My 50th Birthday Jewelry Wishlist

I find it almost impossible to believe that I’ll be turning 50 next month! And if you’ve been following me for a while, then you know I have a strong tradition of self-gifting. Not only do I find it very empowering to buy myself jewelry, it’s also a very sentimental practice where I honor various moments in life. With this momentous occasion on the horizon, I’ve started putting some real thought into what I might love to own. I want to share some of the items that are currently at the top of my jewelry lust list. In no particular order, here goes:

Noor Fares Rock Crystal Earrings

I originally saw these last year at the Couture show in Las Vegas. They have haunted me ever since. Not only are they rock crystal (which you know I’m obsessed with), but the shape and the combination with gold and diamonds makes them a super luxe look for everyday.

Sarah Hendler Ethel ring

This is another piece I’ve had on my mind for a very long time. To me, it has sort of a 70’s vibe — I can picture wearing it with a caftan poolside in Palm Springs. The little channels of white enamel are oh, so cool. And the diamond settings sing to my celestial heart. Don’t you think it’d be gorge in rose gold?

Alice Cicolini Earrings

I saw these on Alice’s Instagram not too long ago, but they really made an impression! Again, the white enamel detail (I’m sensing a mini theme here) is awesome, along with the combination of metallic tones with the white topaz. I’d wear the heck out of these.

A piece from Daniela Villegas

I’ve been coveting one of Daniela’s insect pieces for at least a couple years now. Though I’ve only seen two of her big rings in person, they make me swoon. In a dream world, I’d probably like one with green stones…

Bibi van der Velden Galaxy Planet Earrings

Bibi is one of my style icons. Not only do I adore her personal style, but her jewelry is seriously out of this world. These galaxy earrings look SO amazing; I may need to take a trip to Amsterdam to try them on!

Dezso by Sara Beltran Rock Crystal Pendant

I have a “thing” for Sara’s beachy line, and I own a couple of her pendants already — a shell and a fish. Don’t you think this hand carved rock crystal coconut with a polki diamond would complete the trio? And I have the wire wave choker to add it to. The other two pendants I have hang vertically, so I like that this would add a horizontal aspect to the grouping. True, a coconut isn’t exactly what one typically thinks of in fine jewelry, but I love its uniqueness. And as you know, I’m usually not one to have “the norm” in either clothes or jewelry!

Brent Neale Rainbow Gem Knot Ring

Hopefully you read my last blog article, which was all about Brent. And I must say there’s something about her jewelry that really draws you in. Since my wardrobe is mostly black, wouldn’t this ring be a great way to add some color to my ensembles?!

As I write this list, I’m definitely picking up on a few common themes: celestial, enamel details, rock crystal, and color. Funny that these elements didn’t necessarily pop out when I was picking the pieces, yet now they are so obvious.

I’ve still got time to ponder, and I’ll be seeing LOTS of jewelry when I embark on a 10 day road trip to southern California next month. The best scenario is that I win the lottery between now and then and I buy it all! A girl can dream, right?!

Speaking of dreams, I’ve got a big one — a huge new project that I’m diving into this year. As a result, I’m going to be taking a hiatus on writing articles for this site. BUT…don’t panic. You can always get your jewelry fix on my Instagram page, which is definitely full of sparkle. If you’re not yet following me, then click here to keep up on the latest scoop. In fact, perhaps I’ll even reveal what I land on for my 50th gift. Hope to see you there! xo

Tips for Traveling with Jewelry

Part of my job as a personal wardrobe stylist is packing my clients for trips. I seem to be doing a lot of this lately, and when it comes to the jewelry, there are quite a few things to consider. I thought I’d share some of these points to ponder with you, as you may find yourself packing a suitcase for a trip of your own this summer!

image from herpackinglist.com
Your destination should determine what jewelry you bring

Are you going to a luxury resort on the French Riviera? Then perhaps you’ll need to up your glitz game! Are you going to visit the rainforest in South America? Then a waterproof sport watch and stud earrings may be all you really need. I always advise bringing the fewest number of pieces necessary no matter what your destination, especially if you’ll have to cart around luggage to multiple locations.

Think about the security of where you’ll be traveling

In the example of a high end resort, there’s likely to be a safe in the room or at the front desk where you can store your unworn jewelry. On a more rustic trip, I wouldn’t risk bringing any superfluous items; perhaps stick to one look that you’ll wear everyday, or perhaps complement it with some inexpensive necklace that you wouldn’t mind “losing.”

Consider the message your jewelry is sending

I have one client who brings 4 carat CZ stud earrings no matter where she goes. Sure, these earrings don’t necessarily cost a lot, but they are still flashy. And honestly, no one knows whether they are “real” or not — I think she’s tempting fate. When you think about your destination, do you want to draw attention to yourself? Or blend in? I recall a time in my 20’s when I was at the train station in Naples, Italy. A local approached me and said I shouldn’t be wearing the jewelry I had on, as it was tempting to thieves. And what did I have on? Simply a pair of $18 silver hoops, a few silver rings and a silver bangle. Interesting. In my book, this was a very low key (and inexpensive) look, but I never considered that the image I was projecting to those in the train station might be read differently.

 

Will a thief know if these are real or faux??
Will a thief know if these are real or faux??

How are you going to transport your jewelry?

First and foremost, your jewelry should travel on your physical body or in your carryon. Absolutely NO jewelry in your checked luggage…EVER!! I had one client who was traveling with just a few inexpensive necklaces. She ignored my advice and put them in her checked bag. I was not surprised to hear that when she arrived at her destination, not only was her jewelry missing, but a few other items as well. When the baggage handlers see jewelry in a bag, they don’t know if it’s valuable or not. Why tempt people??

My latest find is a travel jewelry box I picked up for $19.99 at the Container Store. It’s the mini lidded stacker in mink, and it’s been working like a charm! I like that it’s a solid box, so I don’t worry about jewelry getting bent in a jewelry roll. It’s small enough to tuck into my purse, and the lid stays very securely snapped closed. I use the ring area for my earrings as well. The only downside is that it doesn’t accommodate bangles, but I can work around that.

travel jewelry box
travel jewelry box from the container store
What about the jewelry you leave at home?

This is a VERY important thing to consider in these days of social media. Even though security experts advise you not to post any travel photos on social media until you are back at home, that’s pretty darn hard to do. If you’re gazing out at the most spectacular sunset over the Grand Canyon, I dare you not to press the “share” button on Instagram! In addition, everyone’s address is public knowledge. So if you post, thieves will know you’re gone and they know your address. The solution? Keep all your jewelry under lock and key, either in a safe (bolted to the ground or in a wall), your safety deposit box, or off the premises entirely. I know this sounds extreme, but I think it’s crucial. In addition, make sure your jewelry insurance policy is up to date. (For more info on this, refer this article from 2016.)

Social-Media-Logos
I know this is a lot to think about, but in my book, planning your jewelry is just as important as planning your clothing. I’d love to hear any other tips you have on this topic in the comment section below. And if you’re going away this summer, I wish you an amazing journey!

Also, I won’t be blogging regularly for the month of July, but I’ll be back full force in August. Know that you can always get your dose of bling on my Instagram and Facebook page.

 

 

Pull-Out Jewelry Storage Panels

One of the things I love about my mom is her creative, artsy style. One of her style signatures is typically wearing some sort of statement necklace. They don’t have to be expensive, but they’ve got to have that “wow” factor — and trust me, she’s got quite an eclectic collection growing. The problem? They are not the easiest thing to store. Traditional jewelry boxes are definitely not an option. And though we did try to convert the top drawer in her dresser into an organized system, it just didn’t work. The necklaces didn’t play well together, and they didn’t want to stay in their compartments, if they even fit in the first place.

messy jewelry drawer
Inspired by some ideas we saw on Pinterest, we decided to make use of some unused space in her closet. The cabinet-maker who had outfitted her garage built three vertical, pull-out peg-boards. They fit perfectly into the under-utilized space. Here’s a couple shots of them after they were installed.

jewelry storage panels
jewelry storage panels pulled out
We went with plastic Hook Style Pegs . White just fades into the background, letting the focus be on the jewelry, not the hooks. I also thought that plastic would potentially be less damaging than metal, which could possibly scratch some materials.

pegboard pegs for hanging necklaces
Before transferring all the necklace from the drawer to the new system, we first had to lay them all out on the bed to take stock of what she has. She opted to get rid of a couple she didn’t love anymore. Then we organized them by color to get an idea of how we wanted to hang them in the closet. Here’s a quick video of this part of the process.

Next, it was quite quick and easy to pop in the hooks and hang everything up. I like the versatility of this system, as you can add/move hooks so easily, as opposed to those on walls, which can leave nail holes when you move things. Click on this short video to see the finished product!

Mom is pretty darn psyched for her new necklace organization, and so am I! What do you think of it?

jewelry storage panels for the closet

Ring Cones for Chic Ring Display

Here’s the dilemma — how to still enjoy your rings you aren’t wearing? You can only have so many on at a time, right? But if I loved something enough to buy it, then I want to be able to gaze at its loveliness even if it’s not on my finger. The solution? Ring cones! For me, it started with a cute little dish I bought at The Gardener in Berkeley…but the bowl got too full…so I added a metallic ceramic ring cone from West Elm…and then added a shorter bronze one from Upper Metal Class.

ring cones from upper metal class and west elm
Ring cones come in a wide range of materials, price points, and sizes. I think it’s fun to combine different materials and heights, creating a little vignette on your bureau. I could even envision putting a selection of ring cones on a small tray or dish. I wanted to share some of the stylish options I’ve found.

First, a few ceramic designs from Anthropologie. Aren’t the little eyelashes just darling?

anthropologie ring cones
Bohemia Jewelry has a fun Etsy shop with a variety of ring cones. These are a couple of my faves.

bohemi jewelry blue silver strip crackle ring cones
bohemi jewelry white gold triange ring cone
Is wood a material that suits your personal style better? Perhaps you’ll like these from Wooddesigndforyou.

wood designd for you ring cones
I’m very tempted by these cement ring cones with gold leaf from Abigail Jewellery.

abigail jewellery concrete and gold leaf ring cone
And how fab is the color palette in these ceramic ring cones by Meus?

meus ring cones
No joke, this is just the tip of the iceberg (or cone?!). There are endless possibilities out there. What about you? Are you a fan of this concept? I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Keeping Your Jewelry Safe

Somehow, 4 years have passed since I wrote an article about how to keep your jewlery safe. Given that this is a very important topic, I figured it was definitely time to re-visit the subject. Guest editor, Jennifer Bressie, has some wise words for us this week:

You might be surprised by the chosen topic this time, as it seems I have kind of become known as the wacky sidekick from previous posts! As a lover of jewels, I can’t think of a more important topic than keeping our beloved safe! As I mentioned in an earlier post, this blog has cost me a fortune and I now have a much more valuable collection of jewelry. I am not talking like walk-in-safe, with retinae scanner collection, but one that would make the average jewel thief quite happy!

Sadly, where I live in the Bay Area there have been a barrage of break-ins. In fact, my parent’s house was broken into just last year! I decided it was high time I take some action to protect my collection.

photo from jewelsforme.com
As Amy has previously mentioned, protecting the family jewels (ha ha couldn’t resist) can be broken down into a couple of categories. The first is protecting them from being stolen, with a safe or a killer hiding-place, which Amy covered in an earlier post. The second is the area of insuring the jewelry, which can be quite costly and not necessarily leave you as covered as one might think. I decided this was my first step.

I called my insurance broker to ask a few questions. For starters, I have a homeowner’s policy and I have a separate policy to cover jewelry. I had long thought that my homeowner’s policy would cover everything else besides that specified in the rider. WRONG! Depending on your policy, most cover $1,000 to $20,000 for theft, fire, and loss. Often there is a cap that no one item can cost more than $1500. If you think about everything in your home including electronics, clothes, and jewelry, it’s pretty easy to reach that number!

I am not an insurance agent, I don’t have any friends who are insurance agents and I find all of this very confusing! Also, it’s hard to get honest, unbiased answers on this subject because most people who know about it are trying to sell you insurance! I did call some brokers, but the best advice I received was from a friend of mine in the jewelry business. In addition to a great recommendation for a safe, which works in conjunction with your home security system, he had the best advice for insurance.

photo from pixabay.com
Here are some questions to ask when looking into jewelry insurance:

Current Insurance: Is my homeowner’s/renter’s insurance enough? Or do I need a separate policy? What exactly is covered and for how much? What kind of loss is covered? Fire, theft, looking down and your ring one day and seeing the stone is gone? Are there precautions I can take which might lower my premium? (Safe, alarm, safety deposit box, etc.)

Compensation: How will I be compensated? Does the insurance company write me a check? Do they let me replace with exact designer, etc. or do they replace it with one of their preferred jewelers?

Claims: How do I file a claim and what will be required of me? Will I need a police report? Receipts and photos? Recent appraisals? A note here, it is very important to not only keep your receipts for your fine jewelry but also, you will want to have some appraisals. For example, you may have purchased a gold bracelet back in 2004 when gold was $450 an ounce. To replace that bracelet today, with gold at over $1250 an ounce, means you will need to spend quite a bit more for the same bracelet.

Here are some further thoughts on ways to keep jewels safe and wearable:

1. Keep great records of what you have. Amy keeps an itemized spreadsheet of her belongings on her computer and a back up print out with her mom. I am not quite this organized, but I do have a folder with every single receipt and have just recently embarked on having the appraisals updated and will be creating a spreadsheet similar to Amy’s. I will also include photos of the item.

spreadsheet for jewlery
2. Regularly check your jewelry for wear and tear. Are there loose stones? Are the clasps all still in good working order?

3. Be cautious about travelling with your jewelry. Limit items to those versatile pieces that work well with your outfits, maybe limit the dollar value of what you bring and certainly triple-check the hotel safe to make sure you have everything!

4. The same goes for at home; while it’s always fun to wear our jewels, certain activities just don’t require them and leave you exposed to loss or damage. I’m thinking of you, lady with the 5-carat diamond ring who I have seen take off and leave in the gym locker! Are you kidding me?!

5. Have a great way to store your jewelry at home. Invest in a safe if you have a valuable collection. It is preferable if the safe bolts to the floor or is built into the wall, but even a small well-hidden safe can make your beauties hard to get.

Jennifer, thank you so much for this informative article! And you, my readers — what are you doing to keep your jewelry safe? Please share any tips you may have in the comments below.

West Elm Jewelry Storage

I was perusing online for jewelry boxes for a client, and I was quite impressed with the offerings at West Elm. I’ve always liked this Brooklyn-based company for both their reasonable prices and their focus on sustainability. I wanted to share some of the items that I thought had some real style, as well as being user-friendly.

Grand mirrored jewelry box

west elm grand mirrored jewelry box
Grand lacquer jewelry box

west elm grand lacquer jewelry box
Faux shagreen box (perfect for just a few key pieces kept on your dresser, and comes in two colors)

west elm faux shagreen box
Cast metal jewelry tree (comes in two sizes)

west elm cast metal jewelty tree
Manzanita wall jewelry branch

west elm manzanita wall jewelry branch
What do you think? Would any of these items help in organizing your collection?

How to Care For and Store Pearls

I hope you read my recent article explaining what the different types of pearls are. (If you didn’t, click here for the full scoop.) Well now that you’ve purchased your lovely new necklace (or ring, or bracelet…), how do you take care of and store it? Well have you ever hear the saying, “Pearls should be the last thing you put on and the first thing you take off?” Well make that your mantra, and you’ve won half the battle.

pearls
Here’s some helpful tips for keeping your pearls in tip-top shape.

When you wear your pearls,

Avoid contact with chemicals. This includes everything from make-up and perfume, to household cleaners. Even our own sweat is bad for them, so if you’re going to work out, then leave the pearls at home.

Avoid getting your pearls wet. Please do not bathe or swim with pearls on. If they do happen to get wet, then let them dry completely before storing them.

When you store your pearls,

Store each piece in an individual bag or pouch. Your items should come with a bag or box, which is usually great, so don’t throw it away. If not, you can certainly purchase a soft velvet, satin, or felt-lined bag. You don’t want to store your pearls together with other jewelry, as they can easily be scratched by metal or other gems. That would not be good!

jewelry pouches
Don’t store in plastic. The chemicals emitted from plastic can harm your pearls.

Don’t store where exposed to heat or direct sunlight. Remember, your pearls are delicate, and the heat and extreme light can cause harm to them.

Store your pearls flat. Hanging a pearl necklace can stretch and weaken the cord it’s strung on. Speaking of which, you should get your pearls re-strung every year or two. I recommend having them knotted between each pearl to protect them from rubbing against each other. It’s also a good idea for safety. Should your strand happen to break, you’ll only be looking for one pearl on the floor, instead of all of them.

Don’t store them long-term in a safe. Pearls are meant to be worn. Storing them in a safe or safety deposit box for long periods of time will cause the pearls to dehydrate and possibly cause surface cracks. Now you don’t want that to happen, do you?!

When cleaning your pearls,

cleaning pearls
Wipe with a soft cloth after each wear. This will get off any unwanted dirt or chemicals. This cloth can be dry or slightly moist with water.

Never use an ultrasonic cleaner. This will just destroy them.

When you have to deep clean them, use a mild soap and water mix with a soft cloth. Never use any harsh detergents, dishwashing soap, a toothbrush, cleanser, etc. When cleaned, allow them to dry flat on a towel. Only when they’re completely dry should you store them. Of course, your other option would be to have them professionally cleaned.

Also, know that pearls look their best when they are lustrous, and over-cleaning them takes the luster away. So wear your pearls with joy and confidence! If  you have any other pearl tips, please leave them in the comments below.

Adjustable Magnetic Jewelry Stand

Am I the only one whose mailbox gets swamped with catalogues? (I feel so bad for my mail carrier!) While many of them go straight into the recycle bin, I do take the time to peruse some of them, including Sundance. Last night while flipping through the pages of the latest issue, I came across this jewelry stand. At first, I couldn’t understand why the bars were slanted every which way.

sundance jewelry stand

Then as I read the description, I realized that the bars are magnetic, and you can place them anywhere on the stand you’d like. This is such a cool idea, since you can really design the layout to fit your particular jewelry collection. It’s made of hand-rubbed steel and made in the USA. (snap!) It’s also quite narrow, only 8″ wide and 15″ tall. This makes it easy to fit onto a shelf or on the top of a dresser.

If you’re looking for a clever way to store and display your jewelry, this might just be what you’re looking for. Let me know if you get it and try it out.

Tips for Preserving Your Jewelry

I’m excited to have a guest contributor today. Thanks to Emma for the informative article!

Jewelry – we use it to express our individuality, to spice up an ensemble, to demonstrate our love to others and perhaps even to honor our lineage with heirlooms. With how much we love it, it’s surprising how so many of us fail to take proper care of the pieces we hold dear. Regular maintenance is certainly not difficult or time consuming, and it truly is an investment to make sure that the treasures lasts for years to come. Below are some tips to get you started!

The composition of your jewelry is the most important thing to consider when cleaning and storing it. It dictates how often your pieces should be cleaned, and with what. As a general rule, silver and gold can withstand much more abrasive cleaning than gemstones, which require extra special care. All-gold and all-silver pieces can be submerged in water without risk of damage. In contrast, jewelry with gemstones, glued bonds or loosely set stones should never be submerged in cleaning solutions, as they may discolor the material or even cause glue bonds to break. It’s better to be safe than sorry when dealing with family antiques!

First we’ll talk about all-metal pieces made of gold and silver. To clean these materials, there are several equally effective options to choose from–all depending on your personal preference and the type of jewelry you’re cleaning. The first option is jewelry cleaning cloths. These are widely available–they can be purchased online or in jewelry stores for only a few dollars–and do a good job of removing brightening and shining tarnished silver. They are not as useful for cleaning gold, which doesn’t tarnish. Simply use the cloth to buff the piece until it is looking shiny and new. You can use these cloths whenever your silver beings to look a little dingy.

For pieces with harder to reach nooks and crannies, a jewelry dipping solution may be a better bet. For example, Connoisseurs is a well-known commercial jewelry cleaning solution offering several different kinds of products and is widely available online.

liquid_dip_cleaner_silver_bath

If you prefer a more natural method, silver and gold can also be cleaned in a mixture of hot water and baking soda. You can either make an abrasive paste and scrub the jewelry (for tough stains) or soak the piece overnight to see best results. Some people also elect to use toothpaste to clean, as its granules do a great job of removing tarnish. Warning: these methods are not recommended for silver pieces with matte finishes. Matte finishes should only be cleaned with commercial dip–even soft polishing clothes can be too abrasive. It is, however, great for cleaning gold, which reacts well to toothpaste cleaning. Simply apply and scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush.

No matter your cleaning method, each piece should be thoroughly dried with a soft, clean cloth after washing.

When it comes to cleaning jewelry with gemstones, special considerations must be accounted for. While metals like gold, platinum and stainless steel are mostly immune to daily soap and water exposure (they can usually be worn in the shower), many gemstones–like pearl and amber–should never come into contact with hot water, soaps or chemicals. For these sensitive gems, even perfume and natural body oils can damage the natural luster of the gem. A good rule of thumb for soft gems like pearl and amber is to wipe them down after each use with a soft, clean cloth. Don’t let them get wet. In fact, getting a string of pearls wet can stretch the silk string out! It may sound like a lot of work, but it will pay dividends in preventing your grandmother’s necklace from yellowing over time. For harder gems like diamonds and sapphires, it’s usually safe to clean them with a dipping solution. When in doubt, you can always ask a jeweler; he or she will be able to give you specific advice for the piece you need to care for. Jewelers can also steam clean jewelry (great for diamond rings) for a nominal cost.

Now onto jewelry storage. Ask yourself: does the metal tarnish when exposed to air? Can the gem be scratched if it comes into contact with another? Again, the kind of jewelry dictates how the piece can be stored safely. Silver pieces, which do tarnish when exposed to air, should be kept in plastic bags or airtight spaces to minimize oxidation. And while silver can usually be stored with other silver, it’s a good idea to keep it away from any gemstones so as not to scratch them.

brittany jewelry armoire

Gold can also be kept with other gold as it is less sensitive than gemstones. Keep gold in soft, fabric-lined container for extra protection. Most boxes are perfectly suitable to storing gold pieces, though it’s helpful to look for ones with bountiful compartments to stop pieces from becoming tangled, like the jewelry organizers found here.

Gemstones, on the other hand, should be individually separated. This means that even individual pairs of earring should ideally be kept away from one another–if they are made of particularly sensitive gems. Generally speaking, it should be fine to keep each piece in its own cloth bag or fabric-lined box. For pearls, silk pouches are ideal, as they are very soft and allow plenty of ventilation.

A final note on storing your jewelry: If your gems are strung on silk (as is usually the case with pearls), it is very important that they not be hung. Hanging a string of pearls can stretch the silk and warp the sizing, causing you to have to have the pearls restrung prematurely. While those cute jewelry racks may be a great way to display your favorite pieces, they are really more suitable for costume jewelry, which isn’t as sensitive to these factors.

pearl necklace

And it should go without saying that all jewelry should be stored in dry climates, without constantly fluctuating temperatures. Frequent changes from hot to cold can weaken glue bonds and cause breakage!

There you have it. A guide to caring for and storing your jewelry so that it is preserved for years to come. A little care in this lifetime can make all the difference when it comes time to pass jewelry on to future generations. And remember: when in doubt, see a jeweler!

Extra tips: Don’t experiment with cleaners that “seem” like they will do a good job. Bleach may sound like a great option, but it can permanently discolor your jewelry. And while some jewelry can be boiled in hot water for extra cleaning power, you should never submerge any jewelry with glued bonds into water or cleaning solutions–especially if the water is hot. Instead, apply the solution as needed with a Q-tip, and wipe dry with a soft, clean cloth. One more tip: if you have costume jewelry that leaves a weird stain on your skin (that green hue caused by certain metals), there’s an easy solution. Apply a few thin coats of clear nail polish to the inner side of the jewelry. No more unsightly stains!

Organizing your Baubles!

Jewelry and organizing are two of my favorite things, so I was in heaven working with a client (and very dear friend) in the Santa Barbara area last week. She is combining items from a few households, trying to figure out what to keep and what to purge in every category, including her clothes, bathroom items, and linens, just to name a few. It’s a major project, to say the least! On one particular day, we decided to tackle her fashion jewelry collection.

She had most of her costume jewelry stored in baggies, with some in boxes or little drawers. But due to the move, they were stored all over the house (including under the bed in the guest room), so she wasn’t able to use her jewelry effectively. The first thing I did, after locating all of it, was sort it out by category — bracelets, rings, necklaces, etc. I set them all out on the bed and a folding table, so we could go over each piece, one by one.

sorting jewelry

Phase one...sorting
phase one…sorting

Next, we took each item out to see if it was a keeper or not. Some of the dated gold and silver pieces we set aside to sell for the metal. She’s going to make some major cash selling all this!

gold & silver to sell
gold & silver to sell

We also filled up a whole shopping bag of jewelry to be donated to a local women’s shelter.

for donation
for donation

We were very excited to find some surprises as well, such as a couple diamond necklaces that had been misplaced and a few family heirloom pieces. All of these were tucked away neatly into her safe. With what was left, we then split it all up into what she wanted available to her now (spring/summer jewelry and year-round jewelry) and what would be stored away for the fall/winter season. All the pieces for the next season were stored in individual plastic baggies, so she could easily see what she has. I advised her that when it comes time to switch out her wardrobe for fall, that she should just switch out her jewelry as well.

items to be out for use now
items to be out for use now

fall/winter items to be stored for now
fall/winter items to be stored for now

Now came a hard decision…where were we going to store and display everything? There certainly didn’t seem like there was much room available! We took a close look at this bank of drawers in her closet, which housed mainly lingerie, socks, and some swim wear. With a little weeding and reorganization, we cleared out all the drawers and now had a great space for her jewelry! Plus, the drawers were nice and shallow, which was perfect. As an added bonus, her scarves were folded above this bank of drawers, which would make it very easy to coordinate when accessorizing her outfits.

the future home for her jewelry
the future home for her jewelry

With a couple trips to Bed, Bath and Beyond for acrylic storage containers, we were all set to go!

5 drawers of fabulous-ness!
5 drawers of fabulous-ness!

necklaces were separated by color
necklaces were separated by color

IMG_4954

bracelet heaven!
bracelet heaven!

We were both so thrilled with the finished project! Now she knows what she has and where it is, so she can really start wearing her jewels on a regular basis. I think this is a key to all organization — you need to be able to see your things, from clothes to kitchen items. If it’s out of sight, it’s not likely to be used. Keep only what you love and what you use, and find new homes for the rest. I hope this project inspires you to do some purging and reorganizing in your space as well. Have fun!