the PANDORA Thread

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#8,206
luckyduckybunny said:
Ahh yes! Thank you. I remember your bracelets now. I love them! You have a great collection.
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Thank you! I keep rearranging some. Like my red/blue/angel bracelet - I think I am in the mood to make a full bracelet. :smile1: I've got a few muranos from rue la la, and I will see how it will look when they arrive. I love muranos the most. On my full bracelet, I have 5 of them. I need a new bracelet to make a new one too, since my red bracelet could only accommodate charms in the middle portion. I got it intentionally smaller.
 
#8,207
BigPurseSue said:
I mix and match my Pandora on my Trollbead bracelet and I think it looks great. I notice some of the bloggers like EndangeredTrolls (www.endangeredtrolls.com) do a lot of mixing and matching between brands in their bracelet designs and they look fabulous.


I think Pandora glass beads are under-rated. They're beautiful and at $35 a great value, especially with those heavy sterling end caps. Trollbeads glass is getting so pricey--over $50 for some of the beads now. They're tiny and they vary so much it's hard to buy them online.


Here's my combo-bracelet. There are two Pandora looking-glass muranos, a Trollbeads beach glass bead, and the two flowered beads are from an Etsy glass artist. The silver are Redbalifrog.
Click to expand...
Who is the artist? These beads look very interesting.
 
#8,208
alice87 said:
Who is the artist? These beads look very interesting.
Click to expand...



The large implosion flower beads are by a glass artist in Canada who sells on Etsy and ebay with the company name Ikuyoglassart. https://www.etsy.com/shop/ikuyoglassart
Her beads fit on Pandora bracelets as well as Troll, although she doesn't have any listed in her shop at the moment. I think she will do custom beads if you ask. I really love her beads!


Another glass artist that someone on this list recommended a while back is Lion's Paw Jewelry. https://www.etsy.com/shop/lionspawjewelry and on ebay at http://www.ebay.com/sch/lionspawjly...e=STRK:MESELX:IT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
She does some really pretty flowery lampwork beads that fit on Pandora bracelets.


There are other glass artists on Etsy who sell lovely hand-made beads for Pandora bracelets. They can be hard to find because Pandora won't let them use the name "Pandora" in their descriptions. So you need to search for "European charm" and "universal core" (universal core is the name for big hole bead charms) or "big hole beads" and "lampwork."


A lot of these artists are Dutch. Such as this lady who makes exquisite beads:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DutchBeadsNMore?page=1
She makes both Troll and Pandora-compatible beads described as "universal core" but you have to ask if she doesn't have any on display.


There have been handmade beads I've bought on Etsy that were described as fitting on Pandora bracelets but when I got them I found that they didn't. They didn't fit over the threaded end caps. So I recently splurged and bought a Trollbead bracelet. It's nice being able to enjoy both kinds of bracelets. Although it does hurt the pocketbook. ;)
 
#8,209
BigPurseSue said:
I mix and match my Pandora on my Trollbead bracelet and I think it looks great. I notice some of the bloggers like EndangeredTrolls (www.endangeredtrolls.com) do a lot of mixing and matching between brands in their bracelet designs and they look fabulous.


I think Pandora glass beads are under-rated. They're beautiful and at $35 a great value, especially with those heavy sterling end caps. Trollbeads glass is getting so pricey--over $50 for some of the beads now. They're tiny and they vary so much it's hard to buy them online.


Here's my combo-bracelet. There are two Pandora looking-glass muranos, a Trollbeads beach glass bead, and the two flowered beads are from an Etsy glass artist. The silver are Redbalifrog.
Click to expand...
It really does look nice. I have been wanting to get a trollbeads bracelet started but that is my exact problem; that the muranos are so ridiculously priced.
 
#8,210
BigPurseSue said:
The large implosion flower beads are by a glass artist in Canada who sells on Etsy and ebay with the company name Ikuyoglassart. https://www.etsy.com/shop/ikuyoglassart
Her beads fit on Pandora bracelets as well as Troll, although she doesn't have any listed in her shop at the moment. I think she will do custom beads if you ask. I really love her beads!


Another glass artist that someone on this list recommended a while back is Lion's Paw Jewelry. https://www.etsy.com/shop/lionspawjewelry and on ebay at http://www.ebay.com/sch/lionspawjly...e=STRK:MESELX:IT&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562
She does some really pretty flowery lampwork beads that fit on Pandora bracelets.


There are other glass artists on Etsy who sell lovely hand-made beads for Pandora bracelets. They can be hard to find because Pandora won't let them use the name "Pandora" in their descriptions. So you need to search for "European charm" and "universal core" (universal core is the name for big hole bead charms) or "big hole beads" and "lampwork."


A lot of these artists are Dutch. Such as this lady who makes exquisite beads:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/DutchBeadsNMore?page=1
She makes both Troll and Pandora-compatible beads described as "universal core" but you have to ask if she doesn't have any on display.


There have been handmade beads I've bought on Etsy that were described as fitting on Pandora bracelets but when I got them I found that they didn't. They didn't fit over the threaded end caps. So I recently splurged and bought a Trollbead bracelet. It's nice being able to enjoy both kinds of bracelets. Although it does hurt the pocketbook. ;)
Click to expand...
I love DutchBeadsNPoppers! Those Baroque glass beads are gorgeous. I first saw them on Charms addict and I really want some in the purple shades.


The problem about ordering from artisans is that some of the beads break much more easily than Pandora or Trollbeads for example. Or the glass is not well fused with the core and they start to spin around on it and get damaged. Charms addict thinks that DutchBeadsNPoppers are really excellent quality though. I really should order one right now lol they are gorgeous and unique.
 
#8,211
alice87 said:
Thank you! I keep rearranging some. Like my red/blue/angel bracelet - I think I am in the mood to make a full bracelet. :smile1: I've got a few muranos from rue la la, and I will see how it will look when they arrive. I love muranos the most. On my full bracelet, I have 5 of them. I need a new bracelet to make a new one too, since my red bracelet could only accommodate charms in the middle portion. I got it intentionally smaller.
Click to expand...
Ya, I like the look of five muranos on a bracelet but whenever I try it, I just feel like it doesn't sit right. I tried moving them over a bead or so but I just can't find the right way to have 5 on comfortably. I usually leave 3, one in the middle and the other 2 right after my clips. Anyway, I can't wait for pics...when your muranos arrive lol You have lovely creations really.
 
#8,212
luckyduckybunny said:
I love DutchBeadsNPoppers! Those Baroque glass beads are gorgeous. I first saw them on Charms addict and I really want some in the purple shades.

The problem about ordering from artisans is that some of the beads break much more easily than Pandora or Trollbeads for example. Or the glass is not well fused with the core and they start to spin around on it and get damaged. Charms addict thinks that DutchBeadsNPoppers are really excellent quality though. I really should order one right now lol they are gorgeous and unique.
Click to expand...


I wasn't aware that there was a problem with the glass breaking in the beads from some artisan sellers. That is a concern! I have had cores separate in beads I bought from one etsy seller that I didn't list. I've heard that one should avoid sellers that sell beads with "riveted" silver cores, rather than fused ones. I've also spotted sellers on etsy that look like they're independent artisans but you read a bit deeper on their web site and such and it's apparent they're buying the beads wholesale from Asian or someplace. So one must be careful. The real problem I've had though is bead artists insisting their beads fit on Pandora bracelets but when you get them they don't.


The other problem I've had is size. Some of the glass artists on etsy make really small beads and some sell really large beads and it's hard to tell from the measurements or the pictures what the exact size is. That's one thing that's so nice about the Pandora muranos, they're consistent in size.
 
#8,213
BigPurseSue said:
I wasn't aware that there was a problem with the glass breaking in the beads from some artisan sellers. That is a concern! I have had cores separate in beads I bought from one etsy seller that I didn't list. I've heard that one should avoid sellers that sell beads with "riveted" silver cores, rather than fused ones. I've also spotted sellers on etsy that look like they're independent artisans but you read a bit deeper on their web site and such and it's apparent they're buying the beads wholesale from Asian or someplace. So one must be careful. The real problem I've had though is bead artists insisting their beads fit on Pandora bracelets but when you get them they don't.


The other problem I've had is size. Some of the glass artists on etsy make really small beads and some sell really large beads and it's hard to tell from the measurements or the pictures what the exact size is. That's one thing that's so nice about the Pandora muranos, they're consistent in size.
Click to expand...
Ya, you're right, Pandora muranos are pretty standard size. Some are a little fatter but its not very noticeable unless they are side by side. I have had the same problem, of buying and then they don't fit. When I first started collecting I bought some stoppers off of ebay and they were supposed to fit but they were way too small and they were just 30$ but I didn't want to pay shipping 2 times to return them. So it was just a waste. Although I still have them and they might fit a trollbeads bracelet when I get one in the future (near future I hope lol).
 
#8,214
BigPurseSue said:
I mix and match my Pandora on my Trollbead bracelet and I think it looks great. I notice some of the bloggers like EndangeredTrolls (www.endangeredtrolls.com) do a lot of mixing and matching between brands in their bracelet designs and they look fabulous.


I think Pandora glass beads are under-rated. They're beautiful and at $35 a great value, especially with those heavy sterling end caps. Trollbeads glass is getting so pricey--over $50 for some of the beads now. They're tiny and they vary so much it's hard to buy them online.


Here's my combo-bracelet. There are two Pandora looking-glass muranos, a Trollbeads beach glass bead, and the two flowered beads are from an Etsy glass artist. The silver are Redbalifrog.
Click to expand...
The pink flowral murano in the front looks amazing!
 
#8,215
BigPurseSue said:
So I recently splurged and bought a Trollbead bracelet. It's nice being able to enjoy both kinds of bracelets. Although it does hurt the pocketbook. ;)
Click to expand...

I've never seen a Trollbead bracelet other than pictures on the web. They look really nice, and I want one. Do the Pandora beads fit on it?

I was looking at those glass beads you posted a link to. Really nice, but I want one of these:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/151890052/choose-and-change-chain-pendant-salak-45
 
#8,217
luckyduckybunny said:
Ya, you're right, Pandora muranos are pretty standard size. Some are a little fatter but its not very noticeable unless they are side by side. I have had the same problem, of buying and then they don't fit. When I first started collecting I bought some stoppers off of ebay and they were supposed to fit but they were way too small and they were just 30$ but I didn't want to pay shipping 2 times to return them. So it was just a waste. Although I still have them and they might fit a trollbeads bracelet when I get one in the future (near future I hope lol).
Click to expand...



Trollbeads has a promotion going on from now to the 15th of November. If you spend $100 either in a store or at one of the web retailers you get a free bracelet and lock. It's their standard starter lock, but some retailers will substitute other locks perhaps for a small fee. Just sayin. ;)

JewelryLuver said:
I've never seen a Trollbead bracelet other than pictures on the web. They look really nice, and I want one. Do the Pandora beads fit on it?

I was looking at those glass beads you posted a link to. Really nice, but I want one of these:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/151890052/choose-and-change-chain-pendant-salak-45
Click to expand...


Oh that is really nice! I want one of those too! I bought two of her "baroque" beads--and they really are gorgeous--I made a "pendant" out of them by looping a silver chain through the beads twice, and I like it a lot. But this arrangement looks so much nicer.


All Pandora beads do fit on Trollbeads bracelets, but Trollbeads are not large enough to string on Pandora bracelets. There are some Trollbeads called "universal core" which will fit on Pandora bracelets but they're pricey.


The Trollbeads bracelets are substantial. Before I bought one I saw them only on the web and assumed they were a slender silver chain but there's a nice substantial weight to them.


I still like Pandora as much as I always have, but I like having both brands because there's more variety in switching beads between them. And of course I love the Redbalifrog charms which fit on both bracelets! I have more of those than I have of any other brand.
 
#8,218
Oh my gosh I know, I got an email today about the Trollbeads promo and it is just my luck because I am trying to decide on a nice ring I found or a RTT medium bead to stack with my Pandora. So now I have another choice to think about lol I wish I could just buy everything but my husband would definitely never trust me with money again lol
 
#8,220
luckyduckybunny said:
I wish I could just buy everything but my husband would definitely never trust me with money again lol
Click to expand...


:D Sometimes I think why not take the plunge and buy all the charms on my wishlist but I know that the day after I did that there would just be more charms that I would want.


Here's a question for all of you: what does your SO think of your obsession/passion for these little pieces of glass, stone and silver? Does he/she think you're nuts? Is he/she understanding? Or at least compassionate?


My DH knows I like to wear bracelets but beyond that I think he's a bit oblivious.
 
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