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/

Surrounding Myself

by Staci L. Smith

I was scanning in old pictures for Throw Back Thursdays on Facebook (a fun little tradition where you put up old photos- a fun, and sometimes funny way to get to know your online friends better).  Anyhow, I came upon this one of me and my good friend Micah in my room- I think we were seniors.  

Micah and I in my room- high school- with all my art

Yes, he was a goofball, I adored him for that.  But what caught my eye, was my room.  I had my high school art all over my walls.  I surrounded myself with my art.  I had almost forgotten about that, and about the art that I was so proud of!

Growing up, my mom was all about decorating.  Though I loved hanging up my artwork and posters as a teen / young adult, once I owned my own home, it was quite boring.  I went right into mommy mode and never really gave decorating a thought.  I was / am certainly not a decorator at heart.

However, this last year, since I painted my studio floor, I have suddenly had the strong desire to put art everywhere.  

my handpainted studio floor, a year later, holding up well

The first place I decorated was my studio.  I hung art on the walls that I had purchased or traded for, or that was gifts from other artists.  

 folk art moon painting by me

 sugar skull calendar from my best friend

art by Ward Van Haute, Batikwalla, Sioux Wright, Genea Crivello-Knable, me a couple of etsy artists that are totally escaping me right now

I loved walking into my studio.  It made me feel inspired every time I walked in.

So I collected more great stuff, and just had nowhere to put it, or never felt like re-arranging to make it work.  Once I made the decision though, it rolled right along and now I can't seem to stop.

First I did my living room wall, and bought an accent rug.  

Art by Elise Mahan, Civilian Art, Jude Harzer, Sioux Wright, Collin Smith, Linda Hanes, me, and some other artists as well

That heart is by my 7 year old son, Collin, the others are by Elise Mahan on etsy, LOVE her prints.

Then I added art to my hallway, some by me, some by my kids.  I loved that they all had pieces of art in the art show this year.  So I framed them!

 The three on the far right bottom are the kids art from the show

 Aiden Smith Watercolor age 12

Collin Smith- Winter Tree- Age 7

Julia Smith- Pop Art- Age 9

Then, a gallery closed that I had my jewelry in, and I now had my display cabinet at home.  So I was thrilled to have a place to showcase the polymer art of Mary-Lynne Moffat.  A local artist whose work really speaks to me.

 Monsters by Mary-Lynne Moffat

 Gourd from art show, recycled wine bottle topper by my brother- Rich Klinger

 Mermaid by Mary-Lynne with shells and box by me

Votive holders by my kids

I put art everywhere I could.  Over the TV, at the end of the hallway.....

 painting by me

 sign was a surprise gift from a sweet friend!!!

Triple Hare tile by Jenny Davies-Reazor

The result:  I am inspired.  Everyday.  I love being surrounded by beautiful things.  I love the variety, I love that people I admire and love made a lot of it.  Being surrounded by art just plain makes me happy.  

Do you find that what you surround yourself with inspires you?

Storage Wars

by Staci Louise Smith

Storage has always been a problem for me, especially in the realm of art supplies and beads.  Over time, the problem has only grown (due to my ever growing collection of supplies- due to my ever growing desire to learn and take on more and more mediums).

Although the pictures may make it look big, my studio is quite cozy.  I can sit at my desk on one wall and reach onto the work bench on the opposite wall.  So efficiency is a must.

When the hubs and I re-did the studio last year, we ripped out the carpet (and I painted my floor- best decision ever) and he built me workbench's I didn't have much $$ to invest into furniture. (below are pictures of the studio after we totally re-did it.  my hubs built the workbenches and I painted the floor).

below is the corner that got the new drawers- the end of my bench here had files and papers and junk all over it- the drawers gave me back the bench)

So I got the plastic drawers from Walmart (the rainbow ones, and the white ones) and went a long my merry way.  Downside, they are flimsy, and the drawers are deep on the white one, which I don't need.  The other one is just tooo flimsy and the drawers don't even stay in the racks. 

These were the ones I replaced

We did build the workbenches so that they were high, this way I could work standing, and I could store beads underneath of it.  At that time, I did invest in these bead cabinets on wheels.  (ripping up the carpet served a couple purposes as well.  1.  I was ruining it anyway 2.  I could now store things on wheels, and wheel them out as I need them...and wheel around in my chair as well)

bead cabinets under the workbench

This winter I started to pull out my old art supplies, and get into painting and mixed media a little bit more.  Then I bought more supplies, and paper, and canvas's.....and once again, I needed more space.  I don't have pics of how cluttered it was.  Let me just tell you, I could barely see that floor.

Thank goodness for Ikea and the Alex collection.  The Alex collection is perfect for arts and crafts rooms and studios.  The drawers are shallow but deep (reach far back) so there is plenty of space, and you can see what is in it at a glance. 

I got two of them, and can't be happier with them.  I was very surprised at how easy they were to assemble, and how sturdy they are.  I marveled at the sheer genius of Ikea- the people who design this furniture, like a puzzle, from the assembly to the packaging.....its pretty cool.

So I organized and cleaned and purged.  The nature of these pieces allowed me to re-arrange many things, and unclutter a bunch of area's.  

These aren't the best pics, but here is the corner that had the rainbow drawers, all re-done.

I not only fit everything from the drawers in there, but I also fit all my spare cards, bags and show supplies that were on a shelf before, and I fit office papers, reciepts and income stuff that used to just pile on my desk.  PLUS- i was able to move the magazines and files from the workbench to the top of the drawers.  

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh......that feels so good.  I hate cleaning, but I do love organizing (once in a blue moon).

My beading desk got a tall Alex dresser next to it, and instead of having all my tools on my desk, they fit nicely into the drawers next to it, in perfect grabbing reach.  I was able to not only transfer everything from the plastic white shelves, but I fit all my wire and tools!  Look at all that space!

Now I am ready.  I have a couple really big projects to complete this week /weekend......and then its playtime again.  Nothing like a clean studio to make you want to work!

Here is the link to the Alex collection on the Ikea website.  (I get no money from them to promote it or anything, I just love them)

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/search/?query=ALEX

No more storage wars in my studio, at least for the rest of this year.