Making a Custom Jewelry Display for my Splendette Collection

For this blog especially, I recommend watching the vlog on my YouTube. It will just make more sense if you watch it live as it happened. YouTube Video Here

This is not exactly related to costuming, but is more costume-adjacent. I have written before about my love, nay, obsession with Splendette Mid-Century reproduction jewelry in my Easter dress blog. Predictably, I have a couple more pieces now and I thought it was high time to display them properly. I thought long and hard about exactly how to make a display. My woodworking skills are minimal, so I couldn't build one totally from scratch. In Goodwill, I found a long narrow shelf, about 32 inches long and 3 inches deep. This was perfect for my purposes. I debated buying an earring holder to put on top, but I couldn't find one that would fit my shelf. And I want to keep the shelf open for bangles. Space for the bangles, earrings, and the necklaces in the same unit was essential. I really wanted to keep all pieces of one color together, but also keep my whole collection in view and in one place . Eventually, I had a plan.

Sorry, but I don't have any progress photos. I was too focused on filming for YouTube (see the link at the top of this blog) and I forgot.

The first step was to paint it. I had some black acrylic paint leftover from some other project. Next, I took some dollhouse roof trim from Hobby Lobby which had tiny holes in it. I painted it and glued it to the underside of the shelf. And just like that, I had earring storage! I haven't seen anyone else do it this way. This “earring rail” as I have called it will hold so many pairs of earrings, and I love it.

After that, I took some small hooks from Lowe's and screwed them in 2 inches apart along the underside on the back. These are meant to hang necklaces. This was by far the hardest part of the process, which I was not expecting. I don't have much hand strength haha.

The last step was to glue on the bracelet holders on top. These were from Hobby Lobby. I also found them online several places, but it was just simpler to buy them in person and not wait for shipping. There are three of them across the top and they are covered in black velvet.

I am very pleased with this project. It makes my heart so happy to see these bright, beautiful pieces out where I can admire them. There is still plenty of room for more, which is good. Because I will be buying more. It will happen. I must accept the inevitable.

Thanks for reading!

Yours in hard work, creativity, and a dash of pixie dust,

Sarah

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