It's probably no surprise that most artists have completely chaotic work spaces. But out of chaos rises some of the most beautiful things in life!
Brenda of B'Sue Boutiques created this blog hop to show the "dirty side" of the jewelry designer's life. Our pieces may be made with precision, but our table tops, that's another case entirely!
So welcome to my little spot of chaotic heaven!
First, an overall view. I moved my work recently to the library part of the living room (an addition we built a couple of years ago) because the lighting was much better than where I'd been working before.
As you can see, there's still stuff on the floor! Under the table, I have two metal bins to hold magazines and things like that, but I always seem to have something underfoot.
The top of the dresser holds yet more and more beads. I have a bad habit of going to grab one bag of beads and then seeing tons of others I have to work with RIGHT. NOW! So that pretty box (and a few others you can't see!) have lots of baggies of beads waiting to be played with. Sometimes this random assortment of beads helps me when I'm in a rut, because I can just reach in without looking and grab something and I'll make myself work with what I picked, no excuses!
The organizer is from either Marshalls or TJ Maxx and is supposed to be for stationery and what not, but it works beautifully as a tool caddy. All of those little red tins are jump rings of various sizes and metals. The handmade cups are special to me, made by my friend Ayenne of Whimsee Pots. I have a ton of her stuff and I love having pretty things all over the place. One holds tiny snips of trash and the other holds silver scrap, waiting to be melted down.
The drawer holds the tools I use the most. I have a cookie jar on the desk that Zack painted that holds less-often-used but nevertheless important hand tools.
More mess. Organized rings, but a messy desk.
Jacqueline Marchant
Lynnea Perry Bennett
Terry Matusyk
Laurel Steven
Dr. Brassy Steamington
Pamela Takeshige
Kris Lanae Binsfeld
Outre Art
Linzi Alford
Deb Davis
Tamara Jones
Harry Wood
Gerry Nickerson
Elizabeth Owens-Dwy
Georgene Lockwood
Charisa Sloper
Jennifer Justman
Beanzie
Mary Deis
Cheri Reed
Sondra Kolner
Sonya Ingersoll-Stille
Sandra McGriff
Shelly Joyce
Joan Williams
Kashmira Patel
Deb Beechy
Ginger Bishop
Kelli Jacobson
Natalie McKenna
Andrew Thornton
Mary Govaars
Kate Mulligan
Lisa Lodge
Tami Luchini
Monique Lula
Lee Koopman
Jayne Capps
Susan Lloyd
Cynthia Wainscott
Stephanie Amanti
Alicia Marinache
Sam Hamp
Lennis Carrier
Brenda of B'Sue Boutiques created this blog hop to show the "dirty side" of the jewelry designer's life. Our pieces may be made with precision, but our table tops, that's another case entirely!
So welcome to my little spot of chaotic heaven!
First, an overall view. I moved my work recently to the library part of the living room (an addition we built a couple of years ago) because the lighting was much better than where I'd been working before.
I have a storage cabinet for tons of beads, but it's on the other side of the room. When I used to work at the kitchen table, this cabinet was right behind me, but now I get a little exercise jumping up and down for this and that.
Because I kept piling boxes upon boxes of beads onto the floor in order to avoid jumping up and down so much, I bought a dresser to store the beads I reach for all the time (sterling silver, wire, etc). I'm not 100% happy with it -- I really wanted something that was either flush to the top of my table or even able to be slid underneath it, but how often do you find furniture in the same color as your sofa and chairs? So if I end up changing my mind about this storage situation, the dresser will work elsewhere in the living room.
The top of the dresser holds yet more and more beads. I have a bad habit of going to grab one bag of beads and then seeing tons of others I have to work with RIGHT. NOW! So that pretty box (and a few others you can't see!) have lots of baggies of beads waiting to be played with. Sometimes this random assortment of beads helps me when I'm in a rut, because I can just reach in without looking and grab something and I'll make myself work with what I picked, no excuses!
In the above photo, the large plastic box is full of earring pairs of all types. I like having that box ready and waiting so I don't have to go searching out doubles of this or that.
Then there's the top of my table (which we bought at IKEA).....
The drawer holds the tools I use the most. I have a cookie jar on the desk that Zack painted that holds less-often-used but nevertheless important hand tools.
More mess. Organized rings, but a messy desk.
To my left is another IKEA find, a wooden silverware caddy. This holds daisy spacers and ear wires that I use constantly, as well as beads that made a move from the pretty purple box above to a step JUST a little closer to actually being used. And I couldn't make a bracelet without a bracelet sizer! Measuring a bracelet linearly doesn't give you a correct measurement -- you need the inner circumference measurement, and that's what this cool invention does!
To the right of the bracelet sizer is (again) an IKEA goodie. It's a three-tiered caddy from IKEA's bath section, and I put a selection of clasps in each tray ... sterling silver, pewter, and copper/brass. I have a larger drawer in the bead cabinet for toggles and clasps, but it's nice to have at least some right there at my fingertips.
Of course, beading has a way of taking over a home. There are many days when work flows over into the living room.
There you have it -- my mess. I love it. It works for me. I try to keep it neater than this, but as soon as I clean it up, it comes apart at the seams again. Beads are EVERYWHERE, it seems. But there's never a lack of anything pretty to look at in this house!
Now it's time to visit the other messy studios!
Jacqueline Marchant
Lynnea Perry Bennett
Terry Matusyk
Laurel Steven
Dr. Brassy Steamington
Pamela Takeshige
Kris Lanae Binsfeld
Outre Art
Linzi Alford
Deb Davis
Tamara Jones
Harry Wood
Gerry Nickerson
Elizabeth Owens-Dwy
Georgene Lockwood
Charisa Sloper
Jennifer Justman
Beanzie
Mary Deis
Cheri Reed
Sondra Kolner
Sonya Ingersoll-Stille
Sandra McGriff
Shelly Joyce
Joan Williams
Kashmira Patel
Deb Beechy
Ginger Bishop
Kelli Jacobson
Natalie McKenna
Andrew Thornton
Mary Govaars
Kate Mulligan
Lisa Lodge
Tami Luchini
Monique Lula
Lee Koopman
Jayne Capps
Susan Lloyd
Cynthia Wainscott
Stephanie Amanti
Alicia Marinache
Sam Hamp
Lennis Carrier
Lori Anderson creates jewelry for her web site, Lori Anderson Designs, and wrote the blog An Artist's Year Off. She is the creator of the Bead Soup Blog Party.
49 comments:
Once a very wise boss told me an empty desk is a sign of an empty mind. I'm guessing it is the same with an artists studio.
But really Lori, you might think your studio is messy, but I see orgination there, even if there are thing piled, things on the floor, etc. I would love to have your studio.
Have a great weekend!
Lori your mess is much more organized than my mess! I love the cabinet you keep your beads in.
Your space is great! Lots of it and so bright and cheerful.
Thank goodness for Ikea, right? All of my drawers are from there as well! I love seeing the "before" shots of people's workshops!
Thanks, Lori! Your workspace looks very inviting to ME...it's ABOVE GROUND! Mine is in the basement, just a little filtered light from a nasty little window. I think you have some awesome organization going on, as well! So glad you were a part of our messy, creative fun!
What a lovely peek into your living/creative space. I love that you've tucked elements of nature, strong colors and art objects into your work area. A wonderful space to dream and create!
Messy? No way! You may want to avoid visiting mine...
You are right that room has great light. I must ask where did you found that bracelet tool? It's fantastic!
Internet went wack-a-doodle so I'll repeat myself just in case. You are right that space has excellent light. I must ask where you found that bracelet measuring tool? It's a clever solution.
girl, you must not know the true definition of messy....look at my space! yours is awesome!
I too am entranced by the bracelet measuring tool. Great space, and great light. Thanks for letting us see your space.
Lori, this is not a mess! It looks well organized to me. Nice workspace.
I need to get one of those bracelet sizers! Your workspace is beautiful with so much light. I am jealous! ~ Brassy
Wow... what a nice work space! Isn't if funny how projects seem to follow us around the house. Warmly, Tracy
Oh, it's so GOOD to know I'm not unique in my messiness! I manage to get a wild hair every now and then and "clean up" (i.e., shove it in drawers... but with purpose!) but it never really gets fully clean. I'm SO glad to see others as creatively messy as me. Or, as a sign my dad used to have said, "A messy desk is the sign of a creative mind!"
I loved peaking into you space Lori! Loving the red chair in the background. I could just curl up there and watch you create. :)
Looks pretty good to me. You should see my work space. Awful truly dreadful. But there is a trip to IKEA tomorrow to start to get that side in shape. I love all of those trays and organizer thingies that IKEA has!
I would love to have an Ikea near by. I've only been to one in Germany and Greece. We don't have one in Idaho. That would be a disaster to my checking acct any way. You have a beautiful space and I LOVE the wood floors.
I really love your tool caddy! I also love the work you do.
Ahhh I can breathe..good to know I am not the only one with a "creative mess"!
Great tour - and I love those little red tins!
LOL! I lost a pair of expensive scissor two months ago & haven't found them yet, but then I haven't cleaned my work desk in that long. Just keep piling up. So what did I do? Clean...no, I bought another pair of scissors!
Wow so many yummy beads!, oh your space is really neat to me!, and I also have to say I love to see the behind the scenes of such a talented artist. Have a great day!
I loved getting a tour of your workspace! I have to say, you're much neater than I am. All I can see of the floor in my studio is a small path I've cleared. :)
My goodness, such a light and pretty place to work! <3 the little red dresser. :-)
You have a beautiful space there, Lori. I like how you organized everything - and I am intrigued about those 'beads for business cards'... do you add beads on your cards when you send them out?!
Isn't it wonderful how the more we try to organize things and contain it... the more it spreads out and takes over? lol I have a container that is currently holding some earring pairs... but...it's kind buried somewhere out of reach >.< but I've got new organizing ideas that would maximize space and minimize the mess expansion thanks to the blog hop... it'll just cost me more moola.. and a bigger mess to do the reorganizing and making room for it part ... lol ;)
Thank you for inviting us into your studio. I would LOVE to get lost in there for about a month! You have lots of awesome stuff that would be soooo much fun to play with. What a fun place.
I love seeing other people's creative spaces. I see lots of rhyme and reason to your madness. :o) It is an interesting phenomenom how we clean and organize and then get it all out again and create our wonderful pieces of art. Your jewelry is art and wonderful. Blissful Beading...
Love this creative workspace! Very bright and nicely organized. I know many beautiful things are made there. Thanks for sharing! :-)
I am 15 minutes from IKEA - I see a short road trip in my future! I think your space is awesome - you have so many colorful bits and pieces, but espeically, it's the light!!! I, like many, have been relegated to my basement, where I am surrounded by four Ott lamps....thanks for sharing!
No Ikea in Maine, waaah. I like to walk in to a tidy organized studio. But once I start making necklaces and earrings, I keep pulling more and more stuff out because I don't want to forget about the beads I just found and hope to use next. I end up with a huge mess, but it feeds my creativity. I'm always looking for better storage solution, so this blog hop is a great place for ideas. Thanks!
Next purchase for me is going to be one of those clever bracelet sizers. Genius!
I might have to make a trip to Ikea myself. Looks pretty organized to me. Thanks for sharing...Gerry
Gotta love our messes! Glad you love yours . It looks homey and full of fun to me! Thanks for sharing...
Love this! Thanks for sharing. I use Ikea's ALEX and HELMER drawer units under my work surfaces if you're looking for excuses to go there. Oh, and I love my VÄRDE too. Love those Swedes!
OMG, isn't amazing how much we can accumulate! When I started I could fit everything into one drawer in my dresser and now....
I love the brightness of your space and your organization!
Your workshop is wonderful, just like your creations!
Even your storage containers have personality--not fair. I love your pictures.
Thanks for sharing! you've given me some great storage ideas to steal :) I , too, wish for an Ikea near me!!
I'm so glad to see your mess! I've always imaged that you have a neat and tidy studio, this makes me feel a little better about my mess though ;)
I really like your idea of just sticking your hand in, pulling out a bead, and designing for it. I tend to hem and haw over my beads before I'll design with it. This spontaneous, random method really appeals to me!
As well, your organization is awesome. I really wish we had an IKEA closer. . .
I digress. I appreciate you allowing us to have this peek into your space. Thank you Lori!
Wow, I wish I could go shopping in your bead collection...love the storage containers, I may need to check out the IKEA in Atlanta. Thanks for sharing your space. Sonya
Love seeing where you create!
I love those clear drawer trays!
I am in awe of your bead cabinet. I swear, one of these days I'm going to own a house with at least one room dedicated to creating. I love your idea of designing for a random bead you select, I'm so picky that I tend to spend more time trying to figure out where to start than actually just diving in. I am very tempted to try your method and see what happens. Thanks so much for sharing your messy workspace! :)
Lori, I love your workspace and all the wonderful containers you have to put things in! I especially love that storage cabinet with the transparent sliding trays! How awesome!!!
You have an awesome array of beads! Love the idea of the random assortment box! I might have to do something like that, because I sometimes have that problem - I'll start on a project and then when looking at my beads and stuff, get an inspiration for something else! LOL Gotta love beading ADD!!!
I love your bracelet sizer!!! I might have to find one of those! I can never seem to get bracelet sizes right! LOL Thanks for the link to the website - it looks fabulous! Definitely going to have to take a more in depth look! =)
Loved visiting your chaotic mess of a workshop! =) I absolutely love the creations that come out of it! =)
You really do love Ikea!
It's a very organized mess and like you colorful and just lovely.
What a delightfully cheerful creative space you have Lori - thank you soooo much for sharing your pics - it's always a treat to see how other artists arrange and organize their creative supplies!
So fun and so you! It isn't exactly messy, it is creative and exuberant!
xox jean
Lori,
I am continuing the Messy Workshop Blog Hop! I just have not had time to finish the hop. Thanks so much for commenting on my blog! I love your beautiful work, your workshop and your beautiful webpages. It was fun to hop around!
I have yet to be a part of Bead Soup, but one of these days! I am amazed by all you do! Thanks!
Kris
Lori - Thanks for sharing your work space! I really like your red containers and tool caddy. You can tell by seeing your space that you have an eye for color!
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