Charm School 101

This post was inspired by my beautifully creative and ever fashionable friend, Mei Chen, who made a super cool charm necklace that I’ve been coveting for months.

Steve Damstra, Charm Necklace Super Model

CHARM SCHOOL 101

I bet we can all conjure up some memory of charm jewelry.  As a child, my grandmother gave me a bracelet that I would diligently add charms to like it was my job.  Of course, there’s the infamous “Best Friend” charm that was worn by BFFs during junior high.  We all secretly wanted to be the lucky one to score the “Be Fri” side rather than the sort of pathetic “st end” side.  Dog tags even decorate the necks of both our military and our four-legged friends.  In some form, these kitschy trinkets can be worn by everyone.

Designers and jewelers are fully on board with the charm trend which means that today, you can buy charm jewelry in nearly every boutique and specialty store, but for those of us looking to save a buck and make a profoundly personal statement, fashioning your own is surely the way to go.  Not to mention, in this economy, jewelry made of eclectic and inexpensive pieces that actually hold some meaning to you are a welcomed alternative to the traditional and fancy jewels of old.

Please know that I wouldn’t suggest that you even entertain the thought of designing your own charm jewelry unless I knew it was a fairly simple thing to do and expect that you will get proud satisfaction out of creating something beautiful yourself.  So, in the interest of inspiring your creative juices, here are some tips and tricks to help make you into a bonafide jewelry designer.

Classic Vintage Bracelets

Tools Needed to Tinker
chain or chain(s)
pliers
jump rings
clasps
bobbles and charms

Design Tips

• Choose the “look”.  As you can see by the bracelets I made a while back, I opted for a more classic vintage statement, choosing ornate charms that have mass appeal.  Inspired by this article, I’m now planning to get whimsical and edgy by choosing charms and trinkets that really express my individuality.  I’ll personally be looking to pull together an eclectic mix of random goodies including dance shoes, horses, skeletons, pearls, the “welcome to Las Vegas” sign, and a pocket watch from my grandmother.

• That brings me to this point – to keep things edgy and contemporary it’s best to mix and not match.  We all know that Hi-Low dressing is “in”, do the same when choosing your chains and charms.  Try real gold, silver and even diamonds with plastic.  Or combine a variety of chains as one necklace.

• To balance your design and give your piece a polished look choose one centerpiece or statement charm that has some weight to it and garners a little attention.

• If you’re in need of a little inspiration, shop online and in stores for designer jewelry you like and reproduce it with your own flair.  But, keep it simple.  The more complicated teh design, the easier to make mistakes that call attention to your amateur jeweler status.

• Whether you go for a traditional look or something that’s totally free-spirited, choose charms that make you happy, make you laugh, and remind you of something, or someone, or some place that’s special you.

Treasure Chests
Keep in mind that charms can be made out of nearly anything.  Mei used a tiny harmonica in her necklace, and I’ll be using part of an old key chain and my husband’s, itty-bitty (and too cute for words) baby ring.  eBay and flea markets are great sources for odd and interesting items.

A simple google search for “jewelry findings” will bring up loads of online sources.  Here are just a couple I’ve personally used Jewelry Supply, Fire Mountain Gems

Of course, if you happen to live in NYC or LA, there are countless wholesale stores in the Bead District and Jewelry District respectively that are sure to serve as a great resource.  Just be sure to confirm with them in advance that they will sell retail to you before spending time picking out fabulous things that you won’t be able to buy.
For my collection designs I mainly shop from my trusty NYC purveyors Margola, M&J, Beads World, and Botani.

The Marvelous Mei Chen

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Charms even look good on clothing.  I’ve been decorating tees and leggings for a while with great success.  I find it turns a comfy and otherwise basic garment into something special and interesting.  Isn’t it always good to add a little dahlightful flair to your day?