BeadStyle : jewelry displays

Displaying your jewelry at home

Erin Dolan — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:58:00 GMT

Here at BeadStyle, we have a nice, big display case to show off many jewelry pieces that have been featured in the magazine, from our first cover project to some recent favorites.

As you may remember, I recently moved into my own apartment. While I have managed to establish a functional creative space in my living room, my next task is thinking of a fun, funky, and practical way to store my growing jewelry collection.

I want my jewelry to be at arm's reach as I'm getting ready in the morning, otherwise I simply forget to accessorize. I want it to be organized and not all piled in a box in a huge knot (as it is now).

The now-defunct Domino magazine and the amazing decorating blog, Apartment Therapy, have helped me get some creative juices flowing in this department. Check out the pictures below of awesome and inspiring home jewelry organization.

How do you display your jewelry? On coat-rack-like handles? In a compartmented case? Draped elegantly over a mirror? Hung on the wall like art?

So many great ideas here. I'm currently liking the eclectic feel of the first picture. I'll let you know what direction I end up taking.

Pictures courtesy of dominomag.com and apartmenttherapy.com

Spring cleaning jewelry organization tips

Stacy Hillmer — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:45:00 GMT

This weekend found me spring cleaning - everything from washing my shower curtain liner to dusting behind the microwave. Spring cleaning also gets me in the mood to organize. After editing an entire section of Beading 101 and Beyond on organizing beading supplies, I now feel like my beads, components, and tools are in order. But what about finished jewelry? How does one organize necklaces, bracelets, and earrings so they are accessible but not cluttered? Here are a few ideas from around the Web that I just love.

Marthastewart.com shows you how to transform a vintage medicine cabinet into a wall-mounted jewelry box that you can customize to your collection with wooden dowels, hooks, and silk cord. What I like best about this project is that the cabinet closes to keep jewelry from collecting dust, especially those pieces you only wear once in a while.

Craftstylish.com highlights a wall-mounted earring and necklace hanger from Ginny’s Ear Nest. In addition to the jewelry hanger shown in the blog, the Ginny’s Ear Nest catalog offers a number of hanger styles, depending on what jewelry you have the most of, and free-standing and carousel versions if you’re short on wall space or need a display for a show.

Some favorite jewelry storage solutions here at BeadStyle come from the closet. A piece of needlepoint canvas clipped to a pants hanger makes for a great earring holder. Also, I recently invested in a hanging belt organizer like this one from the Container Store to hang necklaces on. It hangs right next to my clothing in my closet so I can choose jewelry as I choose my outfit.

What are your favorite ways to organize jewelry? Please share below!

Holiday craft fair tips

Stacy Hillmer — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:04:00 GMT

This weekend took me to two holiday craft fairs where jewelry makers were selling their wares. I was very interested in picking up some new pieces and scouting for inspiration for my own pieces.

However, I was somewhat disappointed – not in the jewelry, but in the way it was presented. Many of the jewelry makers I saw did not have their work displayed in a way that was conducive to browsing (and hence buying). Many necklaces were simply laid out on a table, which just didn't make them pop. Bracelets were often piled in plastic containers, a jumble of color that turned my eye away. And some of the designers I wanted to know more about did not have business cards or flyers listing their future shows. Needless to say, I walked away empty handed.

Don’t let this happen to you! A few simple tips will ensure that your jewelry shines its brightest, capturing the imagination of potential clients.

Etsy.com recently published an excellent blog – Seller How-To: Craft Fair Tips – that makes a lot of good points. I encourage you to read the whole article (you won’t be disappointed), but here’s an overview:
• Display your jewelry in a new way. Many people are making jewelry right now, so yours needs to stand out in the crowd. I found some good ideas at www.jewelry-display-ideas.com.
• Print business cards on your home computer, attach your info to every piece of jewelry, and make flyers about your future shows. Some people might not be ready to buy today, but they’ll want to know how to find you in the future.
• Develop a mailing list of past, present, and future buyers by collecting business cards for a raffle or having clients write their contact info in a guest book.
• Once you’ve established a mailing list, send out thank you notes, newsletters, show invites, and coupons (which will help you find out how effective your mailings are).
• Network with your competitors (or rather, think of them as your business partners). They might just become your next client. Plus, you can learn a lot about what’s been selling well for them, what display techniques work, etc.

The complete package - great jewelry and a great display

Jane Konkel — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:56:00 GMT

Standing at her booth is full time artist, Joanne of Relly Rose Designs. I met Joanne at the Milwaukee Urban Market. From June through October a variety of artists and farmers sell their wares at the Outdoor Urban Market. I snapped these photos of Joanne at her table, not only because I think the jewelry she makes is lovely, but because Joanne is gifted in the art of display.

Not only does Joanne sell her pieces at the market, she also sells on Etsy, rellyrosedesigns.etsy.com. Her display is well suited for the style of jewelry she makes. The silver in her earrings and chain bracelets is oxidized giving it a vintage look. Her goal is to make timeless, simply stated urban, vintage-inspired jewelry. She says, "[Making jewelry]is a very calming, cathartic ritual for me. All of my pieces are inspired by the deep, rich colors of the spectrum. I adore hearty plums, blood reds, midnight blues, moss greens, milky whites, jet blacks, smokey greys, and earthy browns. Every piece has a story to tell." The weather-worn pieces she uses to display her jewelry also seem to tell a story...a romantic one.

Check out the birds at the top of this weather vane/necklace holder and the earring tags clipped with clothes pins to the wire dress form. I am sure customers appreciate this attention to detail; it really caught my eye. When you order from Joanne's etsy sight, she sends her pieces in a complimentary 100% recycled gift box. It seems she has thought of everything. And her business, Relly Rose Designs, was named after her daughter, Relaneve Rose.