Troll beads are an entire world in a piece of jewelery.
They are sun & shadow, fire & water, Yin & Yang, black & white; each other’s opposites and symbiosis. They are a tribute to the world’s diversity. No two of the 400 different Troll beads are alike, that is what makes them so unique. What they do have in common, though, is that they all can be strung on a chain of gold or silver, that every single one is an original and that they consist of the highest quality materials available – but here is where the similarity ends. More than 20 designers from Denmark and abroad have created the Troll beads; designers with a variety of backgrounds, philosophies, experiences, thoughts and dexterity. This immense variation gives an idea of Troll beads scope. The designers are all invited to do a specific task, but all have managed to convey their own message. Some have a knack for geometric designs; some excel in the creation of light and shadow; some have a talent for daring combinations and dazzling play of colors while others excel in the creation of animals, mythological figures and trolls.
They are creative, original and dynamic. It goes without saying that some troll beads sell better than others. Certain pieces will inevitably become hits. The earliest models, Troll beads that have been around for 30 years, are in fact some of the best-selling pieces of the collection such as”Lucky Knot”. The designers work in eighteen-carat gold, sterling silver, Italian glass, pearls and precious stones. Some have been modelled straight out of the hard metal, some have been cast in wax and others have been moulded from the red-hot glass in the open flame.
It is this diversity that gives the customer the unique experience. She becomes the designer when she creates her own personalized jewelery, and she decides which story she wants it to tell. It is a far cry from the tiny kitten, gazing apprehensively upwards, to the massive Valentine Troll bead, adorned with three Swarovski crystals, in an entirely new triangular Troll bead.
Many Troll beads have modest stories to tell; stories of the past, symbolic tales of lost civilizations, and H.C. Andersen’s fairy tales to name a few; others tell tales of the cosmos, the ocean or even nature itself. It is magic, witchcraft and mystique.
Some Troll beads almost taste like candy, smell like perfume or conjure up sounds of the crashing waves. Troll beads stimulate all the senses and imagination knows no boundaries. The variations of Troll beads are endless – but they last for a lifetime.
New Troll beads are created constantly, in new shapes that continue to revitalize the collection.

‘Ancient technique in a brand new package’ is a way of describing the latest production methods employed at ‘Lise Aagaard Copenhagen’.

The road from idea to finished product can be paved with many difficulties, but the technique is the constant that makes otherwise unthinkable combinations of design, material and detail in the Trollbeads possible.

The Trollbeads are handmade in nature’s own materials – silver, gold, pearls, jewels and glass. Some of the designs are instruments.

When the original model is in place, a ‘master’ is cast. This is the basis for all the future Trollbeads of this model that will eventually end up on the customer’s arm. For this process an exceptional technique is used – the so-called ‘cire perdu’ or ‘lost

wax’ method. With this you can make copies from wax to precious metals so precise that even the smallest crack is reproduced.

This technique is 3,000 years old and has been used by Indian goldsmiths travelling from town to town with their crucible, by Chinese smiths casting tea-pots and by our own smiths casting the famous lures. This was quite a feat in those days when you consider the difficulty and importance of keeping a steady temperature in order to get a good result. A problem that has been overcome by today’s smiths – well, almost!

When the new silver- or gold-Trollbead is out of the furnace it must be refurbished.

Any cracks must be smoothed out and before its final polish the bead’s natural oxidation is accelerated. In sterling silver there will always be a certain amount of copper; this copper will react with the oxygen in the air, creating dark shadows

unless it is painstakingly polished on a regular basis. In cracks and pits the silver will thus remain black and help emphasize detail, depth and dynamics in the finished Trollbead.

The majority of designers prefer working with 18 carat gold. One of the explanations could be that gold does not oxidize naturally but keeps its shining luster even under extreme conditions. Even if you leave it on the ocean floor for centuries it will keep on sparkling and glittering. Gold’s incredible durability opens up numerous design possibilities, especially when combining it with the oxidizing silver.

Most Trollbeads are, however, made entirely out of either silver or gold. Some are encrusted with precious stones – another variant in the Trollbeads’ broad

spectrum of designs. The stones add color, character and a traditional feel of jewellery.

Natural pearls demand a special technique. The pearl is a traditional and

well-known piece of jewellery, but in order to be included in the Trollbead collection, and be put on a chain, it has to be lined with silver. The freshwater pearl, however, has a very hard surface making the drilling of the hole a demanding task. Drilling a tiny hole in a pearl is one thing, drilling a hole large enough to accommodate a chain is an entirely different matter – without cracking or breaking the pearl, that is. The solution was found with yet another member of the Nielsen/Aagaard family, the brother Per Nielsen. Per Nielsen is the engineer of the group and he designed a robot for the sole purpose of drilling holes in pearls, a job that has now been fully automated.

The glass beads grant an opportunity to play around with colors. The beads are made with glass rods, primarily the finest Italian Murano glass, but also with American and Czech glass types. The various types of glass have differences in density, some are subdued others are clear. The colors will react to the different

Some Trollbeads are created directly over open flame – namely the biggest seller in the family – the glass beads. Glass is in many ways different to metal to work with. Glass melts at 800 centigrade whereas metal melts at 500 centigrade. Glass is softer while it is being processed and much harder in its finished form, hard enough, in fact, to wear out the bracelet if not lined with silver on the inside. If this is done properly it is almost impossible to break the finished bead.

The glass beads grant an opportunity to play around with colors. The beads are made with glass rods, primarily the finest Italian Murano glass, but also with American and Czech glass types. The various types of glass have differences in density, some are subdued others are clear. The colors will react to the different

types of glass used and some colors will stand out where others will become more mellow and subdued. Because of this it takes great skill and knowledge of glass in order to make the glass Trollbeads -something that Lise Aagaard Copenhagen is well-known for.

New techniques

Innovation and breaking new ground is a big part of the Trollbead concept. 30 years after the Trollbeads were invented; Lise Aagaard Copenhagen employs a new technique – engraving in the end of 2006. Although an old and well-known technique in the trade, it is nonetheless a new offer for the Trollbead collectors. With this technique collectors can use up to 130 characters to send a message on a single Trollbead; this could be a poem for a loved one, a personal tale or memories of a journey. The choice is up to the customer.

MATERIALS    :

2 x Greek Springs with Hook , Memory Wire , 1 x Parrot Clasp , 1 x Coil of Necklace , 1 x Extension Chain  , 5 x 50mm Headpins   , 12 x 50mm Eye pins  , 2 x 30 to 40cm lengths of  round leather    , 16 x 6mm Round Beads , 33 x Size 8 Silver Lined Seed , 4 x Greek Metal Spacer Beads , Filler Beads .

DESIGNER’S NOTE
This design used 36cm, of round leather, allow for some extra to be trimmed off if needed. For our large and medium Focal Beads, we’ve used large square and round fails, and medium sized fail tubes however, any beads of your choice will be suitable.

STEP ONE
Begin by making all of your drops first. There are 5 drops in all. The center drop and outside drops are mode using 3 joined sections, and the 2 middle drops have 4 sections.

STEP TWO
Make the base section first, using a headpin. Thread o 6mm round, large focal, 6mm round, and a seed bead onto head pin, then cut and form loop.

STEP THREE
Thread a seed, larger local, then a seed onto an eye pin, then cut and form loop.

STEP FOUR
Join base section to this section by opening the loop and joining them. Tip: To open a loop use 2 pairs of flat nose pliers to hold both side of loop and lightly twist one side toward your body and one side away from your body so the loop opens sideways – do not try to pull Loops open as they will not close again – when closing, do the same thing and your loops will close back up perfectly.

STEP FIVE

Make the top section in the same manner using an eye pin and treading a seed, 6mm found, large focal, 6mm round and a seed, and then cut and form loop. Join this section to the other 2 and you have formed your centre drop.

STEP SIX
Repeat this process to create the side drops. Each link in the side drops consists only of a seed, focal, then seed.

STEP SEVEN
Now you are ready to create the shank of your necklace. Using the Memory Wire begin to thread from the centre out.

STEP EIGHT
Thread the centre drop on first, then use o 3mm spacer either side of the bop which will help to hold it in place and stop it from being able to come off if your loop is not guile closed.

STEP NINE
Then thread a 6mm round, a 3mm spacer and a 6mm round, followed by a drop, and repeat this process until the drops are all
threaded, continue threading beads to fill out the sides.
It is important not to space the drops too far apart otherwise they will not hang properly.

STEP TEN
At this point you should hold the necklace up against the neck of whoever will be wearing to gauge whether it is long enough if not thread more side beads, but do not space the drops any further apart.

STEP ELEVEN
Using round nose pliers form a loop on one end; and then using Memory Wire Cutters cut the excess memory wire off, ensuring you
leave enough to form the loop on the other side (approx 8-10mm). Tip: Make sure you hold the beads tightly together, your drops
will work their way off the thin memory wire unless the eye pin loops are well dosed arid the beads sit firmly against them to prevent vertical movement.

STEP TWELVE
Thread your bother through the end loops and pull it bock evenly so you hove o double leather strand.

STEP THIRTEEN
Hold if against the neck to chock for length and trim leather as needed.

STEP FOURTEEN
Onto the leather, thread a Greek Metal Spacer, o medium Focal Bead, and another Greek Metal Spacer.

STEP FIFTEEN
Feed the 2 ends of the leather into a Greek Spring, and using either flat nose or chain nose pliers, crimp the lest coil of the spring firmly onto the leather so it bites in.

STEP SIXTEEN
Pull the first spacer down firmly over the leather that’s threaded through the memory wire loop. Tip: This not only finishes the piece, but will stop the memory wire abrading the leather. The focal bead will just sit on top of the spacer.

STEP SEVENTEEN
Pull the second spacer firmly up over the feather so if clamps over the crimped coil of the spring. Spot with glue to hold it
permanently in place.

STEP EIGHTEEN
Using the 2 pairs of flat nose pliers, twist the hook on She spring to open it, and thread the parrot clasp, repeat on the other side and thread the extension chain, close the loops.

This post is for those who areinterested in creating unique beaded trees on their own.
So if you deside to create such a beaded tree, you will need the following materials: Beads of green color (some shades we will preliminary mix), wire, Floristic tape of brown color,  Scotch tape,  glue,  colored stones,  slides (or any other decorative elements).
Lets begin to create our own unique  beaded tree! The work is very long but the result will be amazing.

1.Cut 200 pieces of wire (approximately 45cm). Make the beads slip through each wire to make 7 loops with 8-9 beads in each piece. Make this 200 times. This will be the branches of our future beaded tree.

Our next step is to connect this piece of wire with beads and create a beaded tree.

Not connect “small” branches in more bigger ones. You can easily manage to do it with the help of Scotch tape.

]]> http://mytrollbeads.net/http:/mytrollbeads.net/making-a-beaded-tree-on-your-own/feed/ 2 http://mytrollbeads.net/http:/mytrollbeads.net/collecting-troll-beads/ http://mytrollbeads.net/http:/mytrollbeads.net/collecting-troll-beads/#comments Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:53:10 +0000 admin http://mytrollbeads.net/?p=23

Troll Beads are some of the most popular forms of telling your own personal story and expressing your fashion statement using troll bead jewelry. Jewelry can tell you a personal stories of those who wore them since the time of the ancients. From the simplest form of bracelets,necklaces, rings, earrings and more to the high fashions in jewelry today.

Troll beads are some of the most popular forms of jewelry types that are used to express your own story.  One of the most useful things about troll beads is that they are customizable for any season.

Troll beads were established within the last twenty-five years. These beads take their inspiration from various sources from plants,flowers, animals, mythology to precious metals and gemstone crystals and other unique materials. The colours of these originally designed and fashioned decorative jewelry beads are more vast than the colours of the rainbow.

Whether you are celebrating  birthdays, anniversaries, friendship tokens or any other reason, troll beads are the right choise to express own story.

These beads are truly sculptured, functional art and are recognized as such while being exhibited at various locations. They are genuine collectors items in limited series yet growing and fluctuating as their value increases.

Collecting troll beads is very exciting hobby. Not that long ago, there were smiley face troll beads left in particular places by the anonymous giver to whomever found the smiley face bead. Truly these beads are fun to give and to receive, regardless of their subject matter. From fiery dragons to guardian angels of silver, gold and all sorts of magnificent gemstone crystals and glass. Fantasy motifs rule the wonderful world of toll beads. They make wonderful gifts for anyone on your gift giving list. Whether the beaded story includes anything from basic geometric shapes to dancing ballerinas, elves and fairy folk, kings, queens, princesses and even troll trees. Create your own personal story using the unique and collectible beads today or make a gift to someone else. This is the spirit of troll beads to share the fantasy.

Troll Beads are truly a jewelry type phenomenon that has been and is ever growing it seems. There are various troll bead jewelry designers creating these beads every day. there are special series that include the expressions of various countries. These types of beads along with all the others are ever popular in the world of troll beads lovers and collectors. Interestingly, one of the most essential accessories for troll beads collections is keeping them safe in their own special bead jewelry box.

For the Long time it was a unique place in Europe where beads were made. Venetians carefully preserved secrets
of creation of a glass. those glass masters,who have told anyone the secret of glass making were threatened with death, and to its relatives -to a dungeon.
In XIII in the number of workshops on glass manufacture increases, many of which used to make beads.
In the end of XIII century art of bead making has so extended in Venice that in 1284 the Corporation of
manufacturers of crystal supervised production of glaziers, being afraid of fakes of glass beads.
The Venetian beads and beads of the highest quality, various colors and shades were carried by merchants
across all Europe. Masters and skilled workers decorated clothes, footwear, handbags, blankets and
other graceful bagatelles. The European travelers and colonizers took with themselves beads in the foreign
countries.
Inhabitants of Africa,used to give gold, spices, furs for the beads.
Long time nobody could put a competition to Venetian glassmakers. In many European
countries attempts to base manufacture of a glass beads and beads were undertaken, but these products competed in quality with Venetian ones.

Only in XVIII century numerous attempts of masters of Thuringia to gain secret of
Venetians have led them to the invention of an easy exaggerated glass beads.
And then the Czech talented bohemian masters have mastered manufacture of high-quality beads.

Moreover, they have learnt to granite it and to cover with enamels. Bohemia beads and beads differed by
the big variety of colors, the sizes, forms and a facet. Now The turn came to Czech masters who have started to hide the techniques of bead pruduction.
In 1445 the Senate of Venice has  published the special decree providing strict punishment for a fake bead productors, and not only for manufacturers, but also for distributors of false ornaments. So have appeared masters who in 1604 have united with manufacturers of crystal in Corporation of masters-manufacturers of beads and color beads.

In the beginning of XVI century a new way of processing of the glass was invented,and received the name “over fire”, or “over a lamp”.
The Venetian beads were very highly appreciated and have got world popularity. In XVII and XVIII centuries with the help of the special technique and usage of some materials (presumably wax, silver and the fish scales) it was possible to create glass beads which simulated the well-known beads made by masters from the Muslim countries. And then the
government of Venice has published again the strict laws forbidding to masters to open the secrets.
This is the history of glass beads invention in the Venice.

-It was  an amulet
-Sometimes is was used like modern passport- The owner of the most unique beads were confirmed as a wealthy people;
-Used as a form of dialogus. For example some ancient people wrote letters with the help of beads to their lovers;
-Played a role of money (as payment );
-It was applied by ancient shamans and mediums as the tool for  their work.

Originally the beads in the ancient times looked not like our modern beads: People used teeth, kernels, small bones (as beads)which masters turned to original ornaments acted. For the same purpose were used even small slices of stalactites from gloomy caves .
These slices of stalactites  were combined with beads of different size, a teeth of the animals killed while hunting, multi-coloured feathers of birds.

Besides, the most primitive drill  has appeared at the beginning of a civilisation that   allowed to successfully to use successfully decorative stones (for example:agate). In Egypt and Mesopotamia lazurite was processed in beads,they had round and cylindrical  forms.
At the same time (approximately three thousands years B.C.)people  have learnt to make beads (faience) of the burnt sand with small additives of fat clay. With development of trade and glass craft, the beads become very demanded and profitable business. Since 13 century,Venice becomes a monopolist in the field of producting beads. For a long time they stored craft secrets, exercising the power, reprisals, secret services.

But soon Egyptian glaziers started to compete Venice in art of making beads, there also appeared  Phoenician, Danish, Dutch beads. People developed new know-hows in production different types of beads.Thats why beads received popularity. Beads manufacture has passed to an industrial basis. Now beaded art has not stopped in the development, it develops and surprises us every day.

Nowadays, we have a lot of different types of beads. Beads differs from each other by colour, shape and size. Today, one of the most populat types of beads are troll beads.

Troll beads is the unique  jewelry line.  For over three decades the people at have been creating troll beads that have history, beads that tell a story.  Troll beads are affected by mythology, astrology, fairy tales, fauna, flora, cultural diversity and familiar themes from everyday life. For many  years collectors have found many different   troll beads and continue to collect and find meaning in each bead, telling their story.  Every  Troll beads  have it’s  own history and just like the person created it, troll beads continues to advance and encrease populariry.