Saturday, February 6, 2010

Silver Sunday~ Sterling Silver Charms

My love of silver charms began on a trip to Chicago for my girlfriend's 9th birthday.

I bought a charm of the Prudential building which at that time was the tallest building in Chicago.







And it went on from there. Above is my first charm bracelet with charms from high school and college.

My high school's basketball team won the Indiana State Championship my senior year.

Most people know that that is a BIG deal in Indiana!!!!!!

I went to Ball State Teachers College {Now Ball State University}. Can you name a famous Hoosier Ball State alum who was there when I was? There are a total of 3.





Over the years I continued buying charms~




The ones that had moving parts or were particularly detailed were my favorites.



I found them at flea markets, antique shops, garage sales, and jewelry stores.




The average price was $3 to $5.




After making 6 charm bracelets, I still had a box full of charms. A couple of years ago I put together a charm necklace.

I don't know the exact number of charms on my necklace, but it is well over 100.


35 comments:

  1. I just love the idea of a charm necklace....so many sweet charms...very fun! Happy SS!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, that is quite a collection of silver charms, Joan! They're so pretty. Wonderful Silver Sunday post!
    xoxo...Kathy@Mimi's Garden

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have my charm bracelet too. I don't have nearly as many charms as you do. I lost my first bracelet when I was about 13 and started another. Were you in school with David Letterman?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Joan, these are wonderful. I remember in high shcool, the more you jangled the better you felt!
    Count on me for next Sunday, I'm looking forward to it!!
    Debra

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love your bracelet and necklace - Thanks for sharing them with us. I have a bracelet that was started in 1962, and all the charms have a meaning. A couple I have put together out of found objects, etc.,
    and have made a couple for Grands.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a great idea to make a charm necklace. I have sixties charm bracelets...wish I had continued to collect charms as you did.
    Annette

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi,
    Just found your blog and wanted to say 'hello' as well as I love, love your charms! I had the most beautiful silver charm bracelet years ago ~ with special charms for my kids and some gifts, etc. It was lost and I really have never started another. I have purchased charms...just haven't done anything with them. You have totally encouraged me so thank you for that!
    Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, I love all of your charms. What treasures. I love the charm necklace too. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  9. Your collection is amazing! How neat that you still have them....and so many, too. The newer ones aren't the same as the older ones with unique moving parts. They must bring back many of fond memories.
    Happy days,
    Franny

    ReplyDelete
  10. I covet your charm necklace...more than you could possibly know.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Now, I thought I had a charm collection! I was wrong! lol Your charms (bracelets and necklaces) are lovely. Hope you'll stop over and enter my two giveaways.
    xoxo
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh what a wonderful idea to make a charm necklace. I have one bracelet and when I wear it everyone comments on the fun charms that hold such sentimental value for me.
    Joyce

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm on my second silver bracelet--the first was full! Mine was started when I was little (my mom, like many girls of the 1950s had one) and I've started one for my own 4-year-old DD. They are precious to me! I LOVE your idea of making a necklace; that might be easier to wear than my bracelet. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love, love, love all your charms! Great idea with a necklace
    *hugs*deb

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love charm bracelets and have three of my own but never thought about a necklace ... have to let DH know about this idea!!!! I am SO looking forward to the Valentine Party ~ see ya then Joan. Judi

    ReplyDelete
  16. Love your bracelet turned necklace! I have my Mother and Grandmother's charm bracelets that I made into a necklace. Lots of fun to wear.
    smiles, alice

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a cool charm necklace! Over a hundred charms...WOW!

    ReplyDelete
  18. You and David Letterman at Ball State together? Pretty darn cool. I can't think of any other famous alumni.
    Wowza, your charms are fantastic. Madeline had a similar birdcage charm, but she flattened it.
    Your Pal,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  19. Golly Gee! That's a lot of charms!
    I love it! What a lot of memories!
    :) Laura

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow! What a wonderful collection of charms. And they are all truly charming. Such memories! I don't even know where the few charm bracelets are that I had so many years ago. Have a great Sunday! :) Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  21. This is just beautiful! I have a few charms but now I must have more.
    Enjoy your Sunday Super Bowl!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love your charms. Charms would be a fun vintage item to collect. My students love my charm bracelet!

    ReplyDelete
  23. that's a lot of charms. they are great.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi Joan,
    Hands down, I think You have My Very Favorite Silver Treasure of All Time ~ That NECKLACE!!!!! I Love It!
    I have loved that Silver Sunday has brought me to so many wonderful bloggers, I just signed up for the Valentines party & I will be doing a Give~away too....
    can't wait~
    Cheryl

    ReplyDelete
  25. Wonderful!
    Charms are so appealing and so much fun to wear.
    I've started a bracelet for our daughter---who rolled her eyes and poo-pooed it, but then came 'round and now loves it!
    Why don't you wear all that jingle next Sat.?
    annie

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love it! And collecting charms as souvenirs is so nice and inexpensive. The best part is what you did though, turning it into a charm necklace.

    ReplyDelete
  27. What fun you must have had collecting all these wonderful charms. Loved hearing the stories about them, and love the idea of the charm necklace!
    Happy SS!
    xojanis

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love all your charms. Thanks for neing such a good hostess...julie

    ReplyDelete
  29. So love your charm necklace......over 100 charms.....it is definately impressive and very beautiful! would love to have one like it someday. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  30. LOVE Letterman!
    I also love your charm collection. Quite a collection...and a recordbook of your life

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Joan
    That charm necklace is just incredible.. love it to pieces.. xx Julie

    ReplyDelete
  32. I love the idea of a charm necklace. What a wonderful piece to have and to wear. Thanks for sharing. Happy Silver Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh no, not another addiction...charm collecting yes, I'm afraid I have the same affliction....Thanks for playing along....See you next Sunday for the giveaway reveal and the first Silver Sunday of Season 2.
    {{gypsy hugs}}
    Beth

    ReplyDelete
  34. Hi Joan,
    It's such a thrill to take a quick vaca when I visit your site...I just Love, Love your bracelets! Thank you for inspiring this poor soul....and taking the time to comment on my "itty bitty" blog.
    Have a great Valentines Day :>)

    ReplyDelete
  35. I love vintage charm bracelets and have also started making my own. My husband gets charms when he travels and my daughters already have their own as well. I want a charm necklace and love that you made one! Too perfect! xoxo Rhonda...

    ReplyDelete

I love to read your comments.