Introduction - Pick a Place
Introduction - Pick a Place
When I have a lot going on, and I usually do, I have a constant battle with the clutter bug to deal with, especially when it comes to my jewelry work. At various points in my life, I've had jewelry making supplies in just about every room in the house, including the bathroom. Sometimes situations may require us to spread out a little, but eventually I realized it was time for me to try to consolidate my supplies and work space so I wasn't so figuratively and literally scattered.
Organization takes time, but eventually, it saves time because you aren't constantly trying to locate a particular tool or material you need.
The first tip for getting organized is to pick one spot in your home that will be the primary work space for your jewelry designing. I realize this is difficult because space is limited in most homes, but if there is any way you can even find a corner of a room that you can claim, do it. I can't help but think of Virginia Woolf's famous work A Room of One's Own when I think about this issue. Basically, she claims that one of the most important elements to being a successful artist is having a place to be creative. If you are serious about jewelry making, even seriously as a hobby versus a business, then you need to allow yourself a space to create.
I'm very lucky that I have a bedroom to use for this. It's a combination office and studio space now because I have my computer and other equipment in there. Next to my computer area, I have a workbench that used to be a computer desk as well. The keyboard drawer is perfect for storing beading trays when I'm not working, keeping them protected from my office assistants' little paws.
There's also another drawer for tools like scissors and hammers.
Keep Jewelry Tools Within Reach
Speaking of tools, one issue I have had to deal with is constantly trying to find my tools. If I'm scattered all over the house working, that means that the tools I use the most are also scattered. I finally got this inexpensive tool caddy. While these aren't all my hand tools, these are the ones I use the most. I keep them up and out of the way when I'm not working or when I don't need them, and then when I do need them, I can just position the caddy directly in front of me.
Not having to run around and find a pair of pliers when I'm in the middle of working saves me a lot of time.
Use Clear Cabinets for Storage
I love these cabinets with the clear drawers for storing small items like beads and findings. The one pictured also has some larger drawers where I can store chain by the inch, charms, and other components that I need just a little more room for.
You can find these in most hardware stores or in the hardware section of discount stores, and very often they are put on sale. Though the drawers are clear, you can also add labels to identify the contents.
I have five of these, and have them arranged at the back of my work bench, some stacked on top of each other. Each is arranged by type of supplies: crystals, gemstones, seed beads, pearls, and findings.
Storing Larger Jewelry Supplies
For jewelry supplies like fibers, rolls of stringing media, large strands of beads, and wire, I like using a book case filled with clear plastic boxes. I got these for a dollar each at a local home improvement store. I put a label on each one so I can locate items quickly.
Another way to store temporarily strung beads is to use a bulletin board. You can hang it over your work bench, add tacks to the board, and hang the bead strands off of the tacks.
Just be careful not to overload the tacks or board with super heavy beads.
Now, sometimes I admit that you need to be able to mobilize your jewelry work. For example, I like to work with metal clay, but I share my office with my cats. Animal fur and metal clay are not a good combination, so I normally do most of the work on metal clay in my bathroom. I can close the door and keep them out. When I have items that need to dry, I put them in a drawer I have in the bathroom vanity.
However, I don't like having my metal clay in there all the time. In fact, it's a guest bathroom, so the few times we do have guests, it's a pain to have to totally clear it out of my supplies, so I found a compromise. I keep items like my torch and hot pot under the bathroom vanity when I'm not using them. Plus, I have a large cart with wheels that I store metal clay supplies like the tools, fine silver wire and findings, and of course, packets of clay.
This way when I'm working I can roll the cart in there, and when I'm finished, I just stuff all my gear back in the cart and roll it back into my studio.
My organizational efforts continue to be a work in progress, and I don't imagine that I will ever be completely finished with it. I still have a mess in my garage that I haven't even begun to touch. I do work out there, but I do so among a mess of tools and supplies. The garage is full of items I do not want to bring into the house such as fused glass supplies, a kiln, and soldering supplies and equipment.
Sometimes I get work accomplished out there, and sometimes I just shake my head and turn around in fear of what it will mean to try to work out there, a war zone of wire, anvils, hammers, and torches.
Therefore, my last tip is not to feel like you have to get organized in one day. Work on it when you can, but remember that you can probably organize forever. Combine your organizational efforts with your creative efforts, and don't make yourself so crazy that you end up working more at getting organized and less at actually making jewelry.
When I have a lot going on, and I usually do, I have a constant battle with the clutter bug to deal with, especially when it comes to my jewelry work. At various points in my life, I've had jewelry making supplies in just about every room in the house, including the bathroom. Sometimes situations may require us to spread out a little, but eventually I realized it was time for me to try to consolidate my supplies and work space so I wasn't so figuratively and literally scattered.
Organization takes time, but eventually, it saves time because you aren't constantly trying to locate a particular tool or material you need.
The first tip for getting organized is to pick one spot in your home that will be the primary work space for your jewelry designing. I realize this is difficult because space is limited in most homes, but if there is any way you can even find a corner of a room that you can claim, do it. I can't help but think of Virginia Woolf's famous work A Room of One's Own when I think about this issue. Basically, she claims that one of the most important elements to being a successful artist is having a place to be creative. If you are serious about jewelry making, even seriously as a hobby versus a business, then you need to allow yourself a space to create.
I'm very lucky that I have a bedroom to use for this. It's a combination office and studio space now because I have my computer and other equipment in there. Next to my computer area, I have a workbench that used to be a computer desk as well. The keyboard drawer is perfect for storing beading trays when I'm not working, keeping them protected from my office assistants' little paws.
There's also another drawer for tools like scissors and hammers.
Keep Jewelry Tools Within Reach
Speaking of tools, one issue I have had to deal with is constantly trying to find my tools. If I'm scattered all over the house working, that means that the tools I use the most are also scattered. I finally got this inexpensive tool caddy. While these aren't all my hand tools, these are the ones I use the most. I keep them up and out of the way when I'm not working or when I don't need them, and then when I do need them, I can just position the caddy directly in front of me.
Not having to run around and find a pair of pliers when I'm in the middle of working saves me a lot of time.
Use Clear Cabinets for Storage
I love these cabinets with the clear drawers for storing small items like beads and findings. The one pictured also has some larger drawers where I can store chain by the inch, charms, and other components that I need just a little more room for.
You can find these in most hardware stores or in the hardware section of discount stores, and very often they are put on sale. Though the drawers are clear, you can also add labels to identify the contents.
I have five of these, and have them arranged at the back of my work bench, some stacked on top of each other. Each is arranged by type of supplies: crystals, gemstones, seed beads, pearls, and findings.
Storing Larger Jewelry Supplies
For jewelry supplies like fibers, rolls of stringing media, large strands of beads, and wire, I like using a book case filled with clear plastic boxes. I got these for a dollar each at a local home improvement store. I put a label on each one so I can locate items quickly.
Another way to store temporarily strung beads is to use a bulletin board. You can hang it over your work bench, add tacks to the board, and hang the bead strands off of the tacks.
Just be careful not to overload the tacks or board with super heavy beads.
Now, sometimes I admit that you need to be able to mobilize your jewelry work. For example, I like to work with metal clay, but I share my office with my cats. Animal fur and metal clay are not a good combination, so I normally do most of the work on metal clay in my bathroom. I can close the door and keep them out. When I have items that need to dry, I put them in a drawer I have in the bathroom vanity.
However, I don't like having my metal clay in there all the time. In fact, it's a guest bathroom, so the few times we do have guests, it's a pain to have to totally clear it out of my supplies, so I found a compromise. I keep items like my torch and hot pot under the bathroom vanity when I'm not using them. Plus, I have a large cart with wheels that I store metal clay supplies like the tools, fine silver wire and findings, and of course, packets of clay.
This way when I'm working I can roll the cart in there, and when I'm finished, I just stuff all my gear back in the cart and roll it back into my studio.
My organizational efforts continue to be a work in progress, and I don't imagine that I will ever be completely finished with it. I still have a mess in my garage that I haven't even begun to touch. I do work out there, but I do so among a mess of tools and supplies. The garage is full of items I do not want to bring into the house such as fused glass supplies, a kiln, and soldering supplies and equipment.
Sometimes I get work accomplished out there, and sometimes I just shake my head and turn around in fear of what it will mean to try to work out there, a war zone of wire, anvils, hammers, and torches.
Therefore, my last tip is not to feel like you have to get organized in one day. Work on it when you can, but remember that you can probably organize forever. Combine your organizational efforts with your creative efforts, and don't make yourself so crazy that you end up working more at getting organized and less at actually making jewelry.
