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Gems From Dixon

If you haven't visited the Dixon Gallery anddepends on sponsors and membership. Dixon
Gardens gift shop in a few years, you mightmembers  get  a  10  percent  discount.
not recognize the place. It's aglow with
beguiling jewelry ranging from inexpensiveRobertson has an M.A. in crafts from the
baubles to items intricately handcrafted inUniversity of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she
precious  metals.studied metalsmithing, enameling, pottery,
silk screening and weaving. She also worked
When store manager and jewelry buyer Nancyfor many years in fine jewelry at Marshall
Robertson took her post there almost fourFields  in  Chicago.
years ago, the shop focused on things such as
Monet mugs and magnets and art prints that"The knowledge of how these jewelry items are
were  not  big  sellers  with  local  folks.made has really helped me be more discerning
in making quality choices," she said. She and
"My vision was that (we) could do a lotother sales people at the store enjoy
better if we focused on craft items such aseducating customers about the pieces of
pottery, woven textiles, beaded purses andjewelry.
jewelry that would support craftsmen and
artists in their own right," she said. ItemsSome seem to demand it. Cynthia Bloom's
still relate to the Dixon through theiralluring dragonfly necklace, $186, for
artistry and nature-related themes or byexample, is a hand-painted glass button
reflecting  current  exhibits.embellished with 14-karat gold, kiln fired,
and adorned with rare, antique, 24-karat
As she saw what sold, Robertson -- little bygold-lined, antique Czech glass beads and
little -- expanded jewelry lines until sheSwarovski  crystals.
had tripled the merchandise. Jewelry is now
their best-selling category. Shop sales haveMore whimsical are earrings and necklaces by
more  than  doubled.Ayala Bar pieced together from printed
fabrics,  beads,  stones  and  crystals.
"A lot of people look to us for jewelry they
haven't seen anywhere else that has aSome items are purely for fun: Stretch
high-end look without being super high end,"bracelets of transparent disks in smoke and
she  said.bronze are only $12 each but will wonderfully
complement  fall's  trendiest  color -- gray.
She purchased fine jewelry pieces that sell
for $300 or $400, but also addedEleanor Scott, a Memphian and former art
fashion-forward items from $6 to $30. Evendirector of the Memphis Jewish Community
those are usually handcrafted withCenter, said she and her daughter shop often
considerable  skill.at the Dixon to find unusual gifts for
friends.
"It's a lot of fun to spend $10 on a jewelry
that everyone in the office admires," she"We've found fabulous stuff for Christmas
said.gifts. We've bought a lot of amber jewelry,
all kinds of earring and brooches." She said
And shopping at the Dixon is relatively guiltshe could take things directly from the store
free because all profits support the Memphisto the recipient because items are
landmark, a private jewelry museum thatattractively packaged in bags or boxes.



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