Clean-up, Fix-Up Your Workspace Challenge

Many artists have blogged about the process of cleaning and organizing their studios.  I really appreciate these studio visits because I get new ideas from other artists on ways to corral the tools and supplies necessary to be creative.  We spend many hours in our studios and for me a certain amount of order is necessary to be productive.  So how do you get motivated to start the cleaning process?

Well that motivation came on February 1st, as Sharyl of Sharyl's Jewelry posed a challenge to jewelry designers and bead artists to clean up and fix up our studios.  Now I don't know about you but this is not my favorite activity.  But that is exactly why I took up the challenge.  I can work and be creative with some chaos in my workspace but there is a certain line, that when crossed tends to put a halt to creativity and productivity.  Well look out, 'cause I had reached that point.  Check out my lampwork area where it is easy to pull the glass out of my storage tubes on the right.  But it is not as much fun to sort and put it away.  Even the tools begin to pile up and make it hard to find the one you need.



Glass and torch table BEFORE

This space is doubling as my jeweler's bench and my photography space.  Most of the time I like to do photos outdoors but not in cold or rainy weather. 

 

And the worst space was my jewelry making desk.  Yes, it really is was this cluttered with creativity.

 
So now for the results!  The lampwork table was relatively easy to clean though it did take some time.  All glass and tools are back in their places. 

 
The jeweler's bench was not as messy.  A quick cleanup and removing things that didn't belong on the bench (books, beads). 

For the really big job, the jewelry design area.  Wow!  I can see the desktop again.  Hurrah! 
It seems with all the items like the tool turntable, the desk drawers,  the little drawer cabinets and bead boxes that all would be organized.  Well it might be if I never bought another bead or tool or worked on another item of jewelry.  Nah!

But for now doesn't it look nice.  I am still pondering how to store my lampwork beads.  When I figure that out I will share.  I have a new solution for gemstones so that will also be a future share.  So I hope you will come back for more of this story.

Let's get busy now and go check on all the other fixed up studios.  Thanks Sharyl for hosting this helpful and fun event.

Participant List:

Host: Sharyl McMillian-Nelson … http://sharylsjewelry.blogspot.com

Donna Millard http://fyrebeadz.blogspot.com/

Beda Hendrix ... https://www.facebook.com/SasijuhlsThings 

Ann Schroeder… http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com

Pamela Rachelle… http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com

Kristin L Oppold… http://www.yayjewelry.blogspot.com

Heidi Kingman ... http://heidikingman.blogspot.com

Andi ... http://strungoutjewelry.blogspot.com/

Patricia Buchanan Click “Blog” on the menu bar athttp://www.braceletstoo.artfire.com

Helen Simon… http://helensharvest.com/

Kashmira … http://sadafulee.blogspot.com/

somethingunique ... http://somethinguniquebylana.blogspot.ca/

Renetha ... http://lamplightcrafts.blogspot.com

Kathy Lindemer ... http://bay-moon-design.blogspot.com

Swapna Dinesh … http://www.swardaa.com

Linda Landig ... http://lindalandig.wordpress.com/

Ann Schroeder ... http://www.beadlove.wordpress.com/

Beti Horvath ... http://stringingfool.blogspot.com/

Sam S ... http://samsbeadshopandjewelry.blogspot.com/ 

Christina Miles ... http://wingsnscales.blogspot.com/

Islandgirl ... http://islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.ca/ 

macmillanmarie ... http://www.macmillanmarie.blogspot.com

Emma Todd … http://www.apolymerpenchant.com

Neena Shilvock … 
http://www.capriliciousjewellery.com/3/post/2014/02/neither-ship-shape-nor-bristol-fashion.html

Dee Clark… http://biz-e-bead.blogspot.com/

motidana ... http://kalaabhushan.blogspot.com/

Here Bead Dragons ... http://beaddragons.blogspot.com/

Carol D. ... http://dillmansdallies.blogspot.com/  You are here!

Pam Sears ... http://crazycreativecorner.blogspot.com/

Nan Smith ... http://wirednan.blogspot.ca

AliMc ... http://northwoodscreativestudio.blogspot.com

Kari Asbury ... http://hippiechickdesign.blogspot.com

Shirley Moore ... http://www.beadsandbread.blogspot.com

PyxeeStyx ... http://travelingsideshow.blogspot.com/

Jayne Capps … https://mamasgottodoodle.blogspot.com

Louann Elwell 
... https://plus.google.com/117746558861718110652/posts

Rain ... http://honeyandollie.com/

Lori Bergmann ... http://www.LoriBergmann.blogspot.com

Helen Simon… http://helensharvest.blogspot.com/

Arlene Dean ... http://aglassbash.blogspot.com

Sandra... http://city-of-brass-stories.blogspot.de/

Alicia ... http://www.allprettythings.ca

Natalie Pappas ...  http://blog.nkpdesigns.com/


Stay organized and keep creating,
Carol