I know why the caged bird wears earrings...

It hit me today that my first show of the year is only two weeks away. Yikes! How did that happen? I've been enjoying the last several months of non-showness. From here on out I have a pretty steady string of shows clear up until the holidays.

I never did get my new table coverings made. Or my banner (that I meant to make last year). And I desperately need to get a serious, grown-up tent (this is the one I want - I figure if I put it out in the universe then maybe it will magically appear - right?:). I also wanted to lighten up my Summer display a bit so a few months ago I found these sweet bird cagey things and though "Hey, those would make awesome earring displays!"

But now I'm not so sure they are going to work. Perhaps for small shows but I think at larger, busier shows they might not be practical. I would need to price all the earrings the same, for one. And they aren't as visible as they are when I display them on my cards. I don't know, what do you guys think? As a shopper would you be drawn to this type of display or would you prefer to have things more organized and right in front of you? I tired to think about what I like when I shop in other jewelry maker's booths and I think I might be more drawn to this type of display. There is something fun about being able to run your fingers through the earrings and see them hanging like little magical wind chimes. But that might just be me. Let me know what you think!

They are cute, aren't they? Even if I don't use them in my set-up they work great as a place to hang my earrings as I finish making them. :)

Comments

Lorelei Eurto said…
if you ever want to get rid of those bird cages come find me. that was a great find.
HOWEVER< I think that displaying your earrings on your neat little cards, is a better way to view them. They get kind of list on the cages...
They are sooo cute though!
Round Rabbit said…
I tend to agree, L. They are super cute but I don't think they really showcase the earrings very well.
Karen Gill said…
Verry cute! I wonder if your cards would fit on there?...
T@PoppyPlacePdx said…
They do look awesome but I agree the cages dominate and your work is so beautiful :)

I feel your pain though, I am prepping for an art show next week, arrrgh :) T.
Kerry said…
I think it would be a good display for an indoor show, but not so much for an outdoor one.

Where is your first show of the season?!?
Filomena said…
I've used cages like this before to sell my accessories. I found it worked better when I have the item on a card with a price and then the card is clothes pinned to the cage.
Either way, your items look great!
Unknown said…
Oh, I love those cages. I think the earrings look nice hanging on them but they probably are not ideal for a show.
Silver Parrot said…
I love the cages themselves, but I think they are distracting from your amazing earrings. Plus, I keep wondering what would happen if someone bumped the table or cage and earrings fell off and broke? (sorry, but my brain always goes to the worst possible scenario)
noricum said…
I can see people taking one earring off to get a closer look, and then being too lazy to put it back in the right spot, ending up with a mess of miss-matched earrings.

What about putting the earrings on clear acetate cards, and then attaching those cards to the cages?
mairedodd said…
i agree with both of the things you said...

for smaller shows i think they are great... and they might even encourage people to stop and look... big plus...
you are absolutely right though about having to price them the same when displayed like that... not a bad thing, just is what it is...

i wouldn't write off using them...
Erin Siegel said…
Yes, yes, yes! I love the bird cages! They put a smile on my face as soon as I saw your post! Fun, whimsical and light-hearted feeling. I think this is a nice look for your summer shows. Although, I love your usual displays and they look very professional, to me this looks more casual and approachable. I think I would tend to be drawn to this too. Working in a retail store, this is what I've experienced, also. Customers tend to buy more of the items that they can touch, pick up and connect with and less of the items that seem less approachable, like in a case or tacked down in some way or other. Especially with earrings. I've also noticed that a lot of customers like to pick out more than one pair that they like and put them next to each other to compare them to decide which ones they want to purchase, too.
JO said…
You could put the cages on lazy susans so that customers could spin them and you could put earrings all the way around.
Round Rabbit said…
OMG, you guys are killing me with all your great ideas! I think I am going to have to just give them a try and see what happens. Maybe just put one style of earring on them and still have my other pairs on cards.

Kerry, my show is the Maple Fest in Marathon, NY. It's one of the earliest shows around here so I thought I would give it a try. :)
Kella said…
I like them , just yesterday I saw some similar in a store but like you thought they may not work out exactly as I envisioned (for fairly similar reasons you stated) so I didn't buy them. But they are playing on the back of my mind, I might one for myself to store MY jewellery in my B/room.
Gaea said…
The cages, as are the earrings, divine!
Marie Cramp said…
I love the cages and started with something like that myself but found the background too busy to really focus on the earrings. Sometimes you need eye catching props to bring people in though, just a thought.
Good luck!
Marie
stregata said…
I love the cages! Here in Germany, it is not usual for handmade jewelry to be displayed on cards - that is how mass produced jewelry is presented here. In this case, maybe present some on the cages and have your collection on cards as well.
The cages are certainly eye catchers and will probably draw many people to look at the earrings (and some will want to buy the cages...).
Sonja said…
I was just thinking what to write and than found Stregata's comment.
There's nothing much to add from my point of view. :)
I would definitely use your usual cards and add a cage (they are awesome) to hang some of earings. It's a great eyecatcher.
Jen Judd said…
I'm jumping on the bandwagon...the cages are great--they fit your style and would be great attention-getters. Using them for a single type/style would be a great idea. :)
charity said…
i have a similar way of displaying some of my earrings, and then i also display some on cards in a more organized way. it is a bit of a pain as i need to price each pair individually, but i just put a little sticker on the back and people pick them up and look at them themselves. i like it because it gives the opportunity to see them hanging- as they look when they are hanging from your ears. These cages are so light and sweet, i think they may make a fun addition to your booth- especially in the spring and summer months. i would only do it though, if you were going to have them displayed in your usual fashion as well, which is very striking.... (then again, my booth, display, work is such a crazy jumble that perhaps listening to me is just silly!)
Riki Schumacher said…
I love the bird cages for you earrings. The colors just pop. Couldn't be a better display! Riki
Unknown said…
I love the cages! I even have a smaller version I too am thinking about using in a show soon. But I also have to agree w/ some of the concerns posted. I had a beautiful branch display for an indoor show(which makes a difference in display, don't you think?) that was brushed against multiple times,knocking earring off.Displays are just the eternal quest, aren't they?!
Holly Knott said…
I'm chiming in late, here. I love the birdcages. I'm really into aesthetics and setting the mood, and when people point out that something distracts from the art, I'm usually the one to not see what they mean because I think all the display elements add to the charm!
daisy52 said…
Great site! Love the cages...I am like you...planning a show with nothing but the perpetual list. I like living on the edge! Have a great nite...

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