Spring Cleaning!!!

Now that it's March, and hopefully SPRING is right around the corner, it's a great time to "clean out" and organize, anything and everything--especially your closet!

Perhaps you are one of those people, like me, who tends to "clean out" your closet several times a year, especially if you take your clothes to a consignment shop to make some extra cash! If you haven't done it, now is the time, and most places are eagerly accepting your spring/summer fashions. My favorite place is Elite Repeat in St. Paul, the owner is fabulous, and I have made so much money there over the years!!

So, you might be thinking: my closet IS organized, what really do I need to get rid of? Take a look at your accessories....how much jewelry do you own that you never see, because you never open that jewelry box??!! Some of us tend to wear the same pieces over and over again, and rarely change it up. Now is the time to reorganize, clean up, and clear out!! Whether you hope to make room for the new pieces you're lusting after or just simplify, now is as good a time as ever!!

Take a look through what you have and what you know you want to keep. Put those pieces in a safe place, for now. Then look at what you rarely wear, or haven't worn in the last year.
Why haven't you worn it? Will you ever wear it?
With jewelry, it's easier to have pieces with sentimental or family value, and often you do want to hold on to those, even if you don't wear them often. Take that fabulous brooch from your great-grandmother and pin it on your wool winter coat. This way, it's always there when you pull out your coat to go out = instant fashion, and you're sure to get endless compliments, I sure do when I wear mine!!!

Also, it's important to think about the investment you've made in your jewelry. Do you really need to keep the pair of earrings you got for $3.00 a few months ago and have only worn a handful of times? Now is the time to think about investing in pieces that will LAST and will never go out of style! If you have a younger niece or friend's daughter who would appreciate the jewelry, pass it on to her--a great way to know that your pieces will still get worn, but allows you to focus on the BEST PIECES in your collection!!!

Once you've determined what you're keeping and what you're not, what should you do with these pieces??!! Here are a few suggestions:

• Are they horribly outdated and/or in bad shape (but not broken)? If so...put them in a bag for Goodwill or another thrift store/donation/charity.
• If they are broken beyond repair, they need to be thrown out....OR can you salvage any PARTS of these to add to something you have or use to create something new?
• If they are still in great shape and are quality pieces that just "aren't you" or you don't wear anymore you have 2 choices: 1. host a "jewelry exchange party" OR 2. bring them to a consignment shop to re-sell and make some $$!! (Check out our first post for more info on consignment shops in the Twin Cities area!)
  

Hosting a jewelry exchange party can be a great excuse to get your girlfriends together for a fun evening. It doesn't take much to put one together, and you don't have to worry about "sizes" of all the girls invited, because jewelry comes in the universal "one size fits all"!!!

Put together a creative evite or send out an email to all your friends. The only requirement is that they show up with at least ONE piece of jewelry: in good condition and not outdated. They are allowed to leave with as many pieces as they want. The "left overs" can then be donated to a women's shelter or other charity. You just need a big enough space and some tables or areas to display the jewelry, a few options for drinks & snacks, and you've got yourself a fun party where everyone gets to leave with something!!

For those broken pieces of jewelry that you still love, but can't bear to throw away, take them apart and re-create something new! Whether it's adding another charm to an existing necklace, or creating a new piece, there are many ways to use jewelry besides just as an accessory: create a frame for a photo or a mirror that is covered in all the pieces of jewelry you still love, but don't wear or have parts that have broken beyond repair. Take apart earrings and make them charms on a bracelet or necklace. There are endless options, just be creative!!

Now, what to do with all the jewelry you have left, that you love and wear, or are going to try to wear more often??!! ORGANIZE IT!!!

There are SO many options these days for organizing and displaying your jewelry. Our post, back in August, showed you how to create a jewelry board or earring holder using basic and affordable materials from the craft store.....easy, simple, and a way to organize AND display your jewels! Here are a few images I've come across lately showing fabulous and unique ways to organize your jewelry:

• An old, vintage tennis racquet to hang earrings (and/or other jewels)--my sister did this and I LOVE it!
• An old, yet clean (& perhaps coated so that it won't rust onto your jewels?) garden rake hung on the back of a door for hanging your necklaces.
• A large frame, with branches attached across to hang necklaces and bracelets from.
• A box, with wooden spools and smaller boxes for all your jewels.

The options are endless...if you're not "crafty" you can find these things often made for you at craft/art fairs, vintage and antique stores, or events like the Junk Bonanza. Otherwise, all it takes is a little patience, a lot of creativity, and a few inexpensive materials, and you've created a functional way to store and display your beautiful & fabulous jewels! So get organizing!!!!