Inspiraled Necklace Display

by Becky Blair
(Lexington, SC)

Necklace Panels and Magnetic Folding Jewelry Screen

Successful Craft Show Necklace Display

My necklace display took an quite a bit of time to assemble, but the increased traffic into my booth has proven all that work worthwhile!

I bought five 2' x 3' sheets of perforated metal from Lowe's. I link them together with binder rings to make panels to hang on my back tent wall.

Five panels will fill the 10 foot width, but I can use less if I want, since they clip together. Typically, I use four.

I bought 20 oblong plastic platters from Walmart that I made black suede slipcovers for. The suede fabric was cut larger that the width and length of the bottom of the platter, allowing an overlap to the other side of the platter and and a casing to be sewn in.

I used 1/4" elastic and ran it thru the casing (imagine shower caps for alien-shaped heads). Each one fits snugly over a platter, making the bottom of the platter a smooth dimensional suede background to showcase a necklace.

I sewed 20 bungee-like clips using 3/8" black elastic and 2 silver-toned sturdy picture hooks (50 lb. Wall Dog Self Drilling Picture Hangers #122362 from Lowe's) for each platter.

The picture hooks have a flat back with a hole in them to allow me to pass the elastic thru before sewing.

The bands clip on from the back of the metal sheets with the hook coming thru the holes to hold the platters in place on the metal sheets.

I can clip four covered platters, bottom side facing out, to each panel - 2 over 2 - with the panels hung vertically.

I sewed twenty black 3/8" wide grosgrain ribbon hangers from 15 inch lengths; each one having a 1˝ inch loop on either end.

Each loop end comes thru a hole in the metal sheet at the top of a platter and hangs down over the top of each platter with the loops a few inches apart.

I can run the closure ends of the necklaces thru the loop ends of ribbon, enabling each to hang against a platter. The panels are hung so that the necklaces can be easily reached and removed for customers to try on.

The platters don't look like platters, fortunately, once they are covered with suede.

In fact, someone at a show today was asking about the display, and was surprised to find out they weren't purchased necklace boards.

I hang the panels with metal chain from the framework of the tent with U bolts, and use more homemade elastic bungee cords to secure the panels to the tent legs.

Four metal shower rod hooks slip onto 1" wide black elastic bands with loops sewn at each end. I clip the hooks thru holes at the outer top and bottom four corners of the suspended panels. The elastic bands wind around the closest tent leg and back onto the hooks.

I have the panels linked together in pairs, so that they can fold back to back for storage and transport.

I layer them with cardboard in between (cut from a big refrigerator box from Lowe's), and on top and bottom, to protect them. Once the panels and cardboard are stacked, I wrap long 1" wide elastic bands (with loops at each end) around the stack - vertically and horizontally. A binder ring goes thru the loops to close and secure them around the stack so it will stay together during transport.

You could certainly save a lot of time using purchased bungee cords, where I've indicated homemade ones, but I wanted my display as consistent and aesthetically pleasing as possible (as well as cost effective).

I like to use black and silver tones throughout so that my jewelry takes center stage as opposed to the display.

I try to use items I have on hand whenever possible; the shower hooks, elastic, and binder rings were already in my stash.

Purchased necklace boards would save time too, but I'm hoping these will last longer, given the plastic platters should hold up better than cardboard, and the suede covers are removable and washable.

I've been doing a seasonal weekly show.

I sold more jewelry at the first autumn show than I did the entire spring season, and I feel this was largely due to my new display.

I also designed an 18" x 24" sign with my logo and some photographs that feature a good representation of my work. I had this printed out and laminated at Office Depot, mounted it with picture clips to masonite, and secured it to a front tent leg at eye level.

Previously, I was using an easel and the sign had glass on it; that proved to be tricky transporting. This takes up less room in my car and still does the trick.

For home shows, I use over-the-door-hangers and suspend the panels with chain on interior doors.

After hours of searching unsuccessfully online for display ideas for my tent, I am really happy with my own configuration. Maybe someone else will find it helpful as well.

What you need:

One package of perforated metal sheets (5) 24" x 36" each (Lowe's)

20 oblong plastic platters (Walmart)

black washable suede fabric and black thread

1/4" black elastic

3/8" black grosgrain ribbon

Binder rings to link the sheets together, side by side, at the top, middle, & bottom

Chain to suspend the panels from U bolts

U bolts

4 shower hooks with 1" black elastic bands attached.

Becky Blair
Inspiraled