Charms and symbols

[neadods]

I thought it would be fun to assemble some theme sets of stitch markers, and thus have been looking for charms at Fire Mountain Gems.

Alas, although there are hearts and butterflies and stars galore, we're lacking in some of the darker symbols. An utter lack of bottles, knives, and nooses has eliminated the mystery set.

So I tried to come up with Shakespearean charms. I can get the tragi/comedy masks, a skull, some crowns and a fairy, but keep coming up against the lack of knives or swords (not to mention the impossiblity of books, scrolls, or quills). What other symbols would fit Shakespeare? A ship for Tempest & Pericles? A horse for Richard III? (I'd really prefer something else for that.) A rose by any other name?

Suggestions appreciated. Links REALLY appreciated.

Ideas for Doctor Who charms really, really, REALLY appreciated.

Comments

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

What's the price range for the charms?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

*drums fingers a moment* Preferably at or below $3 a pop, but for something really perfect, I'd go higher. Not over $10, though.

[msp-hacker.livejournal.com]

Shakespere: Pansy
Doctor Who: Coral
http://www.mantofev.com/charms5.html

Shakespeare or Doctor Who: Globe
http://www.mantofev.com/charms9.html

Doctor Who: Thinky Specs
http://www.mantofev.com/charms1.html

Doctor Who: Vespaform/Bee
http://www.mantofev.com/charms1.html

There's a few charms here with just sewing and knitting:
http://www.watchfaces-charms.com/Sewing%20&%20Knitting%20Pewter%20Charm-91-category.htm

Doctor Who: Bannana
http://www.watchfaces-charms.com/category.asp?cid=86&cnt=7&pag=3

More?

Also, a hand, for the hand inna jar deus ex machina.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Cast your net wider. A few years ago I ordered a "murder bracelet" from http://www.so-charmed.com, and I got back a dagger, a goblet, a mask (for masked balls, natch), a key, and other cool stuff.

Try Ebay instead of Fire Mountain Gems, which is aimed at the typical crafter market.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Cool! I'll check them out.

Although I'm still a bit stumped for Shakespeare charm ideas. A dagger certainly, if it can be gotten, but what else aside from the stuff I've already listed?

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

A bottle, for Romeo and Juliet; a quill pen and ink bottle (both of which were on my bracelet, now I remember); a flower for Midsummer Night's dream (whereof one drop...), hmm. Must think.

An old-fashioned sailing ship for the Tempest?

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

By the way, don't forget that you can convert common objects to charms. Any of the pieces from a Risk set could be wire-wrapped and turned into charms for a murder bracelet.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

That's more effort than I have time for now - and more effort than I have skill for probably ever. For some reason, I suck at wire wrapping.

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

A Skull, for poor Yorick...
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H202499FN

Well, it's not quite a DAGGER...
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H207441FD
or if you don't mind going a little more primitive...
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H208134FN

For poison, a glass? and here's a bottle, too!
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H203520FD
(With this set, you could do an Agatha Christie set! Which would ALSO fit the DW theme... :P )
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H203522FD
And for Hamlet, his father's ghost...
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H208377FY


A Midsummer Night's Dream?
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H206422FD
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H209509FN

For Martha,
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H209238FD
Cell phone, anyone? http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H205879FD

Tooth and Claw...? http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H202770FD
http://www.firemountaingems.com/details.asp?PN=H205892JW
(Though really, this last one here could stand in for so MANY times the moon has been important to the story in both DW and Shakespeare.)

Let me hunt through my links a bit more and I'll see what else I can scare up.

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

Here's another place or two from my bookmark stash.. :)

http://www.beadstudio.com/catalog.php?wc=21
http://artgemsinc.com/Content/Default.asp?ref=gemfaire
and their charms page... http://artgemsinc.com/Content/american_silver_charms.asp?CategoryId=7

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Great suggestions! Thanks!

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

Welcome! :D (I hope we'll get pics when you're done?)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

If/when I ever do, yes.

[moonpupy.livejournal.com]

A police box, of course. As well as a screwdriver (sonic would be nice).

A scarf. A piece of celery. A floppy hat. A car (jalopy). Stovepipe hat. Carrots. Spoons.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/index_first.shtml

[moonpupy.livejournal.com]

Oh, and don't forget Etsy.com.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I would LOVE to have a police box charm, but does such a thing exist?

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

Maybe paint it?
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30029530

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

OMG...
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14948004

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Sold out already. :( But wow - I wonder if sculpy would hold up to being a stitch marker.

[ladyfox7oaks.livejournal.com]

Darn... but it *Does* look like she's got some flatter earring versions. I think it's going to depend on the fimo and the curing process. I've seen beads made out of the stuff that seemed pretty tough.

[tchwrtr.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to scour my brain for the name of it. On Ravelry there's another bead shop that's been touted as excellent for stuff of this nature, and I can't remember who they are! *headdesk* I'll look some tomorrow--I should have time.

Also, as was said above, Etsy. And Artfire, just in case. (I think it's called Artfire--whatever that alternative to Etsy is.)

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Y'know what I'm finding as I hunt around? Skulls, crossbones, pirate flags, mermaids, anchors... Are there enough knitters to make a pirate themed set of markers for a raffle prize?

[amberite.livejournal.com]

FMG has great beads, but their charm selection leaves much to be desired. I second the recommendation to look in other places!

[neadods.livejournal.com]

This thread is giving me amazing ideas.

[melusinehr.livejournal.com]

Here's a copper sword!

Just Tempest alone, besides the ship: pearls, coral, bells, monsters

Pretty much any flower native to Europe, but for Hamlet, you could do violets and daisies (I don't think you'll find rue or fennel, somehow, but perhaps columbine?) This site is a little spendy, but has all the flowers you could ever want

A snake for Antony & Cleopatra

A bear for The Winter's Tale

This site is a bit tacky, and even spendier, but does have a more unique selection of stuff

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Ooo! That could work for a Sinbad sort of thing too.

Thanks for the links!

[lizbetann]

I did a search for "boar charm" for Richard III -- a bit pricy, and not necessarily specific to Shakespeare's rendition.

I thought http://www.azuregreen.com/jewelry was good for cheap charms, but they've gotten really expensive and very bland. Bah.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I was wondering what I could do for medieval/tudor. But a cat, a rat, a dog and a hog would be awfully subtle, as would 1 male and 6 female figures.

Have you looked up and down the thread? There are amazing things. And yesterday I found charmfactory.com, which has a nice dagger.

[cozit.livejournal.com]

You could always roll your own scroll for a charm (nothing says it *has* to be metal or plastic). Same with making a mini noose (there's always the DMC perle cotton of various weights, in ecru/off-white). I've seen feathers (charms, both metal and plastic) in the past at Michaels, though I haven't looked recently.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure anything other than metal or stone (or other solid, hard materials) would hold up to the beating my stitch markers get.

[moonpupy.livejournal.com]

Oh, and another place to check is Rio Grande Jewelry Supply: http://www.riogrande.com/

Their catalogs rock. Yes, they have more than one.

[lizbetann]

RioGrande was one I couldn't remember. I wonder if Shipwreck Beads is still around... yup:
http://www.shipwreckbeads.com/catalog/Pendants-and-Charms/Metal-Charms/

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

Rio Grande used to require a business license; if they're selling retail now, that's new. But there are lots of companies that specialize in charms and carry a much wider variety than Fire Mountain -- just try Googling "pewter charms" and see what comes up. Silver is sky-high right now, so sterling charms are likely to be out of your price range.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Sterling's more fancy than I really feel I need to mark stitches with anyway.

[fyrdrakken]

The mention of "Shakespeare" and "charms" in the same context leads me to pimp Idol Ceremony. But anyway.

Browsing:

Artbeads

Beads and charms -- just scanning down the page I see bottles in the "Drink Charms" category and a butcher knife just below it in "Food Pewter Charms."

Bead studio

Primitivearthbeads

Hmm, now I want to browse through these sites...

ETA: Saw a spoon and realized it might in fact be the Teaspoon required to go with an Open Mind for your Who set...

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Thank you for all the lovely links!

[fabricdragon.livejournal.com]

Shube's mfg, aka Silvermoon makes crowns, swords/daggers.. wands..... and oher small silver charms
i have a wholesale acct with them

[neadods.livejournal.com]

Ooooo! I still want to run barefoot through the bead district of NYC, but let me get back to you if/when I come up dry...

[spiralsheep.livejournal.com]

Get your very own mystery set made out of the lead accessories from an old game of Cluedo?

[neadods.livejournal.com]

That's not a bad idea; I've been looking for a cheap version of that game already because I want to redo the board to be Whodo.