in Brazil to represent that country. It wasn't until I was home and showing someone my charm watch that it dawned on me there are no elephants in Brazil. Fortunately I have a parrot from there as well and they do have parrots.
One charm is Y2K. Do you remember all the buzz going on prior to the year 2000 and all the predictions of what would happen? My Olympic pin of 2002 is to recognize my volunteering in that Olympics.
As I look at every charm I reminisce about the person who gave it to me, where they got it, the travels I have taken and where I have been. It is truly a part of my history and a lot of fun. It never fails when I wear my necklace, watch or bracelet I get comments on them.
There are many ways to keep memories; journals, photo albums, letters, and handwork in many varieties. Charm bracelets are another way to leave a tangible legacy. They are fun, interesting and a great souvenir when traveling as they take up no room and weigh nothing.
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