On dressing a craft table (with apologies)

Designing a craft fair booth can be nerve-wracking - standing out in a crowd without spending a lot is even more difficult. So, I've put together some ideas for how to draw attention with your display at a craft show (disclaimer - I do not guarantee it will be attention of the positive sort...but it should help you get noticed!)


However, there is one thing to remember, whatever method you choose - at one point, a customer will inevitably come up to your stall and attempt to buy your display items, at the same time ignoring all your actual craft work.

• Buy some inexpensive but pretty picture frames and mirrors, and hang or drape necklaces over them - just gently tack or hook the clasp/ends to the frames' backs to prevent the necklaces from slipping.

• Make dramatic, theatrical jewellery? Buy a few mini-puppet theatres (like this: Tabletop Theatre) and suspend your pieces from above. Or make a lightweight frame yourself and top it with a mesh grid, then use illusion beading wire to let your pieces 'fly through the air'.

• Or perhaps you create jewellery with a vintage, decadent feel? Kid's mini treasure chests are a funky prop, ideal to fill your table; have some of your jewellery overflowing from within them to really amp up the 'olde world' theme. (Seriously, there are some pretty cool looking ones - search 'treasure chests' in the Amazon toys section.)

• You know the rolls you get from the center of wrapping paper, kitchen rolls, and yes, toilet paper? Try taping them to your table with masking tape, in little configurations, as well as placing tightly folded towels on the table too. Then cover the whole table with a lovely piece of fabric or table cloth, and you'll end up with a 'landscape' on which you can place your items.

• Saw large holes in your display table. Bribe a few good friends to crouch under the table and stick their heads through the holes - voila, interactive mannequins to wear your jewellery. Don't forget to cut arm holes too if you have a lot of bracelets!

• Fruits and vegetables. Long cucumbers make great bracelet holders when suspended horizontally between two blocks (try using some carved taro root for the blocks). For necklaces, try hanging a few around the neck of a pineapple, and use torn lettuce leaves as earrings cards. Remember the carrots for any rings you may be selling.

• If you're like me (and if you are, you have my deepest pity) you'll have a lot of stuffed animal from childhood. Well,  I'm sure that cuddly ALF figure would look just dandy in a wirework tiara (I think I may be showing my age with that reference...), and My Little Pony hooves are just made for showing-off rings.

As a final note, it's up to you to judge how serious you think I am about any of these options - but even the most dramatic ones may spark something in your mind :D.