Craft Show Countdown

It's that time of year again when I'm stocking up on business cards and jewellery boxes, checking that my fairy lights work and ironing table cloths. Yes, it's Christmas Craft Fair time! It seems as if it comes round earlier and earlier each year.

Source: ehow.com via Joanne on Pinterest

It's also the time of year that I put into action the plans I've been making to update my jewellery displays. I try to keep the look of my craft stall simple - partly because I want people to see my jewellery rather than be distracted by displays that are too colourful or too busy, but also because I have to carry or wheel it from my car to the venue! I keep to the same colours as my website, logo and business cards (my corporate image!) as the dark brown is a perfect background for all the different colours I use in my jewellery designs and for showing off the designs that are made just from silver, and also in the hope that when customers visit my website it will be recognisable as mine.

Source: blackdaisydesigns.blogspot.com via Joanne on Pinterest

I also keep to the basic craft show display rules that I expect many of you have read before. I make sure that some of my displays are at an eye catching level, that at least some of my jewellery is displayed on something - a bust, a tag or a decorative plate or dish - rather than flat on the table to show it off better, I lay items out in almost a grid pattern so that I can keep an eye on things easily and would be able to notice quickly if something "went walkabout" (not that I've had problems with that so far, thankfully) and I group items together so that, for example, a customer can easily see a pair of earrings that would go perfectly with the necklace that she's been admiring.

Source: elbrooklyntaco.com via Joanne on Pinterest

As the years have gone on I've swapped busts that I've made myself for more robust shop-bought ones. I've changed the boxes that I used to drape with a table cloth and sit my busts on for ones that are covered in fabric and fold up - I love displays that fold up for carrying and storage. I've done whatever I can within my budget to make my stall look more up-market as I've used more expensive materials in my designs and started doing more up-market shows. Now, however, it's to upgrade again as those fabric covered boxes have started to fray and the busts don't hold the longer necklaces that are popular now. I've finally invested in a banner from Vistaprint to replace the handmade sign I put in a frame, I'm planning a visit to Ikea tomorrow to pick up some stands to replace my frayed boxes and maybe a small light set of shelves to add more height to my displays, and a visit to the local timber merchants has bought me some lovely and surprisingly affordable oak that I've started to saw into simple necklace and pendant stands - ones that are hinged and fold up of course! The photo below is of my stall at one of shows I did last November. Hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to show you my new look!

The other photos here are some of the craft show display pictures I've pinned on my aptly-named Craft Shows board on Pinterest - some are inspirational photos to hopefully get some ideas from, a few are tutorials for making your own displays. Not all if them are of jewellery displays, as its useful sometimes to see how other crafts are displayed.

Source: glassaddictions.com via Joanne on Pinterest

So, what's your style for jewellery displays? Do you display your upcycled jewellery so displays made from upcycled items? Or is your jewellery in a vintage style so better displayed on items such as pretty tea cups and saucers? Have you made your own displays, or have you found and adapted great bargains that show off your designs beautifully?

Jo Tinley
Daisychain Designs