Studio Layout & Winner Announcement

Carol Dekle-Foss

First of all, thank you so much to all who participated in my giveaway. Your comments and feedback are greatly appreciated! The winner announcement is at the bottom of this post. 

First, I thought I would share with you my studio layout.

I dream one day of having a cottage style studio with little flower pots flanking double french doors, skylights for ample lighting and built-in cabinets galore. To be honest though, I am very grateful for the studio I have now. I never thought I would be able to pull off working from home and living an artistic life. I feel very blessed when I have the opportunity to spend time creating here.

My studio is set up in sections or stations used for different activities. 

I spend most of my time in front of this hand-built workbench, which is the heart of the studio. I did a post here about building it with my husband. Also, here are the instructions if you would like to build one yourself. I am currently in a creative dry spell, so the top of my workbench is clean and patiently waiting my return.

The top center drawer is my favorite because the tools I use most are right at my fingertips.

The three center drawers house things like chain, wire and metal scraps

These drawers are usually left open while I'm working. Each drawer holds 96 favor tins from Michaels. It took me quite awhile to amass them all. I would use their 40% off coupon each time I bought a can of tins. It amazes me how one can have so many beads but never find the right one needed for a project. It might be time for a destash soon!

Right behind the workbench is my pathetic solder station, cleaning area and a belt sander. No sink here. That will be a must for my dream studio. 

Another workbench is used for my rolling mill, metal sheer and 2 flex shafts. I have my foot pedals elevated because, well, I am short and it's more comfortable that way. I know, it's weird.

A massage chair is an absolute must in a studio! My stump doubles as an ottoman.

The other side of the studio has storage, clay work area and sandblasting equipment. On the corner of the workbench, barely visible, you can see my metal saw area. It's the perfect height for sawing. One day I wold love to have a metalsmith workbench. I girl's gotta dream right?

So how do you organize your work area? Do you have different section or stations? How do you store your tools and beads? What has most benefited you in the studio as far as organization and placement?

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

Aaand the winner is....Strega Jewellry! Congratulations! I will send you a message on Facebook for your mailing information.

 Thank you to all of those who left valuable feedback. I have yet to discover a buyable pin and decided against using promoted pins, for now anyways.

Show Prep and Accepting my Limitations

by Staci Louise Smith

Show time has finally rolled around again.  

I think I almost always go into a show feeling somewhat unprepared.  I have notebooks of things I want to have made for each new show, and rarely get to finish them all.  Though I must say, I usually come pretty close.  People often say to me, "I don't know how you do it all, three kids and a business."  

My answer every time is, "I don't."  

Something is always not done.  I live with a half finished list, piles of laundry and dog hair filled floors.  I have projects that get back burner-ed in the studio all the time.

This year, I have had two extra months of no shows to prepare, and somehow, I am still not prepared for this show.  Life just keeps telling me, get out of the studio.  It seems to be one thing after another this year.  So, I am finally trying to listen.  I have been taking more time to rest, and to be with family.  I really burned myself out last year trying to do it all.

As a result, my list is not going to get done.  And though a small part of me is crying inside, dying to make all these new things in my head, the rest of me is actually ok with it.  

It is what it is.  My well being comes first, family comes first.  

I mean, it takes a month for me just to make all the components so that I can assemble jewelry.  A full component tray, with clasps and ear wires is a GREAT feeling.  It means I am almost ready to sit down and assemble things.  

(I also tried my hand at making large wire balls for beads- I love them and they will go so well with my style!)

I did get a bunch of new earrings made, which felt REALLY good.  

I also got a half day in the studio (after lunch and into the night with dinner and family time in between) to torch some metal and hammer things and make these rocking bangle bracelets.  I just love them.  Bracelets are never my strong point, so I tend to go with something different, like my leather cuffs, ect.  I have been itching to make bangles, and man, I am loving it.  Thanks to Maryanne, Karen for sharing different bangle techniques and getting my creative juices flowing. I am late to the bangle party!!!

(links to some great bangle posts)

http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2014/06/twist-it-sister-by-karen-mcgovern.html

http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2014/12/how-to-make-copper-bangle.html

http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-to-make-wire-bangles.html

and Patti's bangles have been very inspiring to me:

http://myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-addictionskinda-sums-it-up.html

Bangles before finishing:

Bangles after fnishing

So, here is a little video mid-bangle production.  Messy studio, tools everywhere.....and I love it.  

(I am cranking some Cat Stevens, so you may want to turn down the volume.  I like to listen to Peace Train while I beat up metal....lol)

If you are local, my show is in Bethlehem PA this weekend.  Here is a link to the show info.  It is a beautiful town with lots of wonderful places to eat and shop and get a drink.  The show is full of wonderful artisans and artists as well.  I hope you can stop by!

http://bfac-lv.org/downtown-bethlehem-fine-art-and-craft-show/

The Annual End of the Year Studio Clean Out

by Staci L. Smith

During show season, which runs from about March till October, I don't get much else done. Three kids and shows, leaves me in constant emergency mode, just doing the basics. So since the end of October I have been cleaning up and destashing my house.

I cleaned my studio last year pretty good as well. It's amazing how much stuff just gets thrown in corners after shows, ect..... I am thankful I cleaned it last year as well, cause it was bad.........real bad.

These pics were actually taken after I'd started cleaning....so they are kinda mid clean, with an entire layer of stuff removed. Like the bead bin with the glass top? Thats my misc bead box....it used to be about 9 bowls stacked in all corners of my table, no lie. So I put away the bigger beads and such and the rest went into the mix bin. I love a good mix bin though, often it inspires me to see all the colors and textures together- silver lining to the mess.

I started trays to sort things, half finished stuff, metal to re-work, beads to be completed, ect.....(some are waiting to be riveted to a backing, some need bezels re-attempted, some need to be added to their polymer centers, ect.....) I also began to hang up jewlery that can be put in the etsy shop at a markdown. The rest of the jewelry went either in a pile on my shelves (the part of the studio thats not done yet) or in the bargain bin. Because I plan to have an open house this year, just something informal, so you local friends can come and get some great bargains for gifts.

So I got some of my shelves cleaned up, sorted and destashed. These are looking much better- I have my bags and business cards and boxes on the top shelf, my magazine publication on the next one, polymer clay creating stuff and alcohol inks, empty trays, so I can start filling them with beads for the Berks Bead Bazaar, and on the very bottom is my show stuff that I won't put in the basement. Its my bead totes, checkout station, and my table cloths.

Then I cleaned out the cabinet where I keep my metal clay stuff, my stamps, and my things I don't want kids into- like denatured alcohol and liver of sulphur. Somehow, it had accumulated stuff in there, that just didn't belong. Its much better now.

I took some of the piles of papers from my table, many of them gifts from my kids, other pieces of art from fellow artists, and decorated a little bit.........................

That jewerly is the "mine" stash- and the "needs re-working" stash.

I also cleaned my patina / solder shelves

Those sit on my bead table between my bead area and solder area.

And here is the bead desk re-done............Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.

Cleaned out under it, on it, ect........still missing my favorite file though......hmmmmmm.

I still have to clean the big corner shelves from this picture.....but the floor over there is totally clear now, and some of it is looking better. That will be next week, as I have custom orders to finish up, and jewelry to get out to the gallery.....AND Christmas gifts to make. I love making Christmas gifts.

Ready for the new year! Are you?