Saturday, February 23, 2013

A Glimpse Into My Jewelry Studio - On a Clean Day

I love to see other peoples jewelry studios.  


OK THE ABOVE IS NOT MY SPACE!  
This is really designed for a scrapbooker but I can invision much of what is here in my jewelry studio.

The above is organization from the 


My reality is below

A girls gotta dream though.
Personally I think my reality is pretty great!  I get to do what I love everyday!




 I like to see how other people work. This comes from the fact that I am learning and have so much more to learn. So in the spirit of Paying it Forward I thought I would share my space in hopes that you could take something of it for the growth of your own studios.


I also like to see how people organize themselves.  Just a couple things on how I organize myself.

ACCESS

-  I have to have quick access to my beads.  I want to be surrounded by them.


Organized

- I like them to be organized by color, type, art beads, metal color etc.  That way if I know I am working on a teal piece of jewelry made with silver I can simply grap all my teal & silver beads and components.

- I like to be able to see through the containers.  Those plastic shelving sections with the little drawers I bought at Walmart for around $10.00 each.  You can stack them or even hang them on the wall.  I keep all my metal colors in them.  I try to keep my metal colors organized so these have headpins, eyepins, bead caps, chips, beads, charms and such all in the same color.

- I do use Craftmate locking beading storage also. I have those full of Czech Glass, Swarovski, Pearls and organized by color if possible so all I have to do it grab them. I have to admit though I have more Czech Glass than just those.  I have some overflow boxes under my desk!  LOL


- I have those Craftmate locking bins on a wooden shelving unit I bought from Scrap n Cube company...from my scrabooking days.  I also have them on a stool and metal paper shelves that I picked up at a garage sale.  I don't like them all stacked on each other as they are harder to get then.  I really hate stacking and unstacking but in a perfect beading world things will be stacked.   I buy the Craftmates at Joannes Fabric online when they go on sale.  On a good sale day you can get them for around $3.50.

-  I like to buy matching plastic tubs.  I think they stack better.  Not all of mine match but I bought a bulk supply amount at Costco.  I think you can get 10 for around $17.00 or so.  I keep all my gemstones by color in those, all of my fair trade beads, Greek Mykonos and any overflow I may have.

- See that big tub under my desk.  That is full of my made jewelry all on Easels and ready to package up for a show or if it sells get ready to ship.  I buy black easels  online at Nile Corp, you can get them fairly inexpensive if you buy in bulk...I think their shipping is a bit high but if you buy in bulk it will be worth it.  I usually try to keep all my earrings and bracelets that are on Etsy in separate bags so I can find them quickly.  Not all my jewelry is on Etsy and staying organized is important.


You will note every surface is stacked and racked!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ikea has come in handy for that.

-  This shelving unit has a bottom file drawer. The drawer in the middle I use for my Recovery Rosary - 12 Step Prayer Bead Supplies.  The top drawer I use for printer ink, paper clips office supply miscellaneous.   The open shelve I usually like to display my latest jewelry but it has turned into more storage!  

SURPRISE SURPRISE!


-  The stacked plastic shelves I keep many of my organic beads like wood, ceramic, nuts, seeds, cotton cording, ribbon, packaging frills etc.  I also store my made Recovery Rosaries in these.


- Well not organized really well are all my incidentals like receipts!!!!  That white box is my yearly file cabinet!!!!!!!!!!  Metal work material, dremel parts, patina, sealants, magazines and chain all seem to find a way over to this shelf!

PS

Note my superman husband on the top shelf!  He is a handsome one. If it weren't for him, I would still be working as a Critical Care RN.  I get to pursue my dreams because of him. Thanks honey!


- This is kind of my shipping center.  I keep all my cards, boxes, packaging tape, envelopes, washi tapes, scale, paper, Jewelry Mags,  etc here so it is organized and I have a little shelf area to weigh my packages and pretty them up.



-  I really like this idea a lot.  This shoe rack has all my recycled bubble wrap and any packaging material that I can use.  I bought one of these cheap shoe rack hangers that go over your door.  I think you could find some other applications for these in your studio also.  They are easy to find at thrift stores plus they are cheap.


WHAT CAN I SAY ABOUT A MESSY CLOSET THAT IS PACKED TO THE BRIM!!!!!


Office Center

I really like to keep my office center separate from my jewelry making area.....and like most jewelry artists sometimes it spills over.  This is where I post, do social media networking, photo edit, sometimes package, print, talk with my jewelry friends across the world.  
Those wooden shelves on my desk are from Ikea....... I love them!

THE FUTURE


This is a room in my basement that has been ripped up.  My hubby isn't so keen on me expanding but I really would love to get into making more of my own components. This involves more metal work, possibly enamel, lampwork etc....So my dream is to move that portion of my business down here.

FIRE and CARPET

Dont mix!

So here is a little glimpse in to my studio.  I couldn't tell you everything so if you have a question about my studio please feel free to ask.


The goal is to continue to make what I love, expand my knowledge and skill as a jewelry artist with hopes of more publications.





Pearl Diver was Published in Bead Trends January 2013 and is one of my signature designs that you can find in my shop made with Czech Glass and or Faux Pearls.



and 



43 comments:

  1. Very nice use of space. I love the piece you have in the magazine. Congrats! xo, Aimee

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  2. New follower :) I just love your studio!! Your designs are beautiful and you are beautiful in and out!

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  3. Thank you for allowing us a glimpse into your world!

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    1. I love to see how other people work and organize. Just sharing my little ways.

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  4. Wow, what great organization. You would laugh if you saw my ...ahem...system. I have to maintain two studios though. One in AZ and one in AK so it really gets confusing! But luckily I have lots of space to spread out in at one of my places.

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  5. Thank you for showing us your studio! I got a lot of great ideas from seeing how you organize. PS I am a surgery nurse, dreaming of the day when I can let go of that job...

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    1. Hey I used to be a Critical Care Nurse. Dont do that anymore. I am fortunate as my husband is the bread winner and I get to stay home with the kids and run my glorified hobby as he would call it.

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  6. Just love this post Kristin! It's given me ideas, ideas, ideas...

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  7. Loved this post Kristin! Always inspiring to see other artist's studio. Now mine looks like a disaster struck...lol

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  8. Lovely work ! Will you follow me back? Saw you on Bead chat

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  9. It is so fascinating and inspiring to look through other's studios. Thank you so much for sharing your awesome and organized work space!

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  10. Thanks for sharing. This was fun.
    Wow! I'm jealous that you get a whole room. Our family space means I get most of a closet... I hope one day to expand into a room. I have started making my own components, but it is hard when I have to set everything up on the dining room table, and then put it away for us to eat every night.

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    1. I can relate to the closet designing....that is so disruptive to the family life!!!!

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  11. Wow! I can only dream of being as organized as you! LOL! I admit my beads are all very organized by color, then shape, then material. They are stored in 60-drawer storage units I purchased at the Hardware store. Next - I need to organize my glass rods. For now - they are all in a single drawer. Ugh.

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  12. Oh sweetie, I just love seeing your work area! And I will NOT be jealous that you have a room..sob, all for jewelry!!! I am thrilled that I have a corner of my schoolroom, and I know that my homeschool days will be over all too quickly, and then the entire room will be...BEADY!
    Ok, quick question. The small wooden shelving unit over by your desk area, where did you get that? It's behind the computer in the picture, and maybe another one behind a coffee cup?
    And yes, I am blessed with a wonderful hubs who pays the bills so I can be at home with our kids, and play with beads. :)

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    1. That is from Ikea. So sorry for my late response as I was getting spammed and turned on my moderate comments and them guess what. I FORGOT TO MODERATE!!!!!!! I am so behind in my responses.

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  13. I love seeing studios! And yours is very organized with everything right at your fingertips. I agree you need the basement studio! When I enamel, I set up on the dining room table. I hate having the mess out. And congratulations on your necklace in Bead Trends. That's exciting!

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    1. I just got enamel supplies. I haven't started that yet. I read that it can be caustic so I didn't want to do that in my kitchen. Thanks for stopping in!!!

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  14. Fantastic post Kristin! I just adore seeing where people create. My spaces are various stolen corners in addition to half a bedroom. Almost none of the storage is how I would choose, but I do my best Tim Gunn and "make it work". So I love how you started with that aspirational photo, but I'm short, so it really wouldn't work, but sure looks pretty slick

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  15. Congrats on being published in Bead Trends! And for having a very tidy studio! :)

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  16. Nice work, when I saw the clean studio, I thought, that can't really be a working studio, mine is not bad now, but it was. My blog is renaissance-jewelry.blogspot.com. I'll be putting up some pictures of my studio, before and after. It was so bad I couldn't make jewelry!!

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  17. Love the space, the organization and the thought of working in there with you :)
    Following your blog, not sure why I was not already following!

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    1. Thanks Marie, so many people to follow when you have 100's of beading friends.

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  18. I am seriously amazed awed and inspired by your studio! Currently, I have a 6x9 foot space in the computer room that faces the tv! i have a jewelers bench like yours and I have a 6 foot foldable table. I don't have nearly the inventory you do but I do have a lot! We have a bedroom that is not being used anymore and that is going to be my new bead room. I will come back and look at this several times to see how you did things and so on. I love your space. I will not be able to do any real remodleing yet so it is just going to be cleaned out and then my stuff put in but that will be a lot better than what I have now! Thank you so much for sharing!!! Have a great and Blessed week!

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    1. Happy to answer questions on anything when you get set up. Have fun!!!!!!

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  19. How fun. I love that you shared your space with everybody. I'm inspired to post a studio blog soon. I love how organized you are and how you have little areas for each division of labor. Lovely!

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    1. Thanks Gaia, I would love to see your studio!!!!!!

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  20. Oh my, oh my! I have complete studio envy! AND you are making even more space? That last necklace is uterly stunning! WOW!

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  21. Thanks for sharin' your studio! Love. I love the pic of you holding Bead Trends. I can't help but thiNK what tattoo dude is thinking standing there looking over your shoulder. LOL i

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  22. Kristin,
    I received my bead trends magazine last week and was blown away by your talent...It has been so fun looking into your private work room and reading a little bit about you. Thank you for sharing :)I design jewelry in Northern Michigan and feel like we have a ton in common! Maybe some day we will meet...maybe at Jeff's store or Tuscon!! :) judy boyer

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    1. That would be fun. I have a few people I have met through my facebook groups. Thanks for your nice comments. I am so late in responding to people forgot to moderate my comments...dugh!!!!!! Catching up today. Judith you can find me on Facebook. I would love to follow you back. http://www.facebook.com/YaYJewelry

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  23. Wow, your jewelry studio looks almost identical to mine, except you have more space and storage. I mean, I have the same tables laid out the same way, the same organizer drawers on there, and even the exact same Dremel and press. I even have the plastic totes under there. This is so cool. And I have to tell you, I love your work. You make truly beautiful pieces!

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  24. Was reading your post about your new studio and popped over to look at this one! It's fun taking a tour through time of your studios! This looks great!

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