Tool Charms – Who Knew?

When we were little girls, my Mom and Dad bought my sister and I matching charm bracelets. We didn’t wear them much. They were special pieces to be treasured. I stored mine away and then decades later when mining my jewelry for a piece from which to make new pieces I came across it again. It wasn’t until I re-opened that box that I realized our charms were tools. A measuring tape, a screwdriver, pliers, a nailhead. Huh??? I wondered to myself. Who gives their daughters ‘tools’ for jewelry. 

Mom and Dad were long gone so we couldn’t ask them about the meaning of these pieces and why they chose them. My sister wondered why we didn’t get stars or ponies. Or little ribbons?  We asked my brother if he recalled and his supposition was the same as mine: my father valued hard work and so there must have been some symbolism and messages he was passing on through a charm bracelet of tools. Well, we know he wasn’t stereotyping. Lol. 

I didn’t like the bracelet. I had a charm bracelet I’d designed which is my go-to. But, I liked the symbolism of this piece and decided I’d name something ‘tools and jewels.’  My original idea was to somehow use these charms with my diamond when I remade the necklace but they didn’t look right so I left the diamond necklace simple and elegant.  I decided to make these into earrings and they fall nicely, have movement, are light, and remind me of the little gift and big message my parents passed along.  Magic can even spring from – who knew – tools!