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Gems from Dixon

If you have not visited the Dixon Gallery and Gardens gift shop in a few years ago, you could not recognize. It is red with beguiling jewelry ranging from inexpensive trinkets to elements artfully crafted with precious metals.

As a branch manager and jewelry buyer Nancy Robertson took her post there almost four years, the shop focused on things such as Monet mugs and magnets and posters that are not big sellers with local people.

"My vision was that (We) could do much better if we focused on craft items such as ceramics, woven textiles, pearl jewelry, purses and craftsmen and artists support in their own right would, "she said. Items remain the Dixon through their artistry and nature themes, or by reflection on current exhibitions.

When she saw what is sold, Robertson – little by little – expanded jewelry lines until they had the goods tripled. Jewelry is now their best-selling category. Shop sales more than doubled.

"A lot of people are looking for jewelry they have nowhere else seen that a high-end look without the super high-end," she said.

She bought fine jewelry pieces that sell for $ 300 or $ 400, but also added fashion-forward tag of $ 6 to $ 30. Even those who are usually handmade with great skill.

"There's a lot of fun to $ 10 to spend on a jewelry that each admired in the office," she said.

And shopping at the Dixon relatively guilt free because all profits support the Memphis landmark, a private museum that depends on jewelry, sponsors and membership. Dixon, Members receive a 10 percent discount.

Robertson has an MA in crafts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she studied metal design, enameling, pottery, screen printing and weaving. She also worked for many years in fine jewelry at Marshall Fields in Chicago.

"The knowledge of how these pieces of jewelry has made me really helped to make quality decisions are more challenging, "she said. you and other sales people in the store to enjoy education customers about the jewels.

Some of them seem to require. Cynthia Bloom's alluring dragonfly necklace, $ 186, for example, is a hand-painted glass button with 14-karat gold, burned embellished and decorated with rare antique 24-carat gold lined, antique Czech glass beads and Swarovski crystals.

More whimsical is Earrings and Necklaces by Ayala Bar composed of printed fabrics, beads, stones and crystals composed.

Some items are purely for fun: Stretch Bracelets transparent disks in smoke and bronze are only $ 12 per but wonderfully complement fall's hottest color – gray.

Eleanor Scott, Memphian and former Artistic Director of the Memphis Jewish Community Center, said she and her daughter shop often found to Dixon to unusual gifts for friends.

"We have fantastic things for Christmas gifts found. We bought a lot of amber jewelry, all kinds of earrings and brooches. "She said she could make things directly from the The receiver's memory, because terms are attractively packaged in bags or cartons.

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