Dad's Pandora Bracelet

I have a love of charm bracelets, in particular Pandora  I've collected Pandora for many years. I go through stages of buying loads then not buying any for a while.  I like to make up special themed bracelets such as a summer bracelet or a fairytale bracelet.  A very special bracelet that I made up nearly 3 years ago is my 'Dad' bracelet.

My Dad died of cancer almost 3 years ago at the ripe old age of 60. In the passing months I wanted to make a bracelet about all things Dad.  It was easy.  I looked at my collection and started putting together some charms that mean something to me about my Dad.  I starting browsing the internet for meaningful charms.  It was actually good fun and probably, in a way, some form of therapy for me.

 

My Dad in Paris

 

 

 

Each charm has a very special meaning or holds a fond memory.

Text Book - My Dad loved to read. Simple as.  There's also a wise old owl on one side of the books. My Dad was probably one of the cleverest people I've ever met.

Inner Strength- My heart is full of admiration for how my Dad dealt with dying.  We found out in January and by mid August he was gone. In those short 7 months I didn't hear him complain, whine or moan.  Inside he must have been completely ripped apart, he was prodded and poked and was clearly in a lot of physical pain but he had incredible inner strength to deal with it all.

Black Friday 2011 - This charm has 2 meanings.  2011 as Dad died in 2011 and Black Friday as come Black Friday you could always count on him being on Amazon looking at Black Friday deals each year.  I learned about Black Friday from him.

Aeroplane - he loved to travel.  Being on holiday was where my Dad was happiest.  As a family we have a little villa in Spain and my Dad loved that place.  In fact, when he was dying I think he had about 4 holidays out there in 6 months.

 

 

 

Lucerne Clips & Lucerne Dangle - These are the breast cancer charms. Ok, I know my Dad didn't have breast cancer but I was using my creative license.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alarm Clock - He was a lazy sod in the mornings! I remember when I was younger our house was always manic in the mornings (4 girls AND my mum was a childminder) There were kids everywhere but my Dad clearly slept through all the noise.  He would stroll down around 8:45am and slump in the chair looking like he'd been dragged through a hedge backwards.

Red Grape - He used to like the odd glass a bottle or 2 of red wine.  He'd get so drunk coz he'd drink lager then move onto red wine later in the evening. Disaster. Never mix grape and grain Dad. First rule of drinking.

Suitcase - Again, this goes back to his love of holidays. There's also a Paris label and Eiffel Tower picture on the suitcase.  For my 23rd birthday he bought me tickets to go to Paris.

Gold Heart (Christ Charm) - This is a rare charm so it's on there because my Dad was a rare breed himself.  The poor man had 4 daughters and a pain in the butt wife (sorry mum). That must have been hard work with all those hormones raging around the house.  He was completely selfless and would literally do anything for anyone - a genuine heart of gold.  This was also a German exclusive charm and my Dad was half German.

Virgo Starsign - Self explanatory I think.

Dad - My mum bought me and my sister these after he died.

Forget-Me-Knot - The title of this charm says it all really.

 

August Birthstone Flower - My Dad was born in August.  I think he spent almost all of his birthdays at the villa for the past 20 odd years.

So that's my Dad's bracelet.  I might continue it if more charms are released that I feel are fitting or I might leave it as it is.

Happy Fathers Day Dad

Do you have any charm bracelets? Do you style them for sentiment or simply what looks good?

Hasta Luego Sparkly1s

Gemzicle Sprinkles

xoxo