Comments on: How Do I Make an Artistic and Professional First Impression?

By: Barbara jacquin

Barbara jacquin — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 01:21:22 +0000

I use a light beige tablecloth that is ample and hangs down well over the table like curtains bunching at the corners. On top of that I have black rectangular velvet pads from Rio which I clean by rubbing them against my clothes, taking the dust off very quickly. Of course, dust does settle on them during the show which I simply blow off. I think black is best to show off my silver jewelry with stones. I wear a neutral top to show my pendants to customers and have a mirror handy. I display my “book” with photos of my work and useful information and a book about stones which the husbands like to browse so their wives can take their time looking.

Look at other stands to get good ideas for your displays. Good luck!

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 23:56:14 +0000

Congrats on joining the fun of selling your creative pieces. It is so fun and you will love it.

I have a black velvet display but had white jewelry cards to put my items on. My brother asked me why I had white when I knew the black looked better against my jewelry. Duh! I had just not thought it through.

I found nice black textured cards at places like Rio Grande & JewelrySupply. Then I had to.figure out how to write on them. A research trip to the art store solved that, I use silver metallic gel pens. Things look great now & it was worth the effort.

By: Lisa Rohrssen

Lisa Rohrssen — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:53:39 +0000

I would encourage you to think outside the ox a little with your display. Lots of people use the jewelry busts in either black or white. I go to art shows all the time and one of the things that I have been looking at were displays and their sign. I find that I tend to stop at a both with an interesting display more. Does your jewelry have a theme? I have a friend that does sea glass she lives in an ocean community so of course her display utilizes shells, fishing nets. My display is very vintage. I was gifted several of the white jewelry busts. They just seemed so generic to me. I modge podged them with old book pages. The patina of the book pages works well with my designs. Try Pintrest it’s loaded with display ideas. You have a lot of time so if you need to have things made for you, there is plenty of time. I would also recommend mocking up your display ahead of time. Deciding where each piece will go and taking a picture of it. Setting up for a show can get hectic and if you have help or just get overwhelmed you already have a picture of what goes where. You want a display as distinctive as your jewelry is! Good luck!!!

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 18:16:19 +0000

Stephanie reminded me of another suggestion about having different levels, especially when you are using many busts. I got on a tangent about velvet and forgot! I had basically no money to spend to revamp my permanent display table (it’s not that big so I didn’t need as much material as a sheet provides.) I bought a set of 2 curtains at a local discount store ($3!), solid color but a very nice texture. I used one curtain for the main table covering and took sturdy cardboard boxes (free from the liquor store) of varying height and taped them closed. I cut up the other curtain and wrapped the boxes. I set my busts on them as well as some low profile bracelet displays. Please take some pictures and share them with us as well as an update on how it went. Good Luck!

By: Stephanie Price

Stephanie Price — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 14:16:18 +0000

Congratulations, and best wishes for a successful showing!

Here are several things that I do when showing my own jewelry. I use a solid burgundy satin sheet with wonderful contrasting embroidery on the top seam – I have the embroidered section hanging over the front side of my table. I then use a smaller, more narrow patterned cloth layered over that (a pashmina scarf in this case). Finally, I use a solid colored, textured table runner. This gives my display an exotic (but still tasteful) feel. If you think this would be too much for you, or you believe it doesn’t suit your style, you could try using a large (abt a foot long) decorative chest placed over your solid colored covering. I use a length of satin arranged in the chest so that it spills over the edge of the box and cascades onto the covering. Jewelry can be placed so that it spills from the chest (longer pieces) or arfully arranged on the satin that is pooled on the table. I also found a decorative corner shelf at my local Dollar General store that’s wonderful to vary the height of your displays and to add visual interest – it serves to place some pieces closer to eye level. My unit is abt 2′ tall, and is made to resemble wrought iron; it has a decorative border running around the outside edges. It has 3 “wire” shelves that I find useful to hang earrings from, and place bracelets and rings on the shelves. One of the best features is that it folds up to lie flat and make it easier to transport. I also use a wrought iron framed mirror placed on an easel for customers to view how the jewelry looks on them. It can also be laid flat on the table with pieces placed on it.

Wow, didn’t mean to write you a book! I just want to show there many ways to incorporate things you have right around the house. I hope this gives you some ideas, and again, good fortune!

By: Cindy V

Cindy V — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 23:45:04 +0000

Yes Congratulations! I have to agree with the black velvet/dust comments. I got frustrated with it and also wanted to change from black when spring and summer rolled around. A sewing friend made covers for all my busts. I believe a 12 inch circle with elastic all the way around fit most busts except the very large and very small. It is wonderful, I have sage and mauve for spring, gold and green for fall, red for Christmas and Valentine’s day. I bought a stretch velvet on sale at the fabric store and my friend produced these covers in a very short time. Without overwhelming my display with too many colours at once, the colours set my booth apart. I use a lot of stones and the colours always highlight them beautifully.

By: Ann Nolen

Ann Nolen — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 23:35:44 +0000

Brandy,

Beautiful jewelry, and congrats on getting an opening. I also love using black backgrounds, makes the jewelry look so good. Keeping velvet clean is a headache, but I have looked for other fabrics that are less maintenance. Some of the commercial table coverings are good on that score but rather boring. I find silk or many other slinky fabrics are great at looking sharp without picking up lint etc. I have combined them by putting a commercial trade show table covering down, and then covering with something slinky,knits, or with a nice texture. Best of both worlds. With experimentation I have found some fabrics that do not wrinkle either, which is the best. Sources? Thrift shops, or in my case since I like to sew, fabric stores…

By: Diane

Diane — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:28:35 +0000

Congratulations! I just wanted to tell you my experience with velvet displays. They show every speck of dust and lint. Right after they have been cleaned to perfection, you will suddenly see bits of things on the displays and traveling, even just to one location, is a nightmare. No matter how they are wrapped and sealed, something gets on them. The place I sell at was having a special evening of invited guests and although the artists weren’t in attendance for the guests, many of us showed up early to rearrange, etc. I would get to the end of cleaning the displays and the first ones I had cleaned had specs all over them! I finally got them to a place I could live with and across the room, someone drilled a hole to hang a photo, bits drifted over and stuck to my displays. I know how expensive it is to buy new displays. Some online jewelry supply stores have covers for busts. I would recommend getting some of these. And if you can sew, you can make them, or even buy one and use it as a template.

By: Maria Rosa Sharrow

Maria Rosa Sharrow — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:45:02 +0000

First off congratulations and good luck on your gallery showing.
I only use a few commercial jewelry displays when I do a show as I want my table to stand out and look unique. Having said that I love vintage goodies so I incorporate them in my display.
I’m not sure how much space you have? Or your time constraints? I use a black table clothe and then bought tulle fabric (have different colors to change it up a bit) it’s cheap in price but makes a great table runner or you can drape it around the table. I also use a vintage vanity trays to display bracelets or jewelry sets. (I have found mine at thrift shops and tag sales). I also have a couple ornate frames that I set up on easels one has picture wire hung from side to side to display my earrings on cards The other open eye screws to hang long necklaces. You can load them up and it adds height and drama.
I have a vintage pedestal mirror so that people can see what my jewelry looks like on. sometime I group certain pieces of the same price together and make a sign and add it to a little ornate frame by these same priced items or by something not so conventional explaining what it is or how it was made. I do use a regular bracelet t bar and a couple of necklace busts. Oh I also use a vintage 3 tiered serving tray which I display rings and pendants.
I have more but won’t over do it here.
It really does look like an unconventional stand out table.
~Maria Rosa

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 04:21:08 +0000

Congratulations on your debut, Brandy! How exciting.

Here’s one idea: At gallery shows artists and visitors often dress up a little more than at other venues. So if you wore a velvet / velour top or dress along with one of your necklaces or other jewelry pieces, you’d make a very sharp and coordinating impression next to your velvet displays.

Also, if all your jewelry is easy to see against black (like the pieces in your photos are), you might want to use a black cloth or table runner under your black velvet displays – either spread out or artistically scrunched up – to really make your jewelry take center stage.

Good luck to you at the gallery – and let us know how you do! 🙂