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Is your jewellery box like mine? Necklaces in a tangled mess? Earrings scattered around several counters and tables with and without the proper backings? If you have the standard issue jewellery box, chances are you have experienced their shortcomings. No matter how many dividers you put in them, inevitably you will pull out one necklace and three others will be wound around it in some kind of impenetrable, heretofore secret sailor's knot. 

That's why this latest project was born. It's a simple idea and can be very simple to make as well. Last December I got an email from a friend who wanted a jewellery holder for Christmas. She was tired of untangling her accessories every morning. It was seriously cutting into her sleep time. She assumed I would buy one at the store, but she didn't take into account the fact that she had such ridiculously specific requirements that there was no way I would find the right piece in time for the holidays. She wanted one holder to do all of the following: 

• hold rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings
• not take up room on her dresser
• match her décor
• be perfect

Okay, I added that last one, not because she asked for it, but because I knew my friend and her high standards would be expecting it. That's why I did her one better. I added a feature for scarves and belts.

Materials

• prefab, unfinished shelf or scrap wood cut to size
• wooden knobs (or whatever type you wish)
• cup hooks (leave them in their native brass or paint with automotive spray paint as I did)
• drawer pull
• picture frame
• two small hinges
• window screening
• paint or stain to finish the wood as you choose
• Drill
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Staple or glue gun

Step 1. Establish what requirements you have for this holder, such as unravelling the necklace knot, pairing up earrings or sorting bracelets and rings. If youre a necklace freak you may want to give yourself a nice long run of knobs along the bottom. A ring master might just want rows and rows of ring hooks. If youre just an earring person you could do the earring holder on it's own without all the rest (skip to step 5). 

Step 2. Next you will want to decide how many of each hook type you need. (Tip: You can usually put more than one item on a hook.) You can get as fancy as you please. There are some really fabulous hooks out there and you will be able to match your style with no trouble.

Step 3.  Make a diagram of where to put each piece. When locating places to hang necklaces make sure they can hang freely by putting them along the bottom. Same goes for the scarf and belt holder. Ring hooks can be placed quite close together, just measure the diameter of a ring to see how far apart they need to be spaced. 

Step 4.  I chose a 7" x 24" shelf with a routered edge. You may go bigger or smaller depending on your needs. You may even want to hang it vertically.  I stained my friend's with walnut gel stain. Paint or stain your shelf to suit your own décor. 

Step 5.  Construct the earring holder. Remove glass and backing (and picture!) from picture frame. Paint or decorate frame if you wish. Turn the frame over so you are working on the back of it. Cut a piece of window screen to fit in the back with a bit of an overhang to allow for stapling or gluing into place with a glue gun. I glued decorative silver trim around the edge to hide the staples. Attach hinges to the side or the top of the frame. That way you can open the frame like a door to remove earring backings.

Step 6.  Measure and mark placement of knobs, hooks and earring frame on shelf. I recommend attaching the earring frame with the hinges first. That way if you made any measuring mistakes you can adjust the spacing or number of hooks to compensate. Pre-drill holes for knobs and hooks and screw them in.   

Step 7. Your shelf will be mounted flat against the wall. On either end of the shelf drill two 1/4 inch holes about 1/4" deep into the back. Drill at a slight angle towards the top. DO NOT DRILL ALL THE WAY THROUGH. You will use these holes to mount the shelf using screws drilled into your wall. The shelf just gets hung on the screws, which means it takes up no room on your already cluttered dresser.

Step 8. Adorn your organizer with all your favourite and most display-worthy accessories.

Did that sound difficult? It shouldn't unless you are measurement challenged like me. But then, you might not have a friend who regularly demands perfection so maybe you can dispense with the ruler all together.

I have all kinds of ideas for what I will do with my own shelf. I have a bunch of cool hooks that Ive collected from 'as is' and bargain bins over the years. I also found a little bevelled mirror that I can add so I am able to check the look as I apply my accessories. Ive also recommended to my friend that she take a bit of the fabric she's using to make curtains and sew up a little drawstring bag. That way she can hang it off one of the hooks to hold any items that don't have a home, such as favourite broaches and hair clips.

The possibilities are endless...

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