By Susane Faulkner of Faulkner Sterling Design

These cold, blustery days have us trapped inside, allowing us time to weed through our treasures. Sue Faulkner, of Faulkner Sterling Design in Middletown, Delaware, suggests it’s a great time to clean out your jewelry box and take stock of your collection. Follow this plan for re-organizing your jewelry box.

1. Allow an hour or so to tackle this task. Find space on the floor, bed or table to spread out your jewelry collection on a large cloth.
2. Sort everything into groups by metal, color, material or size. Put coordinating sets in their own group. Look at pieces in relationship to each other.
3. Set aside jewelry you don’t wear. Can it be reset, restored or re-gifted? Is there someone who would like it? Is it time for the yard sale or Goodwill? Sell unwanted gold pieces to buy
new jewelry!
4. Dust the inside of your jewelry box. Use a lint roller or wrap a piece of tape around your fingers to get the dust out of those
little crevices.
5. Don’t keep old jewelry because it was a gift, or you spent too much for it. Set it aside to begin letting it go.
6. Look at what you have left. Try new ways to coordinate pieces. Link related elements like design, line, color, or materials. Take each category one at a time. Get out your favorite outfits as a backdrop for the jewelry. Experiment! You will see new combinations that give the clothes a new look.
7. Evaluate what’s left. Is there an heirloom that has nice beads or charms that would make a beautiful necklace or pair of earrings for each family member? Bring it to Faulkner Sterling Design to assess its creative potential.
8. If some pieces need minor repairs, Faulkner Sterling Design can economically restring it, give it a more workable clasp, or integrate it into a new piece.
9. Outdated pieces can be disassembled and mixed with new elements to create a completely new look!
10. Bring your favorite clothing in to have a distinctive piece of custom designed artisan jewelry created that will define it and set you apart. Remember, people often remember your jewelry more than your clothes!

Many people dream of a job where they do only what they love most. Susanne Faulkner has established a second career that allows her to do just that. Faulkner Sterling Design emerged from her love of beauty, gift for working with her hands, fabulous sense of style, and never ending desire to create beautiful things.

Sue delights in helping women express their inner beauty through the high quality artisan jewelry she makes by hand. She creates an endless flow of unique pieces that help any woman to set herself apart. Sue searches the world for beautiful beads, new techniques, and materials to delight women. She welcomes others with a passion for jewelry to her studio to explore new possibilities for their collections.

Teaching is a natural part of this former educator’s creative process. Many women enjoy the chance to create jewelry for themselves. Workshops meet regularly in both her Middletown, Delaware studio and the nearby “Gibby” Center for the Creative Arts. Sue loves to gather with small groups for a few hours of creativity. Sue is delighted by their joy as they leave wearing a beautiful piece of jewelry they made for themselves.

Testimonials for Faulkner Sterling Design:
“Each time I return to Sue’s shop in Middletown I am amazed by the new materials, techniques and colors she finds to work with. There are always different beads and other items from all over the world. Her style stands out through her growth and creativity.”     ~Jane M., Wilmington, Delaware

“Sue is a very supportive and fun teacher. After taking several of her classes, I realize that I am really getting good at making my own jewelry! Sue continues to introduce me to new techniques like PMC. I love making jewelry that is different than anything else around.”     ~Cherie W., Middletown, Delaware

Faulkner Sterling Design
115 E. Redding St.
Middletown DE 19707
(302) 378.4850  -or-  (302) 584.7351
www.faulknersterlingdesign.com