Jewelry Displays

I do trunk shows every once in a while and this month I have one at our local Creative Arts Center. Setting up the display took me right back to the couple of years I spent doing merchandising at a Ten Thousand Villages store. You want the arrangement to be inviting and pretty, but easily disturbed so people feel like it's okay to buy things.

The earring trees in the top photo were real finds - Pier 1 sold them for a short time and I snatched up a couple. For my necklaces, I used white leatherette busts. In this case, I was so glad I had white because they really stood out on the wooden shelves. The lighting was kind of low, so black busts would have drowned in there. My books are propped up on wire plate stands.

I brought some mirrors with me to place under jewelry that didn't fit on the earring stands or busts, but the reflection from the wood was way too distracting. Flat plates with rice, sand or beans would have been a better solution, but I ran out of time. I ran to a nearby party goods store and bought some silver paper stars and placed them under some of the things in the display.

Linky Love

Lots of holiday inspiration in the links this week! Grab a cup of hot spiced cider and enjoy...

Beadalon Blog Sign up for this month's giveaway and take a look at all of the design team's holiday ideas.

The Impatient Crafter: Check out the pretty cover of Barb Switzer's new book, Four Seasons of Beading.

Kristal's Bling Blog: Kristal made a super cute charm bracelet with holiday lampworked glass!

Jean Campbell Jean shares 3 easy tips for making holiday gift production a little less stressful.

Lorelei's Blog: Inside the Studio Lorelei is saying Thank you and Merry Christmas by giving away a gift certificate to artbeads.com!

Art Bead Scene It's the first day of Art Bead Scene's annual Twelve Days of Free Projects!

A Bead A Day If you find yourself in need of a quick holiday gift, don't overlook memory wire! With this simple design, you can make one for all your friends.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts Barbe gets all steamy over the new Steampunk Style book!

Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Melanie shows a sneak peek of a pair of earrings she made for the upcoming book Steampunk Style by Jean Campbell

Beading Arts Cyndi shares a new tutorial featuring one of Earthenwood Studio's fabulous new pendants!

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! When you check out this ornament kit which is available for you to make, it will REALLY put you in the spirit!

About.com Jewelry Making Thinking of making some beaded ornament covers? Then you'll need to know the size bulb to use too.

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton Each representing a different spectrum of lampwork glass, Andrew shares the new additions to his bead collection from two different artists.

Cindy Gimbrone aka Lampwork Diva Inspired by Grandma's necklace, Cindy creates an edgey look with CZ's.

Carmi's Art/Life World Carmi wonders if anyone else is working on Spring.

Quick Earrings

Here are a few quick earring ideas for your last-minute gift making pleasure. From left to right:

• The aforementioned adorable cupcake earrings. In this version, the cupcakes are on wire-wrapped eye pins. A crystal dangles below from a wire-wrapped head pin.
  
  
• Long and lean crystal/charm earrings. Elongated chain is attached to ear wire loop. A bird charm is connected to the last link on the chain. A wire-wrapped crystal head pin hangs in front. Mixed metals make them a bit different. Might change these ear wires to gold to pull the look together.
  
  
• Toggle ring earrings. One of my favorite tricks is using findings for something other than their intended purposes. Here, a wrapped head pin crystal dangles inside the toggle ring. Big kidney ear wires add to the contemporary effect.
  
  
• Simple charm earrings. This style never gets old and it has the added benefit of personalizing - you can always find charms that will appeal to your specific recipient.

*Bird and flower charms supplied by TierraCast and crystals supplied by Crystallized™ - Swarovski Elements. Find them at your favorite local bead shop or online emporium. Antique brass findings made by Darice, purchased at Joanns. All other findings supplied by Beadalon.