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