Collector’s Corner | Emily @fashionstoryteller

After a little break from Collector’s Corner, we are back with a fresh new style and with the fun, fabulous and fashionable Emily from @fashionstoryteller!

Emily thank you for joining us today. I am so excited to be with you here on this special relaunch edition of Collector’s Corner! How are you? Is that tea you are drinking?

Hello Dora! Thank you so much for having me. I LOVE your blog. It is so exciting and fun to be able to chat about Pandora with you today! Yes, I am enjoying Sweet Potato Pie from DAVIDsTEA. It is a delicious fall tea. I made it as a latte with oat milk. What are you drinking? *Virtual Cheers* 😉

Oh wow that sounds delicious! I have a nice cup of Earl Grey.

Earl Grey is such a delicious classic! Wonderful choice!

So Emily, it’s been a crazy year. How are you hun? I know you have had your ups and downs in the past year or so.

I think it has been a challenging year for so many. But along with the challenges are always good things too! We just need to look for them. They are always there! I believe that there is something positive in every day. The challenging times are defeating and heartbreaking, but they also help strengthen us and allow us to grow. I think the difficult journeys we go through have the opportunity to help others. By sharing our stories, we can help someone else on a similar path! That’s one reason why I love collecting Pandora! It is a special way for me to share my own unique stories. It is also a great creative escape from the “real world” too, haha!

That is so true. Pandora has definitely been a fun escape for me during this pandemic. How long have you been collecting Pandora now?

I first discovered Pandora end of 2008/early 2009. I was about to go to college though, so I was on a very strict budget! I “officially” started collecting until around 2011/2012, my final year of school! And my collection grew from there.

We all seem to start on a strict budget and then the addiction takes hold! What was it that made you first fall in love with Pandora?

I loved having the opportunity to be creative and make my own unique bracelet with each charm representing a special memory, person or accomplishment! It was like having a visual diary that I could wear on my wrist. 

Visual diary – I love that phrase! Those who follow you on Instagram and YouTube have already seen some of your Pandora jewellery, but can you tell us a little about your collection?

I feel very blessed and lucky to have a special Pandora collection. Of course, I love their charm bracelets, but I also love collecting their rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, bangles, etc! Each jewellery piece I own holds a special memory or represents a loved one. Every time I look at my Pandora jewellery, it always adds a smile to my day.

And you have such a beautiful smile too! Do you have any rare, or hard to find pieces in your collection?

One of my favourite more “rare” charms is my Princess and the Pea charm. It had been on my wish list for a long time. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to add it to my collection. I have quite a lot of older, retired Pandora charms… they are very special to me and some of them are harder to find!

The Princess and the Pea charm is really special. I was happy when I was finally able to add it to my collection too. Now I know this will be hard to answer, but what is your favourite piece of Pandora jewellery?

Oh my gosh, Dora! That is the hardest question, haha! I find it so hard to pick a favourite piece. If I had to pick one… I would pick my Moonstone charm. As it was my first Pandora charm and it is very special to me.

First Pandora charms definably hold a big place in our heart! I love my Mother and Baby Chimp charm. Now for the big question… do you make up bracelets one by one, or do you keep your charms and bracelets separate and make up bracelets for any occasion?

For the most part, I like to make up bracelets one by one, but I do tweak these designs or end up re-designing them, after a while! I do keep some bracelets and charms separate, to play around with too!

I think one of the differences between the Pandora Moments and Pandora ME collections is the ability to quickly change a design. The Moments range definitely seems more designed around occasions and sentimentality, whereas the new Pandora ME collection provides quick and interchangeable ways of expression.

After such a fantastic year of releases from Pandora, can you tell us what is on your wishlist?

Metallic Purple Heart Charm, Mickey Pumpkin Charm, Disney Lady Charm, Pandora Rose Sparkling Teardrop Halo Ring, Small Bag Charm Holder, Charm Double Hoop Earrings, Sparkling Pinecone Dangle Charm, Disney Cinderella Blue Star Pendant, the upcoming Disney Collections… and I am sure I will have some wish list items from the winter 2021 collection too, haha!

Wish lists never get any shorter do they?! So Emily as a long time collector, what do you think of the direction Pandora has taken in 2021?

I love how Pandora has taken inspiration from vintage pieces. For instance, the Charm Double Hoop Earrings! Such a wonderful updated version of the retired classic! On that note, I also love the creativity that Pandora is providing us with so many wonderful, unique ways to style and wear our charms, like the new Charm Holders. I am obsessed! I cannot wait to get one. I also love how Pandora is committed to sustainability. So amazing and SO important! They have a goal of being carbon neutral by 2025 and are working towards only using recycled silver and gold too. I think this is wonderful.

I am also really proud of the changes Pandora has made to help the environment. I hope other big companies follow their example. After such a great year from Pandora, what would you like to see from them in the future?

A guinea pig charm!!! I have wanted them to create one since 2012.. my fingers and toes are crossed! It would also be lovely to see other pet charms, including more dog/cat breeds. I would also love to see more jewellery themed or inspired around awareness ribbons/symbols/organisations. And I would love to see Pandora working with semi-precious stones again! I love the Pandora Brilliance collection, they released this year. The lab diamonds are beautiful! And more spacer charms!

Yes a guinea pig charm would be wonderful for you! We have a new addition to our family, a little chihuahua, so it would be awesome to have a chi charm. Emily, I know you are a huge Disney fan and already have quite a few Disney charms. What Disney characters would you like Pandora to produce in the future?

Disney wise, I would love to see a Fox and the Hound Charm, a Hocus Pocus collection (Binx charm!),
Gurgi charm from the Black Cauldron and a Mickey Waffle charm. Plus a Snow White and the Seven Dwarves Cottage charm would be so cute too!

A Snow White Cottage charm would be fantastic! Well I know Pandora read this blog, so hopefully you will get your Guinea Pig and Disney charms. Emily I know you were collecting the Pandora 20 charms last year. Did you manage to get them all and which is your favourite?

Yes, I was so lucky! I was able to collect them all. My favourite charm is the Stars charm. A close second is the two tone Swirl Charm.

The two tones are gorgeous! I also really liked the little house. Finally Emily, I have been impressed with how you have used your platform for positive messaging, particularly regarding personal wellness. What final message would you like to share with our readers?
Thank you so much, Dora! That means so much to me. Women’s Health, both mental and physical, have become important topics for me. I think it’s so important to spread hope, encouragement and awareness! You never know who it could help! As a final message: I love the Pandora community! I am SO eternally grateful. It is special that we are able to share our unique stories with each other. This community builds each other up… always loving and supportive. Always there. I have made amazing, lifelong friends because of Pandora. I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten through the past few years without this community. They have gotten me through so many challenging times. And not only that… they have helped me receive some amazing opportunities too. The Pandora community is the best! So much love! Thank you for having me, Dora! It was such an honour! I hope we have the opportunity to “officially” meet in real life, one day! *virtual hug*

Thank so much Emily for coming along. I hope I get to visit Canada in the future and have a cup of tea with you! This has been a most special Collector’s Corner and has inspired me to pick up the tradition of interviewing more collector’s in the future.

Readers, if you are not already following Emily, be sure to subscribe and follow her on YouTube and Instagram.

Email me on dora@theartofpandora.com, if you would like to feature on Collector’s Corner.