This sample charm bracelet shows an example of what I like to call an "Adoption Story" bracelet, where the charms selected help to tell the adoption story. In this case, it tells the story of a child adopted internationally. While "Family" and "Together Forever" are self-explanatory, the hourglass represents the wait associated with the adoption -- how the parents waited for a child and the child waited for parents. The earth with the plane flying around it and the passport both symbolize the travel involved in meeting a child waiting in another country. And the heart, of course, is for love.

Other charms that would be appropriate for a bracelet like this might include one of cultural significance to a particular family (a Chinese charm or Spanish language charm for example), a cross charm or something emphasizing faith, or a birthstone to represent the child's birth date.

For a fee, we can assemble the bracelet for you -- or you can do it easily yourself. NOTE: If any of the charms are more suited for a necklace than a bracelet (because it has a bail rather than a loop) it will state that in the description.

This sample charm pin shows something you might want to give to a grandparent of a Chinese adoptee. The pin has five loops, but depending on the width of the charms, sometimes three work nicer. This sample shows "Grandma" and a map of China on the ends with the Chinese character for "Grandmother" in the middle.

It would be easy to make a theme pin for any event or person. A nice gift for a mother or grandmother would be to select birthstones for up to five children or grandchildren, sort of like a mother's ring except on a pin!

The perfect teen gift would be a cell phone strap! These straps are looped through the end of your phone. They also work well with cameras -- really anything that has a strap. You could also use them to decorate backpacks, purses -- we've even seen them on shoelaces! The sterling silver connector at the end of the loop is for the charm, or charms. One popular option might be a text chat charm!

This sample shows one of a pair of earrings and is the Chinese love character. Not all charms would work as earrings, but pick two of a kind and many charms would make the perfect pair of earrings!