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Untangle that Mess and Organize Your Handmade Jewelry

May 21st, 2008 in jewelry making

Susan Beal, contributor

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This is my jewelry organizer from Ginny’s Ear Nest. This model hangs
right up on the wall but Ginny’s also has a free-standing version that
is terrific for craft-show displays.

Velvet jewelry displays like this neck and earring T are lovely ways
to show individual jewelry pieces at shows. This one is from Simon
Golub here in Portland, Oregon.

To keep your jewelry-supply inventory organized or to store pieces so
that you can easily see them, there is nothing like a plastic bag. You
can by all kinds of sizes in bulk at Fire Mountain Gems or at Rio
Grande.

This is my jewelry organizer from Ginny’s Ear Nest. This model hangs right up on the wall but Ginny’s also has a free-standing version that is terrific for craft-show displays.

Photo: Susan Beal

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One of the lovely benefits of keeping my jewelry organized is that I find myself wearing things that I think otherwise would have been forgotten. Your beautiful jewelry deserves to be preserved and well kept so that you can enjoy it. Whether you're keeping everything at your home or studio or planning displays for upcoming events, here's what works for me. I'd love to hear your ideas!

I have a wooden jewelry organizer that I bought years ago from Ginny's Ear Nest, and it's perfect for necklaces, pendants, and earrings. The racks are available in different sizes and configurations, and they are lovely for displaying your own work or your personal collection of jewelry. I have a wall-hanging version, but you can also find freestanding designs for a dresser or tabletop. I use mine mostly at home, but if you're doing a craft show or event, they're great for displaying your work for sale.

Another solution for showing individual pieces is a set of velvet jewelry displays like the neck and earring "T" shown above. This is another option for shows, of course, but they look nice in the studio or home as well. I buy mine locally at Simon Golub in Portland and Ed's Box and Supply in Los Angeles, but you can also order them from Fire Mountain Gems and Rio Grande. They come in all kinds of configurations, colors, materials, and styles for rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and anything else you make.

For deep storage, packing your pieces for events, or shipping them to shops, I always use plastic bags in varying sizes. They are inexpensive and handy, and pack down to a very efficient size and shape in a larger box or bag. You can buy them in bulk at the same places you'd find velvet jewelry displays (mentioned above). This isn't the most attractive option, obviously, but it is easy, quick, and guarantees a minimum of tangling and mess—perfect for things you want to put away for a while or bring along when you travel.

posted in: jewelry making, organizers, velvet t display

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Comments (4)

Shines4 writes: Here's a quick idea for displaying earrings. Get a roll of that rubberized shelf paper ... the kind with a pattern and small holes in it. Cut it to shape to fit inside a picture frame. (don't use the glass!) Hang all your french wire earrings (doesn't work with post earrings) on the new fabric background. Make several for very nice looking displays for a show.

Travel tip - cover your earrings with Glad Press-N-Seal wrap and they won't shift or fall off during transit. The wrap comes off very easily and doesn't make any marks on your beautiful earrings or on the frame.

Shines

Posted: 6:24 pm on June 3rd

craftyprincess writes: I like how you can "see" the jewelry, even though I'd fill that up in a milli-second!
Posted: 6:10 pm on May 25th

crafty_gal writes: Thanks Susan! I have been looking for something like this for SO LONG to organize all my jewels. What a great find. I also saw some cute stands an Pier 1 recently.
Posted: 4:00 pm on May 22nd

ManKnit writes: The wood jewelry hanger in the photo is also pretty easy to make if you don't want to spend the cash. I made one just like it for my mom in junior high shop class. Obviously the more effort you put in, the classier it will look.

Quick DIY instructions.
1. Find a few scraps of wood that measure about 3/8 in. thick by 2 in. wide by however long you want the hanger to be.

2. Use a handsaw (you can pick one up at the hardware store for 10 bucks) to cut a series of kerfs along one edge of each length of wood. Then use a 1/4 in. drill bit to bore a series of holes in the wood along the opposite edge.

3. Screw (don't just glue) each length of wood to a frame (an old picture frame would do), and hang it up on the wall!
Posted: 10:14 am on May 21st

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