Using Pants/Skirts Hangers in Your Studio

I think we have all seen these hangers, either using them in our closet or inexpensively offered at garage sales, discount stores or flea markets.  If you have more space to hang items on a shelf, back of a door or in a closet for instance, these make great organizers.  I have displayed them as they might be used in a sewing or quilting room, but they would also work for paper crafting, jewelry etc.

My first example is using the pants hanger with hooks to organize a project.  I have, for illustration purposes, clipped bags containing buttons, beads, ribbon, and floss as well as larger bags to hold the pattern and fabrics to be used in this project.

The hangers with bars, especially the hangers that easily slip into and out of a loop on the end and will pivot forward to add or remove the spools.  I could really see this being used ribbons or for beading threads and wires as well.  Lots of possibilities with this hanger!  You can actually leave the spools of thread on the bars as you use (crochet, tat...) the threads if you have a spot to hang it that is close enough to where you work on your project.

Below is an example of hanging together smaller scraps of fabrics in coordinating colors.  You can see at a glance what you are looking for or just be inspired.  It is also a good way to audition fabric combinations for a project.  I find I am inspired when I see the fabrics in this manner and actually thought to myself that the green and lavender would be a great combination.

As an artist I love having all possible supplies easily visible, don't you.

I hope these ideas will be of use to you, especially if you are out of drawer space or just tired of digging through drawers to find those smaller pieces.  I love your comments, so please share your thoughts!

My Office/Sewing Room

I was reminded recently I hadn't shown my storage used in the area where I do mostly crazy quilt projects.  I must admit storing everything one uses for crazy quilting can get, well, crazy.  Supplies multiply when you leave the room and you don't dare throw away any scraps (of anything), spare buttons, trinkets, leftover beads or even the tiny pieces of ribbon because if you do you will need them!

Below are photos from when I first set up my space.  It obviously is closing in on me.  The room is only 10' x 10' and is shared with office equipment and supplies.  I began by taking the doors off the closet and moving all office related items into the closet.  This worked out really well.

I originally had fabrics stored in tubs and on shelves in the closet but it was getting to be a problem keeping the stacks from spilling out and a nuisance pulling out tubs when what I needed was in the bottom tub.  I ended up using a couple of dressers I painted white to store fabrics and other needs.  I have to confess I still have a couple of tubs of heavier/bulkier fabrics in totes stored in the attic.  I also purged some fabrics so that I could get the rest in the six drawers of this dresser.  I have since placed a bookcase like the one to the left on top of the dresser for more storage.  The big giant paper shredder that you see was relocated elsewhere in the house.

Below is the second dresser with another bookcase on top.

The top drawer has misc. supplies such as fabric markers, rulers, snaps and other odds and ends.

The second drawer is full of lace waiting for their place in the world.

A friend gave me tons of embroidery floss and I have it separated by color family in gallon size zip lock bags.  These are stored in the third drawer down.  Easy to reach from my stitching rocker.

The bottom drawer holds rolls and bits and pieces of ribbons of all types.

On the bookcase on this dresser I have some plastic storage pieces containing my sewing threads.  The photo directly below shows six drawers divided into (1) silk/ribbon/fabric floral; (2) beaded flowers, jewelry pieces, trinkets etc.; (3) misc. sewing supplies such as tape measure, safety pins, extra scissors, extra needles, elastic etc.; (4) beaded trims and fringe; (5) cording, gimp and related trims; (6) other little things I couldn't possibly part with.  I also have a couple of containers on top of those that hold misc charms and cabochons.

Above the computer is a shelf I use for batting, interfacing, pillow forms, additional lace, silk flowers, and paper crafting supplies for a project I hope to work on 'one of these days'.

 

As I confessed said, more has been integrated into this space as I found more that I couldn't live without and it has filled up pretty much.  The wall next to the computer closet has an expandable sewing table which will fold down compactly when not in use.  Behind the entry door is my ironing board and some bags containing WIP (works in progress).  I also painted and added this towel shelf above my sewing machine.  The revolving spice jars on top have my smaller buttons stored by color, the dowels hold my shorter sections of lace (and it is now dripping in lace), and the hooks hold my tags with various stitch samples from TAST.

That pretty much covers everything.  I hope you were able to get some inspiration from this and that I didn't bore you to death.  The room is in total chaos right now because I have pulled out the UFOs (unfinished objects) and have them spread out so I am forced to work on them.  I guess I did forget to mention I store my UFOs and supplies I have used on them to date in some stacking plastic boxes shown on a previous post where Lorraine shared that she uses them for fabric scraps.  The real problem is that Chloe (my cat) has decided to lay claim to my stitching chair.  She is so funny.  We fight over favorite spots all the time and she usually wins.

Repurposing to Add Surface Space

Do you find your actual working space closing in on you?  One idea that might work for you is to add an additional space above your work space.  I was running into this problem while working on some jewelry recently and as you can see, adding this bed tray gave me that badly needed added work surface. 

A bed tray worked well in this space because they are fairly short, so your items are still within easy reach and easily visible.  This is on my fabric dresser top.  I also especially liked this bed tray because it has a back and sides that kept the beads and other items from falling off the back to an area difficult to reach without moving the dresser out.  And, image that this one was already green! 

This sewing room of mine is still a work in progress and I am approaching it one "issue" at a time.  I normally work on my jewelry in my studio, but had something else going on back there which I have since completed.  This bed tray was the perfect temporary solution to my lack of surface work space.  It also works great if I decide to pick the work up and take it to another room.  Yes, I still work all over the house.  I follow my muse around ~ lol.  Do any of you do that?  Sometimes I just want to be working around other humans or find the light better in another area for the project I am working on.

I hope you found this a useful idea!  Sorry, no links this post.  But if you have found a similar solution and want to share it with everyone, feel free to add your link.  Does anyone actually use bed trays for their intended purpose?

The Most Unusual Ideas

It started off that I had this really sweet doll buggy that I was trying to sell locally.  I wasn't able to sell it and had it sitting in my sewing room while I tried to decide what to do with it.

As I was sitting there with some of my threads on the floor it dawned on me this "basket" could be a good container for the threads.  It seems this little buggy would work well for a number of things including yarn, lace, or even to hold projects I'm working on until I am able to complete them.

I guess you just never know when an idea or solution will come to you.  What do you think?  Am I crazy? 

While I'm here I may as well share a link.  I hope you are having a great week and are doing something fun!

Here is a site offering free printable organizing pages for all types of scheduling.

http://www.designfinch.com/2011/07/31/sunday-planning  

More Links to Share

Oh dear, I really am neglecting this poor blog.  I don't have a post ready, but I do have a couple of wonderful links I wanted to share with you.  That is the least I can do.  I seem to have gotten myself involved in so many projects this year and they are taking up a lot of my time.  I really truly appreciate your staying with me and especially love hearing from you when you have the chance to drop in a comment. 

So in the meantime, here are the links I promised.  I hope you enjoy them.  If any of you would like to share your ideas and want me to post a link to your blogs here, let me know and I will be happy to share either the link as I have done here or even post a photo and direct readers to your blog.  I love sharing all the great ideas I run across and I would love seeing how you organize!

Time to catch up on your filing! …Filing fabric that is. What!?! Check out this idea for repurposed fabric storage. I love it! In fact, I love this blog.

http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/2012/08/organizing-fabricfiling-update.html 


Storing stash in a camper has got to be a challenge! Julie shares some tips on her blog for storing threads. I think her ideas would work for any small space!
http://theshopsampler.wordpress.com/2012/08/06/thread-storage-is-not-for-sissies 


Here is a great post on organizing drawers using basic supplies…
http://www.howjoyful.com/2012/07/my-studio-organizing-drawers-and-awkward-spaces-with-cardboard 

Repurposed Laundry Detergent Bottle

My detached studio is located in the back yard, several feet behind our home. I use this studio for painting, some jewelry design and for stained glass, as well as general crafting. The problem has been the lack of running water. We were on a tight budget when we put up the studio so we didn't install any plumbing. I now use a large laundry detergent bottle, the kind with the spigot (see photo below). I rinsed it out as good as possible and use it as my water supply, especially when I am painting with my watercolors. Warning: This is not a food safe container so please don't put water in it to drink! Here is my Detergent Bottle Makeover...

I didn't like the looks of the bottle particularly, but it was certainly functional. My bottle was bright orange. I decided to decoupage over the bottle with some brown patterned paper I had on hand. This helped, but I wanted to give it a bit more interest, so I painted over the paper after it dried with acrylic paints. After this dried I added another generous coat of decoupage over the entire piece to make it more water tight.

It still looks somewhat like a laundry detergent bottle, but doesn't look so much like a big bright blob of color.

I painted a little different design on each side just for fun. It works great and saves me hauling several small containers of water to my studio. It doesn't spill. I have a ready supply of water when the water I've been using to clean my paint brush gets mucky. Best of all, it is one less piece of plastic in the landfill.

Studios are Like Snowflakes

They say no two snowflakes are alike. I say no two studios are alike! How can they be? No two artists work the same.

That is why you are the one to decide what your studio needs to look like, sound like, smell like, and feel like as well as its function and how it flows. It should be a reflection of who you are as an artist. You should enjoy spending time in your studio. It doesn't need to 'match' the rest of the house unless of course you are sharing a corner of the living room. Even then you can add little knick knacks or artwork you love and that inspire you. That is a subject on which I can go into more depth and I will reserve that for a future post.

For this post I just want you to take a long, hard look at your studio and think about whether it truly tells your story. Could a customer or friend walk into your studio and know by what they see what your artwork is likely to be? Do you love color but settled on a neutral shade for the walls to be safe? Some artists keep white walls so the colors of their materials are the focal point. Are you a minimalist who wants your supplies all behind doors? Do whimsical things make you happy? Do roses make you comfortable, or do they make you want to gag? Each artist is unique and that is OK! It is better than OK! How boring it would be if we were cookie cutter artists.

As you are analyzing your studio, think about the types of projects you work on and the steps you go through as you work. Are your work stations set up so they are conducive to a convenient flow as you go through the process? If you are tripping over cords or having to walk around a piece of furniture or equipment every time you do a certain part of your creating, try to determine if there is a better way to arrange things in your studio so what you need is at hand as you need it. Keep items you use most often the closest to where you use them. It might even help to write down the steps you go through as you work. Is your sewing machine at one end of the room and the iron on the other side of the cutting table? This is a pretty obvious problem, but I'm simply pointing it out as an example.

I'm just saying you can ask for advice and opinions, but go with what works for you and what pleases you.

The photo of the tote on this post is a re-do I created. (Most of you know I love roses). You can find more about it here. I was intending to use the tote for storage in my studio, but it had other ideas, so I gave in. A tote like this would work well for containing tools, buttons, glues, tags, etc. you use often. You could customize something like this tote to suit your own taste by leaving it rustic, painting it with bright colors, country colors, embellishing it with rhinestones or decoupage it with vintage images. It is just an example of how you can add items to your studio to personalize the space. Be on the lookout at garage sales, flea markets or thrift stores for other items you could customize for your studio.

Have a memorable weekend.

Handy Carry-All and more Links

I'll have that 'to go' please. Classes sometimes require you to take supplies with you, as does getting together with friends for a fun afternoon/evening of crafting, or just going shopping for pieces and parts to finish a project. Here is an inexpensive, convenient and readily available carrying case. You do not need to go to an art/craft shop to find one since they are available at many drug stores and stores like Kmart or Dollar Stores that carry a variety of items. What is it you ask. It is a travel case for toiletries! I used to travel extensively for my job and always kept one of these packed with my travel supplies. I no longer travel as I had and kept moving this from place to place...out of the way. Then it occurred to me! This would be great for transporting so many things.

If you are a decorator or just redecorating a room in your home, it is a handy case to grab as you head out the door to look at carpeting or furniture, lighting or anything else for your room. You can carry your fabric samples, color swatches, carpet sample, floor plans, measurements, trims or wood finish samples. I hate pulling these things out of my purse and then placing them back without looking like I'm stealing something off the shelves. Having a transparent travel bag means you don't have to constantly pull fabrics out to compare with an item in the store. You can carry the bag separate from your purse if you like and when you want to see if the upholstery fabric for example will match, you just hold the bag up next to the store's item!

Don't forget any patterns you might be using, measuring tape, small notebook and pencil for jotting down prices or other information you may need to refer to later. Take along any trims you would like to use somewhere in the room. Maybe you have a color photo of a favorite painting you own that will be in the room and you want to coordinate colors used in the painting. You may want to include a color image (from a catalog or even a photograph) of the bedspread you will have in the bedroom or dishes that will be displayed in the kitchen/dining area. A case of this sort would work equally as well for carrying patterns, buttons, fabrics, threads etc. that you will be using to make a blouse, dress or other clothing.

As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, this bag would be great for taking supplies with you to class or even on a trip. You can place scissors, your needle case, and other basics in a separate case such as a makeup bag and place that inside one of the pockets of the travel case. Buttons, beads, other embellishments can go in baggies or small bottles. There should be a travel case to accommodate your paint supplies and applicators, sculpting materials, doll making supplies, scrapbook papers, adhesives and embellishments, drawing materials or most anything else you may need to take with you.

The particular one I have is divided in two halves with zippers for each half. The two halves then close together with another zipper. Books and patterns could fit between the two halves. It also has a handle which is really a plus. Some travel cases have a larger single compartment with pockets on the outside. There is a huge variety available. The clear plastic ones are usually pretty inexpensive and waterproof. Of course there are also some pretty cloth bags if you prefer. It's your personal choice!

As I said, separate your items with baggies if necessary. If it involves sewing, maybe one of those cute little sewing kits with needles, mini scissors, threads and thimble would be all you would need to add for travelling.



I hope this gives you some ideas and that you find the info useful.

Now for some links to other sites where there's some wonderful organizing ideas...

LINKS:


Mary Anne, who is a dear sweet friend, has been busy downsizing and organizing and has a wonderful idea for storage of clear stamps on her blog, Magpies Mumblings. She is very talented also, so while you are there take a peak at her other posts.
http://magpiesmumblings.blogspot.com/2011/01/oh-oh-mess.html

There are some great storage ideas here for your studio! Jane at the Borrowed Abode also shares a tutorial on making a jewelry display from an old window along with some other terrific ideas.
http://theborrowedabode.com/category/officedressing-room-makeover/

Follow this link for some ideas on organizing your supplies.
http://crafted-spaces.blogspot.com/2011/01/organizing-your-supplies.html

I don’t know how many of you are familiar with Clip-it-up, but they have come up with a mega organizer you just have to see. Check it out here…
http://simplyreneeinc.blogspot.com/2011/01/clip-it-up-all-in-one-organization.html#comment-form

Celeste found a solution using a steel shelving unit for her fine arts supplies.
http://celestevaughtart.blogspot.com/2011/01/organizing-studio-again.html

That's all I have for this week. I will be (hopefully) painting my office and doing some arranging and other work, so next weeks post may be pretty brief, but I'll do what I can. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Cosmetics Case to Project Case

Again, sorry I have been neglecting this site. I have recycling/repurposing projects in mind but haven't had a chance to work on them. I did get this one far enough along to use and to give you an idea of my intentions. I was cleaning under the sink in the bathroom and ran across this metal, very sturdy makeup case.

It's one of those 'holiday time' gifty items. However, it was quickly becoming a catch-all for all of my almost empty makeup containers or rarely used items.

It was such a sturdy box and the top shallow containers were hinged allowing them to be pulled off to the side giving access to the somewhat larger section underneath. The bottom (or back) had nice rubber pads to protect the surface it was sitting on. The hinges and handle were all good and solid.

I decided this was not a case to send to the landfill. I cleaned it up as best I could for now. I discovered the brush holder that was in the lid was held securely in place with Velcro (a/k/a hook and loop). Later on when time allows, this will make it easy to transform into more of an appropriate holder adapted for my scissors, pins and other supplies.

For now I can use it to hold some supplies such as small scissors, seam ripper, tubes of beads, etc.

I am using mine for a CQ project right now. Since I began doing crazy quilting I have found I need (yes, need) all of my coordinating ribbons, beads, buttons, floss, threads, needles, small scissors, and other embellishments with me nearby. They were strewn on the tabletop. I move from place to place and room to room when I work on my projects whether it be beading or crazy quilting, whatever.

This case keeps most items contained and easily accessible. When I quit working on something for the time being, I simply fold up my block or other project and place it in the bottom, throw other items sitting about inside the case and close the lid.

When I am ready to work on it again it is all right there in one sweet little package easily transportable to where ever I decide to plant myself.

I am loving this piece. I have previously shared photos of my dining room table full of crazy quilting 'stuff', serving as the central hub for supplies. It was always a mess. I will sometime in the future re-do the holder on the lid and will more than likely paint and personalize the overall case, but for now it works just fine. I can see a case like this working for a variety of crafts on the go.

Ideas for Repurposing and More Links

I haven't shared any ideas recently for repurposing items for storage with character. I decided it would be a good idea to share a few things today.

Below is a wire basket on a stand. It is a sort of reproduction type basket I guess. When I saw this I knew it would be something that would work for a multitude of items in a studio. It would be great for holding yarn, rolls of paper, stuffing and other similar items for instance. But since I have begun my venture in crazy quilting and also do some pattern sewing, it occurred to me something similar would work to hold all those pieces of fabric scraps that pile up while a quilt is being cut and pieced together or a pattern or something similar is being cut. I don't know too many people that cut out the pieces of fabric needed and then immediately fold the scraps and put them away. Some sort of basket near your cutting table would help avoid that pile of scraps on the floor. This particular basket could be used to transport your fabrics to where you need them and then could be used to contain the scraps until you had time (and energy) to return them to where they belong. It wouldn't have to be this basket, but might be a wicker basket or box or even a laundry basket. Are there other possibilities you can think of for a similar container? What would you use it for?

I follow a lot of scrapbooking blogs and notice a lot of them have and use tons of ephemera, in the form of vintage post cards and old photographs as an example. I also know many of you use a similar item to those shown below to hold your precious papers. I wanted to include this however, since it may be obvious to some of us, it may not have occurred to others. This would be a great way to keep your favorites in view to help inspire your next project.

The ones shown here was designed to hold cards and photos. This just serves to remind you if you are searching for something with this function, don't forget to look in the antique and thrift stores. Maybe you'll find old baby crib springs or an old gate or even a screen door or window that would work perfect for holding those items. You may even want to remove the screen off the door or window and replace it with some wire or open metal mesh. With wire hooks you can purchase or even make yourself, you can convert any of these to hold jewelry, ribbons, yarn, floss or even tools. This would also work great for your inspiration board!

LINKS OF INTEREST:

Finally, I wanted to share some more links with you that relate to organizing...

Even if you don't design gift baskets, you may have some of the same issues as those that do. Check the following link out for some tips on reorganizing. As you read through it, think about how you can put some of these ideas to use in your studio.
http://forgiftbasket.com/extreme-makeover-increases-gift-basket-studio-profits/

Below is a link to an artist, Sheryl Hawkins, who just redid her studio because she just didn’t like to work in it. She finally figured out why and went about to reconfigure things. If you are uncomfortable in your studio and your not quite sure why, maybe reading this will help.
http://mermaidspalette.blogspot.com/2010/10/studio-makeover.html

Here’s another link to an artist, Lyn Belisle, who reorganized her studio. Click the link if you want to take a peak.
http://mythlyn.blogspot.com/2010/09/studio-organizing.html

Andrew Thornton gives some great tips directed at bead storage and tracking, but I think his tips may also help others such as crazy quilters, scrapbookers, etc. who want/need to track small purchases. Click the link below to go to his site and see what he has to say.
http://andrew-thornton.blogspot.com/2010/10/keeping-organized.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FcePb+%28Andrew+Thornton%29

Check out the link below for inspiration, especially if you have a lot of paints and various mediums to store. Teesha also did a fantastic job of personalizing her space. She has a lot of fun things on her blog, so be sure to check it out!
http://teeshascircus.blogspot.com/2010/09/re-organizing-again.html

Possibility for fabric or trim storage or any number of things!
http://ritamay-days.blogspot.com/2010/09/sofa-table-storage.html

As always, I would love to hear from you with your ideas and comments! I encourage you to email photos of your studio or a storage/organizing ideas to me and I will share them with others on my blog.

If you find any of the links helpful, I would appreciate your letting them know you found them through my blog. I hope you are all having a beautiful fall!

Connie

Today is a Better Day.

Today is a much better day than yesterday. I went for a bicycle ride this morning. The weather was really nice. Yesterday I finished my wasp nest project, finally. Photos are posted on my other blog (click on the yellow rose button to go there). This is what my studio work space was looking like yesterday. I had about four projects going at once. I'm sure you have all been there.

Here it is today. I set aside a couple of the projects to get to later and decided to take some photos before going back to them.

Below is a peak at the wasp nest project. What do you think? To see the finished project, visit my other blog.

Just returned from Barnes and Noble where I picked up a couple of magazines I am anxious to read. I'll be back...

Glass Shade Recycled and Repurposed plus more on Storage and Organizing

As you can see, I figured out what to do with my extra glass light dome/shade that I mentioned in my last post. I was so excited about this project and so please with how it turned out. As I was pondering how I could take advantage of such a pretty piece of glass, I spotted my glass door knob on my studio counter near the glass shade.

You know how an idea just hits you. Well, that is what happened. I simply took the two pieces to a nearby hardware store and explained my intentions to them. They were so helpful and quickly found a bolt and washers that would do the trick. The clerk actually drilled the opening in the doorknob so the bolt would fit into it perfectly. The cost for that and the supplies came to under $5.00. Below is the finished food dome on my glass cake stand. It really compliments my dishes. I will have to set a nice complete table and share it on my other blog.

Below, I am showing it over the dinner plate and on top of the charger which also works great.

Here is a photo of the inside. The bolt is separated from the glass with a flat washer to help protect the glass. You can see on the previous shots I have two washers on the outside under the knob to cover a ridge at the base of the door knob.


A close-up...

You are probably wondering what any of this has to do with studio storage. It actually doesn't, other than the fact this dome can be used over a stash of costume jewelry or other supplies to protect them from dust or as a display piece used by draping a necklace or other work over the knob. With a little thought I am sure you can come up with other ideas.

ON ANOTHER SUBJECT - planning for storage of your supplies and equipment. This can be daunting at times. Below I am sharing a pretty basic list you might find helpful as you plan for storage of your own supplies and materials used according to various mediums. I can't give an exact listing of supplies, equipment and materials you use because each of you are unique and have our own stash of supplies and tools you prefer. I am offering this basic list as a jumping off point for you to use when thinking about what you might have to store in your studio.

By using a list, your personal list, you can break things down to a more manageable process. For instance, you can think about how often you use a particular set of tools, or your glue, or your kiln for instance. The items you use most often you will want placed in the most convenient location at or near your work space. Those items you use only on occasion can be stored more out of the way. Maybe you use everything equally but at different stages of the process. Place those items near the location or work station where they will be used.

Use your list as you search for storage solutions. For example, how many paintbrushes do you have? This will determine how big the holder needs to be. What type of container would work best to store them? You know the bristles need to be protected and in the open to dry properly. Look around until you find the right sort of container to accomodate your brushes? Most people store them upright. Maybe you can cover clean vegetable cans in a fabric or paper that coordinates in your room. If you have a lot of brushes, maybe you can nail or hang the cans as a grouping on the wall, or set them on a shelf nearby or keep them close by on your work table. When you are finished sourcing an appropriate container for the brushes, you can then move on to the next item on the list. The list will help you focus on each type of supply, tool, and piece of equipment separately without becoming too overwhelming. Don't try to figure it all out at once, but one by one, breaking it down to bite size pieces. Before you know it you will have everything where you need it and in a proper container.


STAINED GLASS: patterns & books, mosaic cutter, strip cutter, oval template, paints, glass, large table, copper foiling, lead came, wire, roundels, flux, grinder, glass cutters, glass saw, oil, soft brush, kiln


STAMPING/SCRAPBOOKING: books, tools, stamps, stamp pads, punches, papers, scissors,
glues/adhesives, embossing powder, trinkets, inks, equipment, trinkets, ribbons, small embellishments, buttons, photos


SEWING: books & patterns, sewing machine, scissors, thread, fabric, seam ripper, iron & ironing board, table, buttons, snaps, hooks & eyes, trims, seam binding, interfacing


SCULPTING: books, sculpting tools, clay, canvas, glazes, kiln for ceramics


KNITTING: books & patterns, knitting needles, yarn, scissors


CROCHET: books & patterns, crochet hooks, scissors, yarn


EMBROIDERY: books & patterns, hoops, scissors, thread, fabrics, iron & ironing board


TATTING: books & patterns, shuttle or tatting needles, thread


WEAVING: books & patterns, scissors, crochet hook, needle, beads, loom, threads, graph paper


WATERCOLORS & MISC PAINTING: books, water tub/containers, paintbrushes, brushes, salt, solvents, etc, palette knives, tissues, sponge etc, frames, watercolor paper or canvases, tube and/or bottle paints


PAPERMAKING: books, frame/screen, blender, plant materials, pulp, tub, towels, blotters


BEADING: books, tools, wire, thread, needles, patterns, findings, beads of various types and sizes, weaving materials, cords, chains, seed beads, crystals, bugle, embellishments, spacers, kiln for fusing


WIRE WORK: anvil, tools, books, rivets etc., various metals, wires, rods, beads



MISCELLANEOUS, GENERAL OR MIXED MEDIUMS: scissors of some sort, glue or other adhesives, beads, threads or other embellishments, patterns, books, misc tools


I hope these lists work as a starting point for you. It is such a personal thing since each artist works differently. Just as your creations are unique, so is your technique and style. While one designer may incorporate buttons into scrapbooking, another may instead use beads in everything.

I would love to hear if the list makes sense to you or if there is anything you would like to add as far as ideas. Have you tried this and did it help? Have you tried something similar that you would share with us?



Is the dome something you feel you could use in your studio? Have you made anything using these glass shades? If you have created other ideas I would love to have you send me an email and photo that I can post. Same with storage ideas you would like to share. Send me a photo via email and I will be happy to post it and give you credit.



I have been neglecting my blog here for awhile. Hopefully you have all been vacationing or spending more time outside enjoying the summer and haven't noticed.