The chalk is an alternative medium for tarnish resistant paper pieces. As far as I can tell, it works just as well and so much cheaper. You do not need to put it in the organza bags, (which is the only real cost to this method) you could just just place a pieces anywhere. I use the bags to cut down on dust.

Damp air = tarnish. and both the paper and the chalk keep this to a bare minimum. So if you do not want to place each piece in a thick zip bag, this works pretty darn good.
Nikki

What is the chalk for?

The displays are actually in the picture frame section.

The other piece is a Jewelry Storage Organizer. Mine has 5 drawers and flat felt drawer inserts. I got it online at Gems On Display. (gemsondisplay.com) I just stick a piece or two of chalk in a small organza bag and tuck one in each drawer. I plan on getting more! You can get drawer inserts with small or large compartments, flat, or a combination.

I have a question about your “display frames”. Do they have another name? I can’t find them at Hobby Lobby under that name. I do find display items, but not “display frames”. Thanks, Suzi

If I can suggest something that worked for me, helpful for managing so many little items, both at show setup/breakdown, as well as at home, my BEST investment so far, was my rolling aluminum cart – holds 24 full-size stackable resin trays. There’s a smaller version for 12 trays, but I’m so glad now that I went for the big one, because of the versatility it offers. It wasn’t cheap, but has made life so much easier. Trays come individually (at least at Rio Grande, where I found mine), so you don’t have to get all 24 trays – you can get what you need and the extra space in the case can carry other items. Just use an empty tray as a top layer to protect the jewelry under it, and as you would anyway, keep the case relatively upright during transport. I’ve used this space for my purse a few times – nice to keep it out of sight while you set up tables, etc.

Normally though, I end up using most every tray for something. I use this case to store my jewelry year round, as well as for shows. I use the trays for more than jewelry – I fill a couple of trays with merchandise bags, tissue sheets (I cut to fit the tray), and then set those next to my cash box. At home, I use these trays to hold supplies for individual projects that are waiting to be tackled. I stack these “project trays” in my studio until I can get to them. Also like to work in evenings with family, and it’s easy to carry stuff around the house in these.

These aluminum carts have option of side or front doors. I opted for the narrow end door – I like the way the case then slips in nicely right beside a table at shows, and the smaller door is unobtrusive when open. But that’s just personal preference. Some may find larger door preferable for access.

Like the other posters, I keep each jewelry item in its own ziploc with anti-tarnish paper as needed. This delays tarnish, but also prevents scratching or tangling against other pieces in storage and during transport. I keep “sets” (i.e. pendants w/matching earrings that will go together on a neckform) in a ziploc together. When a new piece of jewelry is ready to sell, it gets tagged with my item number and price, then popped into the ziploc, all ready to display. I can fill a tray for each display, one for bracelets, one for all of the neckform “sets”, etc. If I’m taking a spinner rack, which I like for holiday earrings, I can gather the number of pair needed to fill it, along with “refills” to replace sold items.

I usually leave a little working “ledge” space of about a foot deep at the back of my table, behind my risers, This space is out of sight, but deep enough to hold a tray that will corral “refill” jewelry, pens, receipt book, etc. Using the tray helps keep items from falling to the ground or rolling under the table. Especially helpful for pens, that otherwise always disappear until I find several under the table at breakdown. Anyway, getting off-topic!

The trays also work well to corral supplies for pending projects in the studio – and stack neatly while waiting. I like to create in the evening with the family during TV time, and can carry down everything I need. Point being, lots of uses for this case and the trays it holds.

So happy for your show success – it’s so much fun, but setup/breakdown…not so much. My aluminum rolling case has helped a lot. Oh, and when that inevitable thunderstorm arrives, I can quickly toss items back into the their dedicated trays for quick escape, then later inspect everything at my leisure for tarnish/damage, before re-bagging to be ready for the next show. Doing this a tray at a time, with like things together, is a lot easier than the big pile-o-jewelry!
Good luck at your next show!

thanks so much for all your comments. i’m gonna try out some of these hints.

with Love,
patQ

I’m always looking for easier ways to set up-take down my booth, and the two methods I described have been really helpful. I still do have stand-up displays for eye-catching items that I pack individually anyway, and I use ziplock bags for these.