Jewelry Tip Two: Time vs Organization

As I get more and more into making jewelry I've noticed that overall I'm a crazy crafter. Normally I have two or three pieces being worked on, which means my small work table can get cluttered pretty quickly. Which eats up time when I have to start searching through clutter to find a tube of beads or a piece of wire. Since my work space and storage area are so small, I've had to teach my self to organize. Which truthfully is an ongoing lesson. But Thanks to my wonderful husband helping me find ways that work for me, I have multiple storage trays that fit nicely into a wheeled tote. My working glass seed beads are in separate circular trays that are screwed together to form storage tubes. All this allows me quick organized access to things I need.

I lose less time searching in clutter, but the key to this tip is not being organized but staying organized over time to save time. I've discovered that if I spend a little time properly storing and organizing things, I don't have as many issues later. Especially when I restock basics. If I just toss them on my table I have a chance of not just using up much needed space but also risk misplacing items I might need. Which can truly annoy me when I'm trying to finish a piece. So if I spend a little time keeping my self organized I get more time to finish projects. An added bones is that every time I organize I seam to see bits and pieces that can inspire me for my next project. Inspiration for me goes hand in hand with organized creation.

So to save time spend a little time discovering your system to being organized. For me it's trays, bead tubes, and circular stackable beads trays. Once you have your method spend a little time every week keeping yourself organized. The time will be well spent.


- FKB Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Jewelry Making Tip One

Ok, so I've been asked to share a few tips for those who want to start making their own jewelry. First, I must say that I am by far a hobbyist who loves learning so what I know now will change as I grow in the craft. But over the next few weeks I'll release one tip a week. Open discussion on the tip is encouraged.

My first tip is planning vs inspiration:
Many times as I peruse a bead store or craft store I see a bead, charm, or a bit of wire that inspires me. This can be a prefect way to create, if you have everything on hand at home to complete the piece. It's taken me almost two years of adding little bits and pieces to my supplies that a moment of inspiration doesn't hamper my creativity. But when I first started I wasn't so lucky. I'd forget the other items, buy my beads and head home ready to start. Only once there I'd remember all the other things I needed. Then I'd spend another few trips to the stores or Amazon trying to collect all the pieces I need. But by the time I have it all my inspiration is waned a little or even worse I've moved on. This can be devastating if you do it over and over. Eventually you can loose focus on creating completely.

So here's my tip, be inspired but also plan out what you need to complete. If it's a semi-precious beads do you have wire findings, pliers, spacers or complimentary beads, wire, and a planning board? If it's the latest colored seed beads do you have a pattern, bead thread, matching clasp, or even enough beads? When you see that bit of inspiration stop and think for a second. Ask yourself how you want to use it then rattle through what you need and what you have at home. If you need a little bit of inspiration on how to use what's got your fancy take a second to look at a jewelry magazine or how to book. Once you know what you like and you have what you need then go and create.

Side note: Many times I need to go to multiple stores or websites to gather all the pieces I need for a complicated piece. But for me that's half my fun as a crafter. Its also why I have storage boxs full of pieces waiting for that last little bit I see in my mind what I want to create and what I need. I also collect and store bits and pieces that catch my intrest until I have a need for them because I am so selective. But it is so much a downer to get all the beads and stones but not have the findings and wire because I forgot to plan out that part of piece. It always fustrates me to be ready to work but not able. So when you hit inspiration take a moment to plan, I know I do. Below is an example. I had a lot of of seed beads, but it took finding the right base wire to bead around to make this piece. At another store I found the right crystals to highlight the pattern.



- FKB Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A New Piece

Trying a new medium today I made this nice new necklace that is going into my jewelery box. This piece is eight glitter stones embedded with glass flowers. The metal chain and flower links are made of antic brass. Overall it is a nice affect for a casual piece. Though not a lot of people who have viewed it liked it. The lines were not as nice as they would have liked. Though the stones were well received.

- FKB Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Not Right For One, But Right For Another

In the spirit of crafting and friendship I worked on a nice simple piece of jewelry that someone asked me to make. I love practicing my wire work, so was excited to give the piece a try with subdued black painted material and sparkly glitter stone embedded with glass flowers. The black chain and wire is one of my harder mediums because the paint can chip off if I over do the pressure and the wire bending. So it is always a challenge to form perfect wire wraps that don't lose paint. After a few hours I managed to get five stones onto wire and connected to the chain. Which made a nice long larent. Only it turned out that the piece wasn't large and gaudy enough to fit my friends taste, or at least that's what she told me when she saw the piece. So like a good soul who hates to wast supplies I re-worked the chain and formed a multi strand piece. It was my son, Colin, who decided after seeing me take the completion photo that the piece looked like something Nana would like. So we took it over to her place to see if she wanted the piece. Colin was definitely right, the piece did suite Nana much better. I still haven't made a gaudy piece for the friend yet. Even though I have more of the stone left. I just cant get into massive gaudy pieces.

Simply For Family

This piece was made for a a family member who end up at the hospital. I was shopping at my local bead store when one of sales clerk started talking about how stones have healing and emotional properties. Ive heard this a few times before, but never bothered to put faith into it. But thinking of the rough time a family member has had in the hospital, I thought I'd take her advise and make a piece for her. The stone is amazonite. According to my rep at the supply store it is believed to be the "Hope Stone" and is very lucky. If you put faith into the meanings of stones then this one is believed to promote kindness, balance, practicality, and physical stamina. All off which she needs in her time of healing. The other reason for the stone, I love the color of soft green. I paired the stones with simple wire and beads. In the beads I added jade, jasper, and earth greens to balance the stone. Since the necklace turned out so nicely I added a set of earrings so that they could be a complete set. In fact I loved the piece so much that I've since purchased two more sets of the stones and beads in case I want to make another couple of sets.