Plastic Baggy They Came In?

Q: I got my bridesmaids all pearl necklaces (not to be worn at the wedding, just to have). Can anyone suggest a way to present them, besides the plastic baggy they came in? I was thinking some kind of jewelry box, maybe hand crafted. Any suggestions or sites to check out would be great.

A: -If you have an Asian shop in your area, you might be able to find small brocaded pouches in various colors to put the pearls in. The ones I'm talking about are about 3x4 inches, padded, and used to be available in Pier One. They are great for carrying jewelry in a purse when you fly somewhere. (Never put jewelry in your check-thru baggage--it is easy to steal or could get lost if the luggage is misdirected!) I think mine came from Hawaii when I bought coral beads. -can you sew? or someone else in the family? look at the bride accessories books & get an idea for a bag. 1/2yard of satin(makes several bags), silk cord, fancy lace with beading on it, sewn near the top, to pull the cord though(easier if you sew ONE side of lace doen they lay the cord next to it & sew the other side down,, instead of trying to thread the cord thru after its all sewn. . the books charge $20. + they cost only a few bucks to make. be sure to use FRENCH seams though for a finished look. and fold the top inside down

to the gather cord so its smooth finish on the inside. you could really get fancy with sewing on premade lace initials etc. ( make a template out of cardboard or paper bag for cutting each bag) inside we put tissues asperin(we finally found the packets at a staples store, for office supplies). one of the mini sewing kits(we are handing out at the reception), etc etc. it is large enough for any makeup etc. for the day. it only takes a few hours to make these up. after these were done, I MAY have done some other things different, like i saw some wonderful white brocade fabric I might have used instead of the satin,, but my daughter was pleased with the results.