Quick solutions...

Sometimes innovation is due to necessity. I found that the shelf that I had over at Indigo Coffee and Tea was a little smaller than I expected, and the location was not amenable to the earrings that I was hoping to display. So, with a little bit of sawing, drilling, and glueing, there is now a sweet little earring tree placed on the countertop over at the coffeehouse ready for their opening day on Monday, April 2.

And if you want to build a quick earring tree for foldover earring cards, just pick up a couple of things at the hardware or sundries store (or root through your existing supplies): two wood screws, some 1 x 1 square wood (I used a foot length), 3 foot dowels about a quarter inch in diameter (I made 6 branches about 8 inches long each from 2 dowels with leftovers), a wooden plaque (I added a photo frame around the plaque) to use as the base, wood glue, and some cork (or felt). You'll need a drill and a drill bit suitable for a pilot hole for your wood screws and one that's the same size as your dowel, and some kind of saw to make 90-degree cuts. First mark you foot-long 1-inch stock 1 inch, 3 inches, and 5 inches from the top (centered to the 1-inch width), and then rotate the stock a quarter turn and mark at 2 inches, 4 inches, and 6 inches from the top. Drill holes the size of your dowels straight through each of the marked locations on the face of the stock where you marked. Use a saw to create either 6 equal dowel lengths (8 inches) or 2 each of 3 graduated lengths (8, 10, and 12 inches), or be even more creative with 6 different graduated lengths (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 inches). Begin assembling the tree by inserting each of your branches through the drilled holes (adding a touch of wood glue to the drilled hole before inserting the dowel or to the dowel itself before positioning it in it's final location). Flip the trunk of your tree upside down and drill pilot holes for 2 screws in the what will be the base. Drill the same configuration of holes in your wooden plaque base. Screw both screws flush or countersunk from the bottom of the plaque base through and into the tree trunk base. Two screws will help prevent rotation... Glue cork or felt to the bottom side of your plaque base, allow the glue to dry, and you've got a lovely jewelry tree!

Of course, I shoulda taken a photograph of the tree, but I need to build a couple more, so as soon as they're built, I'll add photos here!