Features
Come behind the scenes at The Beading Gem for a #CraftRoomTour and see Pearl's studios in Ontario, Canada.
This is the first time I have a dedicated studio for jewelry making and crafts. All my favorite and heavily used tools and supplies are in one place and within easy reach - chairs with wheels also help. I have more than one work areas - my main work desk as well as a nearby photography set up for taking pictures of my work and step by step tutorials.
Tell us about your space
The IKEA open cubic shelf, bookcase and desk system I use occupies much of my studio. It not only looks good but is practical as well for storage and for working on.
The studio itself is actually not a room but a large but quiet foyer in my basement. There is not much through traffic except for anyone who needs to go to the main workshop where there are larger tools available. Being next to the workshop is most convenient! I make jewelry most of the time but occasionally craft.
This studio lacks natural light so I make sure I have not just plenty of overhead lights but also angle poise lamps for task lighting.
What have you done to make your space cosy, beautiful or inspiring?
I refurbished a second hand folding wooden screen with fabric which compliments the green ceramic tile floor and cheerful yellow walls. This hides the under stairs storage area and makes my space more cozy.
My mother's framed beaded cross stitch embroidery pictures hang on the wall over my photography area. She passed on the crafting genes to me so her work is always beautiful and inspiring to me.
I also like to listen to music or watch documentaries on my iPad when I am working. There is a old DVD player on top of my bookcase so I can listen to my favorite music.
How do you keep organized?
This is the toughest challenge as I often have several projects on the go. So I keep components for ongoing projects and even future ideas in small open containers within easy reach. These are placed mostly on top of the main open cubic shelf system.
I try and tidy up after each crafting session so the work space does not get overwhelmed. In many ways, I am glad I have a basement studio as I can just shut the door if things are too hectic and I haven't time to tidy up!
Any tips & tricks for organising supplies?
I like to keep much of my supplies in translucent and inexpensive plastic boxes. These allow me to see what is inside without having to open them. I keep beads organized by size and by color. I also like using compartmentalized storage boxes for smaller components. Larger boxes hold either supplies of the same kind - like leather or wire. I make sure my most used jewelry making tools are within reach and on my main desk.
Which are your favourite possessions and are there any of your own creations on display?
My tools are my favorite possessions as these allow me to create jewelry.
I do not keep my creations on display due to the tarnishing issue. I store designs in zip lock bags and then in labeled metal storage boxes. You could say my creations are on display online on my blog!
How do you organise your inspiration and ideas?
I do have project boxes as mentioned above. As well as a bookcase full of books. But a lot of my ideas and inspirations are filed either on my computer or online. I am a dedicated pinner on Pinterest.
Where do you look for inspiration?
My inspiration comes from many sources. Nature is a favorite especially flowers and butterflies. I like to "play" with my components - moving them around and mixing and matching.
Occasionally, my ideas come when I am faced with limited component choices - I once turned a toggle clasp set into a wired pendant! Sometimes inspiration strikes when I have to solve a problem. For example, when I tried the wire and nail polish enamel flower idea I kept seeing on Youtube, I came up with embedding them in resin to make the creations durable.
The oft used saying "thinking outside the box" also works for me. Rather than repeat a tree of life wire wrapped pendant, I used the same approach for making a vase of flowers instead.
If you had three wishes, what would you do to make it the dream space?
Definitely a space with windows and natural light. A sink for washing up. A bigger space so I could have my sewing machine table and a cutting table in the same room!
Whose craft room would you love to explore? Send us a message!
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