Starting a new charm bracelet

[Ratnapur]

In addition to adding a couple of sterling charms in memory of my Mom to my "everyday" charm bracelet, I've decided to make a new one with charms that represent Mom. I found an old, heavy-link, heart padlock (repro Victorian design, I think) bracelet on eBay last night. The cool thing is, it is hallmarked Birmingham (England), where Mom came from!

I've bought 2 charms already, and have a list of at least 11 more I could add:

1. A Dutch girl in native garb: in the '60's, Mom did home demonstrations for a company name DutchMaid. I think they sold clothing. She appararently was quite the saleswoman! She often spoke of DutchMaid when I was a kid.

2. A silver WWII-era 3-Pence coin. I have a couple of bracelets made from old British coins that her Mom sent me many years ago. Mom was a teen during WWII, so it serves 2 purposes.

I have more to add: her name, Dad's name, turtle, nurse, a lavender plant, dahlia, MOM, rabbit's foot (she always rubbed 1 over her Bingo cards!), a house (she & Dad built their own house), a Bingo card, a wine bottle, Birmingham, a ship (she came to America by ship after WWII), Sherlock Holmes (she loved murder mysteries), a Leo charm (she was a Leo), a silver engraved disc with her name and birth-death dates on it, and a cat.

I'm debating whether to add a cancer charm of some kind. I may just want to keep the bracelet a happy one.

 

[laurineg1]

Wow, that bracelet sounds amazing. What a wonderful way to remember your mom...but I agree, keep the bracelet a happy one. No need to add a charm that might make you sad. I actually have a charm bracelet that has all the charms my mom bought me over the years. I cherish it and am reminded of her when I wear it, because the charms are so beautiful!

 

[Ratnapur]

Wow, that bracelet sounds amazing. What a wonderful way to remember your mom...but I agree, keep the bracelet a happy one. No need to add a charm that might make you sad. I actually have a charm bracelet that has all the charms my mom bought me over the years. I cherish it and am reminded of her when I wear it, because the charms are so beautiful!

My Mom never bought any charms for me, nor do I think she ever had her own charm bracelet, but I just remembered a story she once told me...in England, in small towns/villages, they once (or perhaps still do!) had a tiny post office/general store, and you picked up your mail at the window from either the Postmaster or Postmistress. Mom said she saw her first charm bracelet when she was a kid, because the Postmistress wore one. She had lovely wrists and hands--and Mom said she loved to watch her hand motions and loved the movement and tinkling sound of the charm bracelet--she was so fascinated by the Postmistress, due to her charm bracelet!

Leave it to me to find comfort in buying jewelry! Seriously, though, I do derive much comfort from the hummingbird necklace and from planning my special jewelry memorials. Mom, though she never had any valuable jewelry, still managed to look amazing in her costume jewelry, and never left home without a necklace, earrings, and usually a brooch. She had wonderful taste in clothing and jewelry. Perhaps this IS a fitting way to honor her. I do think she'd be happy that I managed to get some silver items from her home city--and also because her parents owned a silver/goldsmithing and jewelry shop there.

It's only been a little over a month since she died, and it's been a rough time for me, but planning these small ways of honoring her does help. I actually sat down and listed all of the things Mom liked and/or reminded me of her (so I could collect the charms) , and it's been a learning experience, and very comforting. I really recommend it to anyone who is grieving, and loves jewelry. As with the hummingbird necklace, the right piece may not present itself right away; you may have to search for a long time, but, when you find it, you know it's the right piece to remind you of your loved one, and you'll smile each time you wear it. I do.

 

[jtc103]

What a great way to honor and remember your mom! And your charms which represent your mom sound very unique and specific so your charm bracelet would indeed be very special and representative! Love it!

 

[neverenoughbags]

For the charm that lists her death, I think I would just list her birthday...or wedding date, or other special dates. I think the date of her death would just make me sad. Try and make the bracelet a celebration of the life she lived... think of the happy times and memories you had. Special trips you guys did, funny or silly memories.. her quirks or things that made her happy.