Hello Everyone, Thinking about display and wondering if anyone can
suggest websites or sources for some unique items that are
appropriate for displaying handcrafted jewelry. I am aware of most of
the places that have tons of those awful flocked and fake velvet
stands and cards, etc and the really ugly lucite racks - everyone
seems to have the same awful things that look like they should be in a
JC Penney or Sears jewelry department. I have tried making some of my
own display items but it not only becomes very time consuming it also
always looks homemade. I have a Rio Grand display catalog - but that
is pretty much the same old stuff too. I would think there is a great
need for more original displays and that someone out there might be
trying to market nice earring racks or individual earring stands or
whatever- things that can uniquely display and not obscure or
overpower unique work. If anyone knows of any such sources, I
would appreciate your sharing the Thanks, Grace
Hello Grace, A very simple but very sophisticated way to expose
jewellery is on a glass plate. This plate should be risen above the
ground a bit. Place one or two bricks. Put over these bricks a nice
cloth. so that there will be space between the cloth and the glass
sheet. Silk or imitation will do nice. But let your imagination work.
The glass will work as a semi transparent mirror. and will give some
extra to the jewellery.
Martin Niemeijer
Hello Grace,
and wondering if anyone can suggest websites or sources for some unique items that are appropriate for displaying handcrafted jewelry.
No websites, but a suggestion for unique displays. I enjoy “sand bar
scurfing” on the local river to find artifacts, cool rocks, fossils,
etc. I’ve also collected some display aids. Driftwood makes a good
display base. For instance, drape chains and hang bangles over
branches. Cut slots in them with a cutting wheel and put rings in
the slots. Many times there are naturally- occurring cracks that work
as slots. Get a bucket of clean, fine sand and put the sand in trays
to a depth of an inch or so. (I like clear trays - those cheap
plastic box picture frames are great trays.) Push rings into the sand
at any angle. Nest mussel shells in the sand for little dishes to
display piles of band rings. Also, think Zen garden for patterns
drawn in the sand. I’ve seen displays using blocks of wood with slots
and drilled holes to hold jewelry. More time-consuming, but unique
and inexpensive. Your imagination is the key here. Good luck! Judy in
Kansas
Judy M. Willingham, R.S.
Biological and Agricultural Engineering
237 Seaton Hall
Kansas State University
Manhattan KS 66506
(785) 532-2936
Hi Grace: I totally agree with you regarding display options out
there, tacky and same old, same old. I have a few suggestions. I
found a cactus skeleton on a trip to Arizona which has multiple open
areas perfect for displaying earrings, chains and necklaces. I’ve
used it as an unusual backdrop for photography as well.
Another source is Ebay. I bought a thirties inspired recreation of a
display hand which has its fingers spread and is perfect for rings
and bracelets. They also have heads with pierced ears which are
considerably more expensive.
If you have driftwood you can pin items to it, etc., etc. You have
to think out of the flock(ing)!!
Good luck.
Nina Leto
Hi Grace, I bought some flexible black screening in a roll from Home
Depot, removed the glass from a nice picture frame and replaced it
with the screening, I put black paper behind the screen and then
replaced the back of the frame, leaving the screening long enough so
that it was trapped by the back of the frame, then trimmed it. I hang
earrings on the screen. By choosing a frame design that fits your
product your have instant display. It can have an elegant look.
Tom and grace - I agree with you about the jewelry display stuff - to
a point. I’ve seen some gorgeous displays but I thought they were
selling the displays because they so overpowered the jewelry.
One of the most effective displays I’ve seen is a series of boxes,
covered in handsome handmade paper, stacked. You could hide chains
behind the boxes, and frame the piece on the box. If I ever get the
time, I will do the same.
What I use is wooden blocks, round, square, triangle etc made of
walnut. (My father-in-law is a gunsmith and they are made of
leftover gunstock material) They are a neutral color, and allow
framing the piece of jewelry - however, they are heavy! Use a cream
colored paper for the base of the display, almost everything looks
good on it.
You might look at the powder coated screens that Rio has - they are
particularly nice for earring display.
Judy Hoch
I saw a beautiful display at a recent street fair. The woman was
selling necklaces that were either a single, beautiful bead on a
multi-strand cable, or they were pendants made of combinations of
beads, strung on cord. The point is, her products all had a single
focal point, and this display was perfect for that type of product.
She had rows of bowls, aligned in a perfect grid, perhaps five rows
of six bowls each. These bowls were made of a pale green glass,
reminiscent of pale green recycled glass, and they were round and
thick-walled, as if a hollow-core sphere had been sliced in half.
Each bowl was partially filled with uncooked rice, which allowed the
focal bead to rest without rolling on top while the chain or cable or
cord draped over the side.
It was truly stunning and made my palms itch to buy something so I
could take away with me a bit of that beautiful display. Linda
You might try to box broker company …Jim or bob great guys to work
with on unusually PCs… 800-809-3868 ANDY
She had rows of bowls, aligned in a perfect grid, perhaps five rows of six bowls each. These bowls were made of a pale green glass, reminiscent of pale green recycled glass, and they were round and thick-walled, as if a hollow-core sphere had been sliced in half. Each bowl was partially filled with uncooked rice, which allowed the focal bead to rest without rolling on top while the chain or cable or cord draped over the side.
I hate me toos - but… I saw that same exact display at a street
fair in my area recently (I live in the Bay Area) - I have to agree
with you, the display was beautiful! It was original and the style of
it was perfect for her wares… The rows of bowls were in tiers… and
she also used some thick glass slabs with a frosted finish at the
sides to display some other items … very effective… in fact now I
think about it maybe a little too good, since I only remember what the
jewelry looked like in the vaguest sense and it’s the display I
remember!
Sadie