Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.This week’s winner is Rosebud101! Please send your postal address to the ABS Suggestion Box to receive your zephyr style bead from Lynn!
Today, Cindy Gimbrone opens the door to her studio….
Good morning, Studio Saturday Readers! Today finds my studio and jewelry designing area in a hug mess! Ok, so it’s no secret in my house that I’m not as neat as my husband, the fastidious bean counter(love you honey :-). Even when I’m neat, I don’t live up to his level of neatness. I tell him,
“I’m creative, I need things out to inspire me. I need things right at my fingertips. I create organically, each mess is a work in progress.”
Usually this works for me. I have a limited number of choices and I create the piece and clean up, but….(Come closer so The Bean Counter can’t read this)…I’ve laid out too many choice lately and my “mess” is overwhelming me.
Here’s a good example, I’m working with new beads for the Heartz n Skullz series creating a Punk-Halloween necklace and I just have too many things out! Do I want to use ball chain? (I’ve got cool black ball chain and oooo I have red ball chain too!) I’ve got really cool ribbon in black with white stitching on it, how punk is that? Or what about the blood red coral I have? That would look good with the white, red and black!
I design by setting out all of the elements and re-arranging and adding until it feels right. Too many choices leaves my gut muddled. I can’t decide.
I need to get organized.
In my house I know who to call. Time to hang my head and ask The Bean Counter to help me re-organize. Organization wins today over Overwhelmed Organic.
Before I leave, here’s my question: How do you design in your craft – are you organized or organic?
Leave a comment and you’ll win One (1) Blink Link in Blue.
I look forward to reading and seeing who is organized and who is organic!
LiisaAnn
August 16, 2008 at 1:51 pmI am definately organic and not organized. It’s a reality I am only just beginning to embrace. I have bunches of loose beads and bags of beads on my bead tray, and it’s really time to put tham all in their place. They do have a place, and I can find what I need with a very short search. 🙂 My struggle is trying to limit my choices in which beads to use in a bracelet or necklace project. I tend to try to work too much into it, and take it apart over and over and over trying to get it right.
Amanda
August 16, 2008 at 2:27 pmI suppose I’m somewhere in the middle… when it comes to storing them, my beads are -kind of- organized. All my beads (except the fun, sparkly plastic beads) are in loose baggies, since I don’t have enough compartments for them. The baggies are shoved in the compartments of my two boxes. However, the beads that do have their own compartments compartments usually find completely unrelated beads tossed into their space, because I had an idea about how to combine them.
However, when I start designing a piece, I drag all kinds of beads out and set the ones I think I’ll use aside in the bottom half of one of those little white boxes that you fill with tissue to package earrings in… and start picking things out. Baggies are strewn everywhere. Half of the time I never even use most of what I’ve dumped out into the box. My computer desk is my “beading space,” so I have to pack everything up once I’m “finished,” and it’s all a messy, lengthy process. I hate trying to put all those little beads back in their bags…
Maybe I’m just messy, all around.
abeadlady
August 16, 2008 at 2:57 pmI’m a little of both. My beads are fairly organized, but I’m not good about putting things back when I’m finished with a project. Wouldn’t be so bad, but I do bead embroidery and that required lots of beads for each project. I have big plastic bags with multiple tubes all over the place. I have to periodically sort them all out and put them away.
Arline
Anonymous
August 16, 2008 at 3:02 pmI’m definitely organic, possibly organic to a fault. I just don’t have a lot of space for jewelry making right now, and my dedicated jewelry desk is so covered in beads and bits of things that I don’t have a space to work! Sadly, I can’t seem to find the beads I want once they’re put away…
Hannah
Emma
August 16, 2008 at 3:57 pmabsolutely organic. My worktable is oval so I can shove everything out across it and still have room to work. There are many shelves and drawers and a closet full of plastic drawer cart thingies. They are all full and in use but would I call them organized, um no. I stop and try somedays but it’s painful so I usually go back to creating more mess.
rosebud101
August 16, 2008 at 4:22 pmI am organic! I don’t think I can work in an organized area!
Shoozles
August 16, 2008 at 5:52 pmOh yeah organic-baby LOL Love that term! Up till now I have called it organize chaos but organic seems a little less conflicting. it is strange to know where things are visually but once they are put in to order I am at a loss. Thanks for sharing.
industrialpoppy
August 16, 2008 at 5:59 pmHaha-I think creative types always spread out…kind of like the ideas are pooling out in front of us on the table, spreading slowly as our ideas develop!
But I OWN all of the things that I need to be organized, and I tidy up at the end of each project-kind of gives me a sense of closure on the piece.
CreekHiker
August 16, 2008 at 7:03 pmOrganic… but a bit organized about it. I put beads by color in bins and pull out cafeteria trays to work in. I have trays everywhere. There’s always various projects going on. But I know where everything is. What might appear messy to others is just the way I work.
Sioux
August 16, 2008 at 8:22 pmI am very much organic, whether it’s making a piece of jewelry, painting, designing a new quilt, or writing my columns. Organization! NEVER!
Joy
August 16, 2008 at 8:54 pmI think I’m more of an organically organized beader. I have my book case full of bead boxes organized by colors for quick access, and my most used tools in jars and cans on the table within arms reach. But, the table itself? Pure organic mayhem! I leave it that way on purpose. Random placements of used bits and pieces often times inspire new creations.
I’m lucky enough to have our small dining room to myself for crafting in. We never used it for eating in to begin with so I just helped myself in to using it as my art room!
Gail W.
August 16, 2008 at 10:08 pmMy family thinks I'm completely organic chaos,but I know different.I can find anything in less than 5 min.I have different projects going at different rates.When I first started working with beads,it was at the kitchen table:I had alreadsy taken the circ.saw to it and made a round table into one that was flush to the wall on 1 side.That's because I still sometimes work with stain glass projects& had to have a backboard.Had to move the grinder& all my wonderful tools to the the tool shed,because I quickly found out that those little shards of glass will fly!Anyhow,now I have a CAT.They can get into so many things,like beads,wire,string_oh,everything!So,After I get to a stopping point,If all my storage boxes&jars and rolling drawers are full,I search for high places with walls &stuff around it,get on stepstool and carefully place projects in to that hiding place.I've got pins&nails in the bedroom walls,my side,and hang stuff there,some finished,some mine so that I can put unfinished things into jewelry box drawers& shut them.To me,this is organized.I know where things should be,I must put them away or the cat will.And,this is the big,bad one__I really don't want to vaccum at all.I get a searchlight and get down on my hands and knees and hunt for all the beads that have rolled away that day.I DON'T do this if anyone is around,some people may get the wrong idea if they came over& saw me on all fours,searching for things in the carpet or sofa,I know you know what I mean!Finally,the worst thing I've done,it was late,really late&I had finished a big necklace for a special friend(mom),there were a few last crimps or so-I put it in the oven -on a Sat. night.I slept so good,this was really a big 2month project,had to order so many things!! and what do I hear at 6:30 a.m.?Bing.bang,oh!!NO!!!Boom!It's not my fault-it's moms'!!She did it.And yes,I did,but I had taped the oven shut,written a hugh note,several notes on bathroom mirrows,but-the cat hid the big note,no one saw the blue tape,and someone preheated the oven.To beat it all,I had to clean up the mess at 6:40,and it was all my fault& wasn't I stupid.
This question has brought back so many memories_it was a wonderful question,Cindy.Thankyou,lol,Gail W.
P.s. can anyone tell me why my answers & things have a little gray space at top,while others are blue?
angelinabeadalina
August 16, 2008 at 11:58 pmMessy. . .er, I mean organic, all the way, baby! I don’t straighten up my worktable until there’s an inch layer of stringer bits and shorts covering all the empty space so that I can’t lay a rod down while working. At that point, I have to take a day and just clean it up.
P.S. My beancounter. . .er, I mean DH, is also a gearhead with an incredible assortment of tools in his garage, but I am not allowed in there because I am too messy and my tools actually look used. His tools are pristine and generally have their very own spots in storage places. Methinks it might be a good idea after all for an organic artist like me to invade the haven of an organized tinkerer 🙂
angelinabeadalina
August 17, 2008 at 12:00 amOops! I meant for that last sentence to say “Methinks it might *NOT* be a good idea after all for an organic artist like me to invade the haven of an organized tinkerer :)” Heehee, can ya tell I’d love to get in there and scavenge for things I can use with my glass?
Fab Fibers
August 17, 2008 at 12:09 amI’m organized organic…more than one place in the house has my stuff laid out. It diffinitely drives my husband crazy. He is so totally organized. The only time I pick it up is if I am going away for a while. I’m afraid he’ll take care of it for me!
Gaela
August 17, 2008 at 12:42 amI am most definitely organically un- organized~but there is certainly method to my madness. 90% of the time I can find what I’m looking for. I am also one of those people who has at least 10 projects of some sort going on at one time, I guess because I work with so many different mediums. But as long as I am creating something, my life is wonderful. Cindy, I really love your skull bead series! I also would love to have some of those links ! 🙂
Deb
August 17, 2008 at 1:21 amI'm a hybrid.lol! My supplies are organized, & I can always find what I'm looking for – until I start laying them out. That's when organized chaos kicks in, starting as a small random seed & then growing exponentially to my idea's….which also grow exponentially according to what I see when I open my supplies.
Supplies then seemingly go randomly awol, (can't find 'em – replace 'em with something else!) & change places with each other without any input from me….hiding when I'm looking for them & turning in the most unusual places.
I've realised that some of my beast jewelry creations have come together from a plan going awry because of accent beads & findings becomming terribly disorganized… I need to go with that.
My brain is somewhat organized & I try to be when I am creating, but I have discovered that if I tidy my glass work area the inspiration just doesn't seem to happen as easily when I sit down to torch.
Yep – oranized chaoticly organic – that'd be me.
Denise
August 17, 2008 at 1:33 amokay, when I read the question I read – are you organized or organic in your design. You know there are people out there whose designs are very ordered, geometrical and organized. Then there are those pieces that define organic, unexpected, earthy and well, organic!
So I’m more of an organic beader, and nothing frustrates me more than when I know what bead I want to use and can’t find it, so I do try to be organized. But if my family were looking over my shoulder, they’d fall over laughing!
So, not organized all the time, but you can give me some marks for attempts, in order that I may bead organically!
cheers, Denise
Jenna Franklin
August 17, 2008 at 2:55 amOrganic…gosh that seems like such a nice way for me to say I make a MESS when I create! 🙂 I do a lot of different crafts from beaded jewelry to altered items to scrapbooking and cardmaking. And my process is the same for each. I start, then go off hunting down this or that and end up finding 10 things along the way I’ll pull out “to work on next”…then I forget what I was looking for in the first place, set the original project aside, and start another. Repeat until there are no flat surfaces in my house that aren’t full of a project and realize I HAVE to finish ONE so we can eat dinner somewhere…
SueB
August 17, 2008 at 2:25 pmIn my mind, I am soooo organized. I can visualized what color glass I’ll use and how (hopefully) the end product will look. In reality, I am absolutely organic. If I plan to make a bead in earthy tones, inevitably I end up wanting to use bright colors. Hence all the glass I’ve chosen and laid out for my planned bead ends up mixed up with other bright colors.
Then my mind thinks about the stringers I’ll need to pull for this “new” idea. More glass, more clutter. The end result is that no matter what I plan, I cannot plan the results. Even if I could, I don’t think it would be as much fun. I’m not making beads yet for sale and am still “teaching” myself, so if being organic is the equivalent to my organized chaos, than that’s me — organized organic chaos…. Sue
LLYYNN
August 17, 2008 at 3:08 pmDefinitely organic in the designs, as sometimes they come to pass because I put down something on the workbench next to something else and they snuggle together and the brain says ‘hey – look at that, that’s fun’ and off we go.
I do keep a notebook and sketch little doodles of ideas when they come to me, but I don’t sit down and do a lot of drawings to come up with a design and then follow those designs. I think if I tried that, just making the completed drawing would satisfy the itch of the creative process and I might not make the design after that.
As far as storage, I keep lots of plastic baggies and empty pickle jars around. I can put ‘idea’ combination beads in the baggies, then loosely stuff the bags in the plastic pickle jar – then I can see all of them, but they go back on the shelf easily and even stack on top of each other, so when I get ‘creating time’ I can grab a jar and have what I need inside.
I’m very visual, out of sight is TRULY out of my mind – so I like the clear baggies and clear jars, to help me remember the ideas.
Night Beader
August 17, 2008 at 5:53 pmOrganic is a nice way to say that I am not organized in the least. All of my art areas look like a jumbled mess to everyone but me. I ususally know which pile has that one item I’ll need for the project I’m working on. I’d love to learn lampwork but I know that my organic approach would probably mean me setting the house on fire LOL!
Beadily yours
Susan Feldkamp
nightbeaderatlarge.blogspot.com
Suzann Wilson
August 17, 2008 at 6:28 pmI am definately organic trying to be organized. My issue is that not only do I have beads and supplies for my projects, but I sell beads and supplies to my students at the art school where I teach. They do not have any storage space for me, so I am constantly hauling things back and forth. Right now I am in the middle of re-organizing my boxes (with the help of some of my bean-counter type students!), so my office REALLY looks like a massive bead explosion went off! It doesn’t help that I live 10 minutes away from a convention center that seems to have some sort of bead type of show every other month. (sigh!) So many beads, so little time!
In Beads and Happiness,
Suzann Wilson
noedisigns.com
suzannwilson.blogspot.com
Fire Phoenix
August 18, 2008 at 8:54 amI am very organised. I don’t know whether it’s OCD or something, but I am very organised in my life, so this spills over into my beading. This shows with storage, as I a tray for seed beads (usually organised into relaive sizes), and separate trays for findings, focal beads, threads, wire etc. etc.
When it comes to designing, being as I like to sell my designs, I keep a journal of the designs: I draw the design out, list what components I need, with the price listed next to each component.
I like to know how its going to turn out, although occasionally it doesn’t work out as planned, and I have to delve into alternative methods to complete my jewellery.
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 10:55 amHi Liisaann,
I say embrace your organic-ness! It’s not going to change, a creative process is what it is – you need to create not feel bad about how it is you go about it! 🙂
Be creative – be organic 🙂
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 10:58 amHi Amanda,
I use the space in front of my computer too. It’s where I measure the beads before I post them on my website or etsy shop. Those usually get bagged up and put in my “inventory” drawer so I know exactly where they are when the beads are bought. BUT I also have certain prototype beads or beads I’m trying to figure out how to improve or what to do with, they stay there. Each time I work on my computer, I run the risk of beads falling into my lap.
The Bean Counter just shakes his head at me.
Good thing he loves me :-)!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:01 amHi Hannah,
Right! I have no room to work but I can’t find the beads if they’re put away. Exactly the problem of an organic creative type! I usually clean off a little area and then get to work again.
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:03 amHi Emma,
Let’s hear it for organic – YAY! I have a billion of those plastic drawer thingies – 15 in my office area alone and one wall full of shelves (I hoard books too!) – but as I buy or build the storage I just think I can get more stuff!
Crazy isn’t it? 🙂
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:05 amHi Rosebud –
Yay for organic! You guys are all making me feel better about my creative mess. There are so many of us – very cool!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:07 amHi Arline,
Yes, seed beads demand more organization than larger beads. My seed beads are in those fishing tackle boxes and it’s easy to see the tubes of color through the plastic. That part of my jewelry designing is pretty organized. But I keep the actual fishing tackle boxes out where I can see them, so that’s where the organic part comes in.
Keep creating!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:10 amHi Shoozles,
Yes, it’s a visual thing – gotta see everything. I haven’t figured out how to do that in an organized way yet. Maybe never but does it really matter? 🙂
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:13 amHi Industrial Poppy!
You’re right, spreading out the materials let’s the ideas you have in your head free – gotta put them out there so you can see.
Not owning enough storage might be part of the problem. Hmmm a trip to the store in order?
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:16 amHi Creekhiker!
Cafeteria trays is such a good idea for projects! Larger than the little trays I used for awhile and gave up frankly – tried to put too much stuff on them. Great idea!
There are quite a few of us who are organic in our creative process huh? That’s cool!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:17 amHi Sioux,
Love how you say organic with zest! Let’s all embrace our organic-ness – Whee!!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:23 amHi Joy,
Organized organic is nice – it’s really all about what works for each of us.
What’s up with the dining rooms anyways – I’ve lived in houses where there was a designated dining room but if the kitchen is big enough to eat in – then that’s where we eat – the dining room was always a play room, work space, office whatever we needed the area for. Maybe I’m that way because of the farmhouse I grew up in – we ate in a huge kitchen and it always feels warmer to me to eat in the kitchen.
Thanks for the comment!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:26 amHi Gail,
You’re very creative even in your storage! The stove – that’s a creative place to store your project!
Your name is in gray at the top instead of blue because you don’t have a blogger account or a way to link back to a profile. If you click on the blue names, it will take you to a blogger.com profile and a list of the commentors blog(s). If you don’t have that, your name is in gray.
Keep creating!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:32 amHi Angela,
See this is why we’re sisters in spirit – our work tables probably look exactly alike! Glass rods are strewn all over the place, bits of stringer, millis, wire, etc. are all over the workbench and will stay that way until I can’t possibly put anymore on it. The rule of thumb is when I set a hot glass rod down and it starts sticking to the other rods, it’s time to clean! Groan!
Organic all the way!
Cindy
P.S. – Hubby Bean Counter, or HBC is a computer geek so no tools for him so he’s eyeing MY tools!! I have to sneak into his little tool chest every so often and take back the jewelry tools he’s stolen to fix his computer 😉
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:36 amHi Fab Fibers,
Oh yes! That’s the worst – when HBC decides to organize for me! He doesn’t see any organization in my things so he usually gets a bin and deposits everything in it. When I yell at him he says, “what? there wasn’t any organization in it anyways!”
Ack! Some couples fight over money we fight over organization!
We’ve been married 26 years, we’ve run out of real issues to argue over 😉
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:39 amHi Gaela,
Yes, I always have several projects going on at the same time too. It definitely adds to the organic-ness of the project table!
Thank you about the links and skulls! Here’s a shameless plug – go over to my blog – you’ve got today to submit a name for them and have a chance to win one 🙂
Organic all the way!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 18, 2008 at 11:42 amHi Deb,
Hybrids are good! I love your phrasing – “they go awol.” Yes, beads go missing and I can’t find them – I thought they were there and then they’re not. That’s usually the signal for me that it’s time to call in HBC (Husband the Bean Counter or maybe I should call him the BEAD Counter? LOL!)
YAY for Hybrids!
Cindy
Sharon
August 18, 2008 at 4:22 pmI am definitely an organic designer, I have to see all of my stuff before I can be inspired, however my dog Big Guy loves to help, so I tend to pool all my beads and silver in the middle of the dining room table, otherwise I’m likely to find bits and pieces in the backyard!
Sharon
Cindy Gimbrone
August 19, 2008 at 11:21 amHi Denise,
Designs can be organic or organized and some people will plan out everything before they start to put materials together. I rarely plan out a design that way. I need to look at everything to be inspired by the materials and it seems you do too.
I’m always interested in the process of others, it’s fascinating how we get to the same place. I do so in a “disorderly” fashion as many of my soul sisters do!
Keep creating!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 19, 2008 at 11:24 amHi Jenna,
Were we separated at birth? You’re my creative twin! Yep, that’s my process almost exactly – let’s call it “multi tasking” shall we? wink! Daily I have one goal – finish the project on the kitchen table so we can eat dinner.
Now who’s cooking? I’m too busy with projects! LOL!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 19, 2008 at 11:28 amHi Sue,
Yes – organized organic chaos – what a great phrase! Ah yes, discovering what the glass can do that’s such fun. I spent 3 years making glass before I ever considered selling a bead. I was “old school” that way – felt I had to an “apprenticeship” with a master glass artist before I had enough under my belt to sell anything. Glass is so much more than color, it’s about how it moves and what you can get it to do. You’re discovering it now – in an artistically organic way!
Enjoy!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 19, 2008 at 11:31 amHi Lynn,
YES! Out of sight out of mind – exactly! I forget what I have sometimes and have to go through everything periodically just to refresh my memory.
I love the idea of the plastic baggies in glass jars. What a great idea to keep everything organized yet clearly visible.
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 19, 2008 at 11:34 amHi Susan,
Right, my jumbled messes look like a mess to HBC but it’s there for a reason. Lots of soul sisters here today – love it!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 19, 2008 at 11:37 amHi Suzann,
Transporting beads is just an organic pile waiting to happen, right? As I type away, I have sitting next to me the trays and trays I use for bead shows. I want to re-organize them and sell off the older beads plus I have a private showing for a bead society coming up – so beads have exploded upon the explosion that has been here for awhile.
I agree – sigh – so much glass so little time.
🙂 Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 19, 2008 at 11:40 amFire Phoenix,
I love organization too (obviously because I’m married to a very organized person) – opposites attract? Very cool that you’ve got a well planned out system. I’m sure everything runs very smoothly.
Thanks for sharing!
Cindy
Cindy Gimbrone
August 19, 2008 at 11:42 amHi Sharon,
Seems you Big Guy likes to have a pile for his project too, huh? Wink!
Cindy
cserpentDesigns
August 20, 2008 at 6:18 amI guess I’m mostly organized. All my beads are sorted by color in bead boxes which are stored inside file boxes – but they are at my finger tips. Each project – or project possibility is stored in either a box or a ziplock bag. I can do a few designs in a row but then I just HAVE to put things away before I start another. I guess my anal-retentive engineering/programming background is showing! LOL!
Cindy Gimbrone
August 20, 2008 at 12:42 pmHi cserpentdesigns!
Hey, I’m happily married to an anal retentive Bean Counter type. There’s no Organized Hatin’ here! Everyone has their own way of achieving success – just as long as we don’t share a studio space, we’re all just fine! 🙂
I spent yesterday and will today cleaning out my design/office area. Even this Organic creative type has her limits!
Keep creating!
Cindy