One of the hardest parts of being a bead artist is finding a good storage system that works for you. I'm more of the 'it's cheap and on-hand' kind of organizer. Most of my beads are stored in those clear plastic containers. I have them divided by colors. I have a box for each color of findings: brass, copper and gunmetal/silver. I have two boxes with art beads from my favorite artists. I have seed beads in those clear shoebox size containers. They are wrapped in rubber bands according to their color or if they are in small baggies, they are bagged together by color.
Stringing materials go in a handy adjustable tray organizer that I found in the housewares section at Walmart. I think it was for silverware.
My stash of clay is stored in these metal file drawers that I picked up for a few dollars at the goodwill a long time ago.
I store my canes and mixed colors on metal in/out boxes that I picked up at Office Max. They stack up and save space. Sheesh, you'd think I would have straightened out the rows for the photo at least!
You've seen trays and dishes stuffed in every corner of my studio. Above is one of my favorites. These are ceramic "egg cartons" that I found at Hobby Lobby in the spring/Easter displays. They are perfect for works-in-progress or to catch extra beads that need to be put away.
Now Jess is way cheaper and craftier than me. He just recycled the salt container into a pencil/tool jar by cutting off the lid. Do you have a crafty/out-of-ordinary storage idea that you use for your beads or art supplies?
Okay, now for the grand prize to celebrate my studio tour and open house!One lucky person is going to win one of my bead grab bags. These are filled with $50 worth of beads!
How do you enter?
One entry: make a comment on one of the Studio Tour posts to enter in the grand drawing.
Three bonus entries: you can earn an entry for spreading the word about my tour on your blog, facebook page or twitter. Just leave a comment to let me know you did.
When? You have until tomorrow at Midnight. On Friday morning I will announce the winner!
Thanks for joining me today. I hope I provided some inspiration, I know I enjoyed each comment and feel inspired too!
The next winner from the 3pm post will be announced in just a few minutes.
33 comments:
Fantastic finale! boy another generous prize, awesome. Your storage system is great. I use the same cheap and chearful ones. For some of my pricier beads that I just have a few of I use one of those weekly pill orgaizers because a-cheap b-compact c-28 spots,and i can lift out each "day" which has the 4 sections morn, aft, eve and bed. This makes sure my pricy treasures don't get lost in the bulk
I have many similar boxes for storing my beads, haven't yet found a better way!
It's amazing how many types of containers are out there--some with a stated purpose and some that just work out for you! One of my friends was helping me get organized and I told her I really want to be able to see lots of the beads right in front of me. So, she picked up a bunch of small glass votive holders at the dollar store and they stack wonderfully! Mind you, I can't get higher than three of them in a stack, but for big chunky beads, they're perfect. And, they're pretty!
Hi! Theresa Buchle referred me to your blog. Love the storage tips. I also like to use those queso jars (15.5 oz) for seed beads. They'll hold a whole half-kilo bag and no static from plastic! - Natalie
Thanks for sharing all of your good ideas Heather! I'd love to be entered into the final drawing!
Between polymer clay beads and all the little extras that go with it, I was at my wits end until I ran across some little square containers at the Dollar Tree that work beautifully. There are 8 in a bag for $1.00 and I've got over 100 of them with "stuff" in them. I also used two old "cassette" tape storage cabinets with some of the dividers removed to store them in. Works great for my polymer clay and my findings. You can see what I'm talking about at http://harrisonhollowdesigns.blogspot.com/2009/06/studio-recycling-or-what-happens-when.html
Love those cheap fixes and even better - reusing something that was just collecting dust.
Right now I use the same type of divider boxes everyone does BUT I would love to have a watchmaker's cabinet to store in!!! Tons of small divided sections shallow drawers patina well worn and loved wood!!!! Every once in a while one is on eBay, but you can by a whole lot of plastic boxes for what they cost. But some day darnit my budget is going to have to stretch!!!
I will post your give away on tonight when I post.
Pattie ;)
Mazatlan mx.
I absolutely love the ceramic egg cartons. I will have to keep my eyes open for something similar next Easter!
I also plan on copying Jess with the salt container idea. My local grocery store carries steel cut oatmeal in metal jars that look like old fashioned paint jars. I use those for tools already and a salt container would look great with them.
I too use the plastic container for beads, I get them at JoAnns for $2 and I've even gotten them for $1 on sale.
I use those trays with compartment for your desk drawers to put my in progress work.
If you'd like you can see my office/work space here http://marbelladesigns.blogspot.com/2009/05/finally-got-my-spaced-organized-part-1.html
I store paint brushes in pringles cans with holes for air punched in the lids.
Thanks for the tour of your studio.
You have inspired me to finish organizing my studio. I have a sweet little antique muffin tin that I use to hold many different items. I need to find some more.
I tweeted!
Yeah for cheap plastic storage bins! I never have enough!
I posted your Studio Tour on My Judith B. Designs Facebook Fan page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Judith-BDesigns/72933880815?ref=ts&__a=1
Your post today was a great idea, and a lot of work to post all of this! Thanks for sharing everything....you have given me some good ideas!
Love your studio tour! I use the inexpensive plastic boxes, too. Always on the lookout for something better, though. Thanks for the ideas!
Jowanna
I'm a little late reading my blog list, but enjoyed your studio tour nonetheless! I would love to win the grab bag of beads! Thanks for the tour and giveaway!
Lisa
What a great tour! I use the same boxes too. I would love to be entered in your Bead Grab Bag. I will blog now its late but better late then never.
Oh goodness. In addition to the stacks of inexpensive plastic boxes, I use tic tac boxes for left over silver filings and tiny bits of wire. I also reuse the Oil of Olay daily facials plastic box to store beads and a spool or two of wire if on the go. Be sure to put a rubber band around it! I've really enjoyed the studio tour and makes me feel motivated to rethink some stations in my own workspace! Thank you thank you!
You have a wonderful studio. I wish I had that much space. I share mine with myself, I scrapbook and make cards. Makes it hard to find space. lol.
Marie
I have old laboratory glass jars that I store seed bead tubes in. They are colorful and I can see them! I am in the midst of a move so I am rethinking my studio...
Yay! thanks for the tour! I am a real snoop and love seeing inside other beaders studios to get ideas on how keep the chaos to a minimum ;) I use the 18 compartment plastic craft boxes (about 35 of them) and store them in cube shelves on my workstation. They are colour batched and then I have a gaint plastic box with 8 compartments, that i chck odds and sods in till i do a get around to putting the beads back where they belong. What i want to know is how does everyone store their beading library? Again, thanks for a sneak peak in your world.
Ooh - lovely to see your organised workspace. I like use a lot of re-cycled containers such as glass jars and lidded plastic fast food trays, but I put them through the dishwasher first to make sure they don't smell! (Curry flavoured necklace, anyone?) :O)
Marg x
Oh, wow, your studio looks neat now! And you certainly inspired me, I would love to start working on my space right away (and that happens really, really rarely - I'll have to remember that expression you used, "organizationally challenged" to apply the next time someone comments on my mess ;) ).
I especially liked the little flower dishes with your current projects, I really need to do that; right now they are lying around in heaps and on several trays, but your dishes make them look almost like a decoration!
Organisation of my beads into colours is a work in progress, I wish I had more than one room, but I don't - I guess that's even more reason to keep it neat and tidy, even though it's also a lot more difficult and I have to store everything away in boxes after working on it.
Wow! You have a lot of beads to store!
I mostly use those plastic divider boxes, but for nicer findings I use those mini silver toned tins that come in matching cases.
I would LOVE to have everything fit into one cabinet.
Love the storage ideas! Really like the ceramic egg tray. Hmm...on the hunt for those! Great for works in progress...Iris cases (I purchased mine at Fleet Farm) that are meant for 4x6 photos. There are 6 little boxes in one larger box (about 7x8x4.25). I cut down bead mats insert them into each box and I'm ready to take my projects anywhere for beading!
Whew, I almost thought that I missed my chance to enter!! I love to see pictures of your studio and how you organize all your wonderful supplies- of course it reminds me how much I need to do to get my space together!
Awesome giveaway. I can't seem to stop dreaming about beads. Heather yours are wonderful. What a treat it would be to win. Mel
Great bead stash. Don't you just love to sort them? Thanks for the chance to win some more beads.
Vikki
I have a great storage story on my blog. If you like ice cream, you will really like it.
http://www.poly-clay.blogspot.com
I facebooked your tour, under Ann Snyder Rishell. Thanks for the contest! Love your blog!
Thanks for showing us your studio. I hope I win something! I love reading your blog. Take care.
Oh ! Heather ! Please don't let it be to late for me ! I have a darling rustic mini muffin pan that I keep on my work table I can't live without it ,it holds beads, and findings and small pieces of projects waiting for me to complete and so forth. I love your Open House it has been alot of fun ! I don't have a Twitter acct. or My Space, does that disqualify me? Thank You for the give away ! Your the Bomb !
dgibson@bak.rr.com Hug's Debra
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