All summer long I have been thinking about our inside display for the jewelry. We have used our Corelle dishes – and placed black acquarium rocks in it. Then we’ve laid each collection in an individual plate with signs stating each collection’s name and few word description.
The display is pretty. We always have comments on how clever it looks – how the display ‘pops,’ and so on. So the comments have been about the ‘cool’ display but not always about the ‘wow’ factor of the jewelry.
We aren’t getting any younger (just better). The rocks are heavy. The schlep factor is beginning to take its toll. I have osteoarthritis and am now using crutches because I cannot walk, sit, stand, lay down well. Hip replacement is on the horizon. Jay has his own physical issues.
The plates have to be individually wrapped. The rocks fall onto the floor and have to be swept. Kids stick their hands in the rocks. The rocks take time to set up and take down.
So, I was in the dollar store this summer and found a packet of four round (wish they were square) plates – plastic. Lightweight. Could be thrown in a box without thinking of breakage. But now, how to alleviate the rocks?
Last year I took Jamie, one of my granddaughters, to the fabric store to buy material for her tallit (prayer shawl). She had been thinking about the design for some time and told me what she envisioned. It was doable. Jamie is a ‘yellow’ girl – she loves yellow. And Jamie loves sparkles. We found yellow fabric for the corners and the atarah (where the prayer is written). I placed the leftover fabric onto the orange plate and placed the jewelry on top. It looks beautiful.
The next problem is what to place the yellow sparkle material to even out the plate and place the jewelry onto. We tried different mediums. We cut out Styrofoam and thought we might cover these pieces. We took left over pieces of wood. But none of these were working. Then we tried cork – the kind that can be used as a bulletin board. Ah hah – this was going to work.
So Jay has now cut out the circles of the cork. We will be wrapping material around the cork and then use Velcro for the jewelry to stay in place. I’ve looked at display stands and that will be the next purchase.
We hope to have the new display ready to go within the next few weeks- knowing that we may need tweaking. And we know that the display will look beautiful and the jewelry will pop!
Comments
I am never happy with my display. It is always in a constant state of change.
My display evolves yearly. I started off with a beautiful all black display, including black tent. Everyone entering oohed and ahhed over how elegant and dramatic it was. I didn't care that it was heavy, fragile, and hard to keep clean because everyone was always complimenting it. I finally realized that having everyone love my display was not a good thing, if I spent more time talking to customers about how I made it than how I did my glass work. Ten years later my display is far simpler and less dramatic, but the oohs and ahhs are for the work, not the setting. It has also become important that my display be lighter and easier to pack. It's amazing how your priorities change as you age.
What I've done is use blocks of foam covered in velvet. That green foam you use for cushions that you can get at Joann's. Then my Mom made black velvet covers for them. Super light and easy and I use the "U" jewelry pins to keep things still. I've also done Canvases. I painted them black and used cup hooks on the back. Hook the necklaces on the back and display on the front and put them on small tabletop easels. Over the years I've changed my mind on displays so many times it's crazy! Hehe! GOOD LUCK!!
Deborah, I was thinking the same time as Roxanne was. I, too, would love to see what you come up with.
i know ... it's a slow work in progress ... when done will put something up.
It's hard to imagine what you're talking about. I would love to see a picture when you finish it!