On the Make: Jewelry Tree
Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 4:14PM ;)
I started thinking of ways to display my jewelry at home after seeing Alexandra Tyler's amazing collection over on Strawberry Lemonade a few months back. All of my jewelry was stored away in drawers and on hooks in the closet. How to make these a part of the decor? Of course I'd thought of jewelry trees before, but most of them look like a pre-fab store display, which would never do. Then, I saw another version of a jewelry tree on Apartment Therapy recently, and my mind got cooking on a new project.
I decided I'd make my own tree. I've done this before, in fact I create a stick tree every year for my Christmas Tree, but that one comes down every January. How to make it permanent and sturdy? I'd have to plant it in a heavy pot for ballast, and that meant one thing: plaster of Paris.
If you want to make this project you'll need the following:
tree branches, flower pot with saucer, spray paint in the color of your choice, plaster of Paris (1 carton), bucket, rags, rubber gloves, Spanish moss
I found a number of great branches during a walk with Bonnie the Dog in the Presidio. Lots of branches were strewn on the path after the recent storms, so I just picked a few up and carried them home. I went with a mix of pieces; some are thicker and more sturdy, while others taper into thin branches at the tips. I broke some of the ends to even up the lengths, but kept it loose. I wanted one or two tall pieces and a few shorter, solid ones for heavy bracelets and chunky necklaces.
I washed the branches lightly and sprayed them with a little bit of cleanser, just to make sure there weren't any bugs or dirt left on them. I then spray painted them silver. This took a little bit of doing. I had to go up on the roof of my building, and put down a big piece of paper so the paint wouldn't get everywhere. I also left them to dry for about an hour before trying to arrange the pieces.
The white flower pot and saucer I found at my local nursery. The glaze is perfect - it looks crisp and clean and fits with the white decor in my room. I wanted something a little bit narrower at the rim so the branches would stand upright, but this one was perfect!
;)
Now, a little bit about plaster of Paris. There are messes and there are messes, and then there are the messes created with plaster of Paris. These should not be underestimated. Plan to wear clothing that can be thrown away. The same goes for the mixing bucket and rubber gloves you'll use to mix the plaster. Don't plan on ever using them again. Be sure to mix somewhere that cleans up easily, such as a kitchen or bathroom. Plaster of Paris will get everywhere no matter how careful you are, so carpet is not a good idea. Luckily, once it hardens a little, it releases from most surfaces like candle wax, but it's best not to tempt fate.
I arranged the branches in the center of the pot and bundled them with a little bit of floral tape. I also nested a bit of crumpled paper around them, so they'd stay put. When the plaster was ready (thick and mud-like) I poured it over the paper and all around the branches. A final layer of smooth plaster (mixed separately) created a clean top layer. Finally, when the plaster was dry, I stuffed a layer of Spanish moss on top to make the tree look more life-like.
Necklaces and bracelets are on the lower branches, depending upon their weight, while earrings are hung from the high, delicate branches. All of the little nobs and indentations on the branches create ideal natural hanging places, so things get spaced perfectly.
I'm pretty happy with the result, and so glad that my jewelry is now out on display where it can be admired! The whole thing is like a functional piece of sculpture too, bringing some height and airy reflection to the corner of the dresser. And, most importantly, the jewelry is taking center stage!
DIY, craft, jewelry, jewelry tree in On the Make, Shout Outs 
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