Charming Sources
Here are a few of the many places to shop—or, depending on your budget, window-shop—for great charms and inspiration. Shops are listed alphabetically by shop name.
2 Bead or not 2 Bead
(866) 733-5233
www.2beadornot2bead.com
Traditional metal charms, including sterling silver dolphins, antiqued pewter frogs, and 14k gold-filled puffy hearts.
Artbeads.com
(866) 715-BEAD (2323)
www.artbeads.com
A wide assortment of sterling silver, antique copper, and pewter charms.
Auntie's Beads
1-866-26BEADS
www.auntiesbeads.com
Charms in sterling silver, silver plate and pewter.
The Bead Goes On
(866) 861-2323
www.beadgoeson.com
Thai silver charms and fascinating sterling silver milagros.
The Bead Monkey
(952) 929-4032, Minneapolis
(651) 222-7729, St. Paul
www.thebeadmonkey.com
A huge selection of unique base metal charms.
Bead Warehouse
(800) 423-7011
www.ibead.com
Over 700 sterling silver charms.
Charm Factory
(866) 867-5266
www.charmfactory.com
Sterling silver and 14k gold charms of all types: causes and ribbons, expressions (like “Live Love Laugh,” “It’s a Boy,” and “Nerd”), picture frame, zodiac, Swarovski crystal, and more.
Chevron Trading Post & Bead Co.
(800) 881-2323
www.chevronbeads.com
A great source for magical milagro charms.
Delight
(800) 527-2548
www.jazz-ups.com
Tiny pink bikinis, purple cell phones, orange Halloween pumpkins, and tons of other whimsical enamel charms.
eebeads.com
(888) SHOP-ETC
www.eebeads.com
Gold- and silver-plated charms. Some available in sets (for example, a sewing themed set, a Victorian themed set, etc.).
Fire Mountain Gems and Beads
(800) 355-2137
www.firemountaingems.com
An eclectic assortment of sterling silver, pewter, 14k yellow and white gold charms. |
 |
Fusion Beads
(888) 781-3559
www.fusionbeads.com
A variety of sterling silver, lead-free pewter, and gold-, copper-, and silver-plated charms.
Gaea
(805) 640-8989
www.gaea.cc
Handmade one-of-a-kind ceramic charms in goddess and nature themes.
Gita Maria
(541) 247-9647
www.gitamaria.com
Exquisite, handmade enamel charms designed by artist Gita Maria Sturm.
Green Girl Studios
(828) 298-2263
www.greengirlstudios.com
" Baby Sea Monkey,” “1000 Wishes,” “Flying Heart” and other charming handcrafted pewter, sterling silver, and bronze charms.
Hand & Hammer Silversmiths
(800) 745-8379
www.handandhammer.com
Charms handcrafted by the makers of presentation pieces for every president since Kennedy. Themes include Beatrix Potter, American history, food and drink, cat and dog, golf and tennis.
Helzberg
1 (800) HELZBERG
http://www.helzberg.com/category/expressions+for+helzberg.do
Create custom bracelets or add to the jewelry you already have.
Links of London
(800) 210-0079
www.linksoflondon.com
Totally glam, high-price-tag charms, including lipstick, cell phone, cocktail glass, credit card, pink bra, flip-flop sandals, and Jackie O’ sunglasses.
Metalliferous
(888) 944-0909
www.metalliferous.com
Anything you can imagine in tiny charm form, even manatees, pot-bellied stoves, and the mighty Titanic.
Kathy Cano Murillo
www.CraftyChica.com
Unique bracelets made of wooden picture charms.
My Charmed Life
(888) 548-3484
www.mycharmedlife.com
Musical instruments, watering cans, lemonade stands, and traditional Victorian cake pull charms on satin ribbons, suitable for birthdays and wedding showers, too.
My Life Designs
(877) 501-5433
www.mylifedesigns.com
Custom-design photo charms of sterling silver made from your favorite photographs or digital images, with or without engraved lettering.
Out On A Whim
(800) 232-3111
www.whimbeads.com
Sterling silver- or 18k gold-plated pewter charms in animal, flower, Celtic, and other shapes.
Quest Beads
(212) 354-0979
www.questbeads.com
An extensive range of themed charms. Or, design your own charms. |
 |
Rings & Things
(800) 235-8517
www.rings-things.com
Myriad charms in myriad materials, including laser-cut birch.
Rio Grande
(800) 545-6566
www.riogrande.com
Hundreds of sterling silver charms with themes from sports to holidays, wild animals to the Wild West. New line of enameled and cubic zirconia-set charms feature purses and other feminine shapes.
Rishashay
(800) 517-3311
www.rishashay.com
Sterling silver and 24k gold-plated charms, some with beautiful inset pearls and semiprecious stones.
Saki Silver
(513) 861-9626
www.sakisilver.com
Unique Thai silver charms.
Shipwreck Beads
(360) 754-2323
www.shipwreckbeads.com
More than 4,500 different styles, shapes, and sizes of pewter and sterling silver charms.
Singaraja Imports
(800) 865-8856
www.singarajaimports.com
A selection of Balinese sterling silver charms.
So Charmed
(301) 270-8554
www.so-charmed.com
Charm bracelets lovingly handcrafted by Jodi Bloom from gorgeous new and vintage beads, charms, and baubles.
Somerset Silver (wholesale only)
(425) 641-3666
www.somerset-silver.com
Wonderful Thai silver charms in the form of flora, fauna, and more.
Stormcloud Trading (Beadstorm)
(651) 645-0343
www.beadstorm.com
A large array of cast metal charms available in antique gold, antique pewter, bronze, and copper.
TierraCast (wholesale only)
(800) 222-9939
www.tierracast.com
Silver-, gold-, and copper-plated pewter “Floating Lotus,” “Spiral Goddess,” “Henna Hand,” “Starface,” and other charms. Available at bead stores.
Treasure Island Jewelry Company (wholesale only)
(713) 783-2217
www.tijc.com
3,100 silver charms to choose from.
White Trash Charms
(323) 666-9585
www.whitetrashcharms.com
Collections include The Ladies Who Don’t Lunch (playing cards, skateboard, dice, and crushed beer can); Trophy (for “chicks” and “dudes”); It (peace signs, rainbows, and roses); and 1984 (Andy Warhol–style banana and sneaker-shoe roller skates).
Wynwoods Gallery & Bead Studio
(888) 311-6131
www.wynwoods.com
Whimsical sterling-silver charms of hearts, stars, faces, animals, and spirals, designed by Lois Venarchick.
Zoa Art
(864) 680-7541
www.zoaart.com
Charms crafted from Precious Metal Clay. Each one is handmade, so no two are the same.
 |
For more information on charms, see the article, "Totally Charmed: Trinkets with Attitude" by Deborah Cannarella in the Aug/Sept 2005 issue of Beadwork.
$5.99
|
|
Subscriptions