Tools Tools Tools in my Creative Workspace

 I consider I have two creative "work spaces". My mind and my 3D studio. My mind is pretty much constantly filled with ideas of new things I want to make. 'Course in  my mind, the pieces always go together the first time but in my 3D jewelry studio it's a different story.

I'm part of an awesome group on Etsy: Aspiring Metalsmiths. We've just started a monthly blog topic and this month's choice was to write about and show pictures of our work areas.

It's interesting to read that many of us work better when we pull a bunch of items into view on our desktops. It seems our creativity 'spark' is dimmed, (or we fear it will be) if we work in a neat straightened up environment. At least that's our "story" and we are sticking to it...In fact some of us are more visual processors and need to see the items all strewn about.



My jewelry studio, a small converted bedroom, is trying to give Michaels or Joann Etc a run for their money. Over the years in addition to jewelry making, I've dabbled in various other mediums: paper making, polymer clay, Precious Metal Clay. All of these have their big collection of "necessary" tools and equipment. (Seriously, now that I've started Golden Water Creations, I think I will be weeding out some mediums so I have more room for metalsmithing equipment.) Us Aspiring Metalsmiths are constantly drooling over tool catalogs...We love trips to Home Depot and Harbor Freight...Don't get us started on the price of Sterling Silver right now!!!

There are so many tools involved in the various steps of creating jewelry, that it is easiest if I keep them handy, which mostly means laying on my desktops. I have a handy carrying case from Southern Living for my hammers and my pliers migrate station to station in a stationary sorting container. See them on the right hand corner of this desk in the picture above? You can see my bracelet mandrels behind a vase my son made in high school.



I have several desks that I use for different processes and procedures for assembling my pretties: I have my sawing,forging, hammering, stamping area; my soldering station that is on wheels; my desk that I store my findings at so I can do the final assembly of the pieces.



my portable soldering cart



my bead storage drawers



In between my hammering area and the final assembly area, is a wire shelf system that is filled with plastic containers with 3 drawers each. I keep my bead collection in those drawers. I experimented with various ways of storing beads and for me, having them in plastic drawers works the best. They are arranged by color. At one point I thought I would have examples of the beads on the drawer fronts, but I've memorized where they are now. I've been collecting beads since around 1985!





To the right of my sawing, hammering area is where I store my glass enamels and other glass tools.

my enamel and glass storage

Another size of plastic drawers works pretty well for the enamel bottles.





recent bead purchases waiting to be bagged and placed in drawers

The picture above is the desk where I sit to assemble my beaded jewelry. More plastic storage drawers for all my findings and components. The shelves above have tools for polymer clay and Precious Metal Clay.
So there you have it, a condensed "straightened" version of my studio. I have another room for my fiber arts. I just close myself in these creative hideaways for hours at a time making pretty things. There are many more techniques to learn on my "bucket list"... Here's to a great time learning new things in 2011.
It's a wonder there is room for Ray, Sinbad and Holly!

Here's a list of my Aspiring Metalsmiths blogs. Take a look at their studio setups. We all love to make pretty things.

All Wired Up Jewelry Designs - http://allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Brandy, The Frogs Pond - http://thefrogspond.wordpress.com/
Carole Axium - http://www.caroleaxiumdesigns.com/journal/
Clarity, Scrollwork Designs - http://www.thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com/
Esmeralda, SilverBlueberry - http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/
Heather, Misty Ridge Designs - http://mistyridgedesigns.blogspot.com/
Jessica Lopour - http://www.abellablue.com/blog
Joy - http://joypeckjoy.blogspot.com/
Nancy Creations - http://nancysjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Stacy (Form and Funktion) - http://formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com/
Steph Stargell Designs - http://stephstargell.com/
Sylvia Anderson - http://www.sylviaanderson.blogspot.com/
Lisa http://sandytoesjewelry.blogspot.com/