July 29, 2009

Studio Tour - How & Why

Welcome to the Humblebeads Studio Tour and Open House

I'm organizationally challenged, to say the least. Creativity and chaos go hand-in-hand in my world. But after a month of my grandmother's tidy little home and one too many episodes of Clean House, I decided I was done with my foolishness and needed to get organized and clean out my studio. A herculean feat to be sure!
I started with one box and one bag. (The box for garage sale items, the bag for trash.) I just jumped in, cleaning off my shelves first so that I would have a place to put things. I would work on one section at a time. The more I did, the easier the task became. It's easier to clean when you have a place to put things.

My studio is a large room in my house, this is my office, sanctuary and occasionally ground zero. A space to create, where you don't have to clean up a project and drag it out the next day, saves a lot of time. But that may also be my downfall, it's so easy to shut the door and run to the front of the house when I'm tired of the mess!

Click on the photos to see the notes.
My room is arranged in 7 stations: storage, clay table, beads/bead table, work table, computer desk, library and Jesse's corner. With each area stuffed with it's own supplies and tools as needed.

It's a work in progress! I'm in need of some real tables. Right now I work on folding tables, they serve a purpose but I think I could find something a little more stylish at Ikea. But this was my Clean House version, not the Design on a Dime episode!
I have more to share. The nooks and crannies if you will.

Right now I have my first prize to giveaway. It's this awesome pair of earrings inspired by the book 101 Wire Earrings and a matching lentil bead.



So how do you win them? Blog, twitter or facebook about my studio tour. After you complete your mission let me know which ones you did in the comment section below. I will draw one name at noon. Good luck! (Yes, you can get your name in the bucket 3 times if you do all three. Don't do any of those things, well then just email a friend the news.)

Need help cleaning out your creative space? I don't have a stash of magical elves to send your way, but here are some helpful links:

Art Studio Makeover Flickr Group
Studios Magazine
Tips on Conquering Your Clutter from Zen Habits
Bead Storage Tips on the Art Bead Scene

Stop back at noon for more of the tour!

29 comments:

Katie said...

What a neat and organized space you have! I am always amazed at how neat my closet is now that I turned it into storage for all of my crafty supplies (beads, clay, foamy art supplies for making fun stuff at work...)...It's nice to do something like this and see real results!

I blogged about your tour (http://katiebead.blogspot.com) and posted on Facebook (could only do a status update from my cell phone, but I mentioned your blog and the studio tour)...

Marsha of Marsha Neal Studio said...

I think any creative space needs a bit of de-cluttering once and a while... Especially when you spend more time looking for stuff that you know you have and you put "somewhere" to find it easily.

Thanks for sharing your pictures! I'm in the middle of getting myself rearranged as well. Thanks for sharing your pictures!

Off to the studio myself to do a little glaze work and then some more organizing. Little by little is the key to maintaining after this huge overhaul...

Marcie Abney Carroll said...

Hey Heather! Thanks for the giveaway and the tour. You're so incredibly organized and I'm now super-jealous. Check out my blog where I posted the info about your tour. Thanks again!

Sharon said...

Cool studio and very neat, now I have to get organized! I twittered about your blog!

Heather Powers said...

Katie, I can't imagine you ever making a mess!

Marsha, I was at that point. I spent more time looking for things and buying things I already had! I feel much more productive now and the cleared space has cleared out some mental clutter too.

bellajoya - ha, you'll notice I am only showing you half of my room.

Thanks for the tweet Sharon!

Rosanne said...

facebook and twitter are the ones I used. Great give away!

Jen Judd said...

Hi Heather!! Thanks for sharing! I am just getting my stuff sorted out in my new house and it made for a perfect blog link!! Plus, you're on my facebook!! Take care! Jen

Melissa J. Lee said...

I love your studio. We don't have room in my house for a permanent workspace - all of my stuff is spread out messily across our fireplace mantel (which is the only SO-free zone left - because he is too, too interested in all of the shiny beads and pointy tools). I tweeted your post - have a great day!

FrankandRox said...

ooh I love a studio tour, great inspiration to dig mine out. I've been saying that for so long- ah someday. I'm not organized enough to tell anyone in the internet world with all those great tools, so I will spread the word to my local beady friends from the creaft guild. Great inspiration for us all! Thanks, Emma

Juliette said...

I've just twittered you, in fact you're my first Twitter ever ;) @astartae

PS - your beads are HEAVENLY. I fear I've waited too long to get any of your Van Gogh beads. If you ever do them again, please let us know!

Juliette said...

Just posted a link to your page on Facebook. :)

Priscilla Burris said...

SUCH a great and fun idea, Heather! I just put up an invite on my Facebook page for you! =0)

Sari Young said...

Love your studio and your blog. I added an ad for your tour on my facebook account. You keep me inspired. Now to clean MY studio! :)

SueBeads said...

Heather - I blogged you - hope it's not too late, I was doing zoo carpool!

Priscilla Burris said...

Just happily Twitter'ed an invitation to head your way!
=0) Your beads and creations are So yummy!!

Doreen said...

I blogged about you, Heather. Wow, everything looks so nice and organized! Your cleaning is inspiring!

Katie said...

Oh, believe me, my area was a mess...The beads were taking over. So, I decided that I needed a new plan for housing my stash of goodies. The part that took the longest was reorganizing all of my beads in their little drawers and getting the drawers all labeled. Especially since, as I had run out of space, new beads ended up hiding in all sorts of interesting places...But, it's great now! I go in there, and if I have an idea, I can start looking at the different things I have and pull out what I want to play with...Especially since I got a monitor stand for my desk that the keyboard slides under :o)

I still have to put things away when I'm not working on that...You know what they say about curiosity and cats...And I have 4 cats...

Eclectic Beader said...

Hi Heather!
First let me say I am jealous that you have such a fantastic space to work! I currently have a closet. You might say if it's small you should be able to keep it neat. Not so. I think the most creative people, such as yourself, have a hard time letting go of inspiration to "neaten up" their space. Because in our world of multiple demands on time it's hard to give up any "free" time that remains. Congrats on biting the bullet and doing a good cleaning and organizing. Thanks for the tips and inspiration as well!

A great sours of "studio equipment is www.sevilleclasics.com, durable, adjustable, and a lot of no fuss stainless!

CraftyHope said...

Your clean and comfy studio is inspiring. I was planning on working on mine today already, but you really have me motivated now! Thanks.
By the way- I twittered about the tour (with a link) and sent that twitter to my facebook page as well.
Check it out!
twitter.com/CraftyHope
facebook.com/CraftyHope

Pappasan, Mommasan, and Adisan said...

Wow! What a terrific space! Thanks for all the ideas for organizing work spaces, I am sorely in need.

KV Creative Designs said...

Hi,
Would love to see these pics in color. You are so very organized. I just set up my Studio in a room in my house. I am lovin it!

I gave ya a Tweet and posted to facebook! Thanks for the opportunity!

Artful Blessings,
Kathryn

Doreen said...

I blogged and tweeted about your studio tour and left a comment here.
BTW, I think those ceramic egg holders are a great idea. I just have little bowls of leftovers and orphans all over the place.

Anonymous said...

I hope you will leave a link to your Studio Tour on the Humblebeeds website. There were so many ideas that I would like to refer back rather than write them down on a paper that I would lose among my stuff. I have the buying tools, findings, and great beads, that I just can't live without, down real good. It's the organizing them all that's the problem.

Thanks, Irene Fecht

llhyde44 said...

Enjoyed your studio tour and how organized you are. It always helps to see what others have done and used
for their beads and supplies. I think sometimes I let things go so I can fondle the beads when putting them back up. Love the bead work that you do.

Anonymous said...

What a privilege to have that kind of space and to use it so wisely. I absolutely love the earrings. My style definitely. Can't wait to buy the book.
chris

Paula Lee M. said...

Heather,

I love your studio!!! I love how you use your space. It's clean but warm too. I added a link to my facebook page and commented on the tour there.

I can sympathize, my husband made me a studio in half the garage. I had to clean up before I moved. What a trip! I wonder how I had as much as I did in my smaller room. And to reorganize was and is still a nightmare.

So good luck and I love your style in beads.

Heather Powers said...

thank you to all those who blogged/facebooked/twittered. I'm so happy you joined in me my studio tour. And thanks to those who left helpful tips and links!

Irene - I will put a link at the top of my blog so you can easily find the Studio Tour links.

Brenda H. said...

Heather,
Thank you so much for the tour of your very inspirational studio. I try so hard to keep everything organized but I honestly believe I was a bead and finding collector before I began designing. I need a shop, not just a studio. I would like to tell you that I am enjoying working with the lovely pieces of art that I ordered from you and I just love the birds and owls. I twittered about your studio tour and added a link to your studio tour on my Facebook page. Thank you, you not only gave us a tour, you inspired all of us in some way I feel sure.

Carol B said...

If you're "done with your foolishness," you are channeling Clean House!