TrollbeadsFest Trollfest 2010

YEAH, I know. I love TrollbeadsGallery.com. They are my absolute favorite online Trollbeads seller. They've always treated me very well, and I've gotten some extraordinarily beautiful beads from them. Great, friendly people there, too! So ...

I've been reading a bunch about TrollbeadsFest Trollfest 2010, and it is in complete high gear and coming soon!! October 15, 2010!! I worry about those who are not members of TrollbeadsGallery.com's Forum, and for those who might not have had yet had a chance to learn about the event, so I've decided to add my own little "notice" here. The more the merrier!

I've seen that there are going to be some fabulously great events and activities ... and bunches of goodies, too! Including a raffle for a GOLD Wine Harvest Bead (with proceeds benefiting a local youth art education program); learning and sharing "stations" including "Ultimate Fantasy," "Lovin' Leather," "No More Fearing the Earring," "Unique Boutique" (you KNOW we all love the UNIQUE BEADS!); a Book signing (Suzanne Hopping!), charity Raffles (including a large and beautiful Aqua and Yellow Smiley Bead (with an Original Tag!); a "Trollbeads Swap Meet" styled event ... so bring your beads with you, friends! You could emerge with some real finds. Yay!!!!

If you want to read more about it, there are plenty of places to learn more. There's a website that has been created just for the event, or you can find more about it at the TrollbeadsGallery.com forum. To help get the word out a little bit, below, I've copied (and paraphrased!) from the "registration section" of the website. Are you going??

There's also a FULL AGENDA posted here!

So ... read on!

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Scheduled for October 15-16, 2010 in beautiful Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, this is an event that Louise Rogers, from TrollbeadsGallery.com (and also her brick-and-mortar store, Surroundings-Rogers Gallery), has really worked hard to pull together. She arranged an amazing schedule of events and activities for Trollbeads Fans!

The main event ticket includes ticket includes admission to TrollbeadsFest 2010 at Fairfield Inn & Suites, Friday night opening reception at Surroundings-Rogers Gallery, transportation to the Friday night reception (limited availability), Saturday light breakfast and lunch, and a special Trollbeads TrollFest 2010 Gift bag.

Friday, October 15 (day): If you are arriving for TrollbeadsFest early on October 15th, you can visit Surroundings-Rogers Gallery in Mattapoisett and join them for a light lunch and to (gasp and oh-so-fun!!), check out the art and Trollbeads, too!

Friday, October 15 (night): In the evening hours of Friday, October 15th, there is a "welcome reception," wine tasting and the "Grand Opening" of the Trollbeads Museum! Meet new and old friends, enjoy some fine wine and lots of Trollbeads companionship. Can we ever get too much of Trollbeads? Naw.

Friday, October 15 (night): Suzanne Hopping, the very first People's Bead Winner/Designer is coming ALL THE WAY FROM Australia and will be in the store and will be signing copies of the coffee table book "Icon in Jewelry Design, Trollbeads" by Ehrhorn Hummerston. Suzanne won for her "Pax" bead in 2009. This beautiful coffee table book is a must-have for any Trollbeads collector. If you want to purchase a book that Suzanne will personally sign for you at TrollbeadsFest! 2010, you will need to notify them ahead of time, because there are limited quantities available.

Saturday, October 16 (day): OOOPS!!! ALREADY SOLD OUT!!!! But, Louise is currently working on making arrangements for an additional group!! [As an additional bit of fun and excitement, Louise has also arranged a cruise on Saturday for those who want a bit of sightseeing in the local area! It's a "New Bedford Harbor Sunset Cruise!" Before the Trollbeads Fest 2010 dinner at The Waterfront Grille, you can experience the hidden jewel of the South Coast of Massachusetts, where whaling history comes alive! Sail the same waters as Herman Melville and Joshua Slocum. See a real working waterfront. Again, please sign up soon because, there is limited space availability.]

Saturday, October 16 (night): On October 16th, there will be a dinner at Waterfront Grille, New Bedford, MA. Join your fellow Trollbeads fans for a dinner at one of the area's finest restaurants, The Waterfront Grille.

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I encourage ANYONE who loves Trollbeads to check this out. Read about the entire event here at the TrollbeadsFest Website or at the TrollbeadsGallery.com Forum. :-)

Life and Trollbeads: What's It All About???

Well, folks, here I am. For better or for worse.

Sorry for the really (really!) long delay, but I have had a very busy life lately. Like with my real life. The one that supposedly pays the bills. Yes, Trollbeads are my true love and are the joyful part of my life, but they don't pay the bills. (As a matter of fact, so far, they've just added to the bills!!) So, commitments elsewhere have made it so I,unfortunately, haven’t had the time to write anything here that could be interpreted as interesting – by me or anyone else.

What’s the latest? Well, right now I am working on updating two websites with major changes; and I am also building three new websites from the ground up. (My passion and specialty in life – other than Trollbeads – is web and graphics design.) So, why am I sharing this? Because the best part of working on the two new website is that one of them is a Trollbeads website! With that, you can best believe that I am having THE time of my life!

As for my opinion about the new "Winter 2008" Trollbeads release … well … I think they are absolutely SPECTACULAR! But … I only have three so far. I have the Green-Turquoise Silver Trace, the Turquoise-Purple Chess, and the Turquoise Feather. And, well, the only reason I have those three at all is because I ordered them through Trollbeads Denmark. It seems that there’s been a tiny bit of a delay for some reason on the US distribution, but I have been told by a couple of US Trollbeads dealers that TrollbeadsUS is working as hard as possible, and shipping as fast as it can and that I will be getting all of the beads I order very soon. Which, for my order, means A LOT of beads. What do you expect? It's hard to be patient, but I have a LOT OF FAITH in TrollbeadsUS and Lund, and I know they are doing their absolute BEST to get the new beads out. Me first! (Okay, let's be fair ... I'll wait ... like everyone else!)

While I have been busy with my own life’s real challenges, I also want to confess that I am unbelievably and absolutely amazed -- and way more than a little disappointed -- by a certain “Trollbeads Rumor Gossip Mill” topic. I’ve tried my best to ignore it, but that doesn't appear to be much of a possibility anymore. I think that the time has finally come for me to acknowledge the ridiculousness that is circulating.

From no fewer than FOUR sources, I have heard that people think I am Louise Rogers. (Louise Rogers owns and operates “TrollbeadsGallery.com.”) You know, I’d actually say that I've been “accused” of being Louise Rogers, but the fact is, since I think that Louise is a fabulous business woman who has had great and much-deserved success in her life … the terminology of "being accused” of being her would actually be an incredible compliment to me. (Not so sure how she'd feel about people thinking she was ME, tho!) Louise Rogers has never shown me anything but the most wonderful side of life; and she is a true joy for me to work with – and buy from. She is the ABSOLUTE ULTIMATE PROFESSIONAL – almost to a fault. It’s my very extreme experience as an "Internet shopper" that has led me to classify her as someone who often gives above and beyond what is "necessary." Occasionally, that trust can come back to bite one in the butt.

So, let me get straight to it, with no ambiguity: I AM NOT LOUISE ROGERS.

Why in the world would anyone ever think that? Why is there any implied mystery here? What I'm writing about here is BEADS, folks; I'm not sharing national secrets! WHAT is the DEAL???!!

“So,” you persist, “why don’t you say your real name on this blog?”

That is a question that is pretty darn simple for me to answer. Let me just give you the first three that come straight to my mind:

1. Once more, for the record: I AM A TROLLBEADS FAN. I am not a Trollbeads employee, either by hook or by crook. I am a graphics and web designer. Why are you here reading this? I bet it's because YOU are a Trollbeads fan. I'm not demanding to know YOUR name, either.
   
2. I am a very private, quiet and unassuming person. I despise controversy – I HATE IT – and I feel very strongly that my life is my life. I don’t mind sharing opinions, and speaking about something that has brought so much joy to my heart - Trollbeads. I certainly never suspected that my writing about Trollbeads would become controversial. That just frustrates and angers me. What is this about anyway??
   
3. I purchase a LOT of Trollbeads. And I don’t buy from just one source. And, no I won’t share who, where or why I buy from any particular place. Why? Because I feel very strongly that sometimes the best secrets are best kept secret. I would not want to every Trollbead Fan in the world to buy from my places!! No way! After all, it’s always a “first come, first served” song; and I buy a LOT of Unique Trollbeads. “But,” you say, "on your blog you talk about “TrollbeadsGallery.com …” Well, yes, you are right, I do. Happy to do so. And you might then consider that to be contrary to my claims of not wanting to share my sources. Well, it’s really not. Not at all. I browse TrollbeadsGallery.com very often and, while I do often buy Unique/OOAK beads from Louise Rogers, I actually mostly buy current Trollbeads from her.

However, the one POSITIVE side of the "fallout" from these ridiculous rumors, is that it prompted a lot of communication between me and Louise Rogers at TrollbeadsGallery.com; and as a result of our communications, we've become friends! So much so that I have NOW even started helping her with her website/s … and we actually both feel very blessed to be able to share in each others' love of Trollbeads.

The fact that we both have red hair is about as close as we get to being the same person! Other than that, I’m a foot taller and live 500 miles away; she’s married, I’m not; she has kids with kids, I have neither; she has cats, I have dogs … well, you get it.

I have been further honored to be included in a few communications with who I will refer to simply as “the powers that be.” That has brought a bit more light to the unfortunate rumors, and I’ve pretty much reached my own conclusion they are maliciously-created by a disgruntled and very miserably unhappy person. One who’s singular agenda appears to be retribution or to cause harm. Jealousy is evil has no place in an honorable life. I strongly feel that everyone should walk with caution and care for everyone else – malicious actions cannot be defended by any truthful manner. You know who you are. I challenge you to go ahead and try to look yourself in the mirror. Do you see a happy soul? Or do you see one who is only happy by bringing down others?

Fortunately, I’ve determined that the negativity that was apparently hoped to be the intended result is now being simply dismissed with a cheeky roll-of-the-eyes ... by all who are being included and brought into this circle of deceit. I find myself pitying anyone who is so unhappy as to try to cause such harm to others. It would be best for them to just turn now, and walk quietly away.

Happily, tho, even with all of this frustration, I haven’t become entirely jaded. I still truly feel that there is a very small percentage of people who are evil enough to stoop to such a low a level of behavior as this has proven to be. How sad is it when someone tries to impose their own unhappiness onto another.

Especially so when you realize that by their very nature, Trollbeads are really all about beauty. It’s a big BIG world. And there are a lot of Trollbeads fans.

Ultimately, I have found that most people involved in the passion of Trollbeads are entirely fascinating, kind, creative and very much "Unique/OOAK" in their own way! I have even been inspired to drive many miles to meet wonderful people with whom I have become “Trollbeads friends” with – through the Internet! – and it is absolutely fantastic. (You know who you are, TC!!!)

So, come on, folks, let’s treat each other well, okay? Stop this crazy hateful activity and get back to what it really is about. And, if you need a reminder, it really is about treating each other with kindness and compassion, allowing for errors and shortcomings (in others and in our own selves), and trying to create a more harmonious world for us all. Life is not really “all about Trollbeads” – although sometimes I allow myself to wish it was.

But you know, come to think of it ... I have recently been in a store that has a wonderful banner hanging on the wall:

It’s true!
She who dies with the most beads DOES win!

So keep collecting ... I’m way ahead, you've got a lot of catching up to do! :-)

That's why I'm a Trollhound ... I can sniff 'em out anywhere ...

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