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.
Hello, Hello,
Another Studio Saturday with Jangles, where has the time gone? I have lots going on in the studio this week. I started out the week thinking it was going to be spent getting ready for my upcoming Holiday projects. They start in a couple of weeks and I was trying to get on top of things, you know actually have enough stock for sales and web orders.
Things all changed mid week. I got a call from a woman who is the director of the Norcross Art Fair, in Norcross Georgia. (It’s a suburb of Atlanta.) She had an opening in the show and wanted me to take the spot. I have been tossing around the ideas of doing an art fair again. I used to do them when I started out making tiles, but that was 13 years ago. It’s been a long time since I have done one, but they are fun. I told her yes, the only catch is the show is in a week and a half. I quickly changed gears in the studio and got to work.
My first order of business was cleaning. My studio doesn’t quite look the same as the picture above. Here is my work table. Yikes! So I cleaned and ordered supplies, gathered all my half finished projects and started sorting out beads for jewelry.
The director really likes my new work in my Jangles Emporium shop, so I am starting on bags and wall hangings this weekend. I have a list a mile long but I am having loads of fun getting ready. I have been blogging about it every day on my blog and will continue to do so until show time. If you want to read more you can find it here.
So this leads me to my question of the week… Will you try anything(we’re talking beads here) ? I am always up for something new to get me out of my grove. It makes me think differently and grow in my work. If you have tried something new, how has it helped you?
Leave me a comment and you could win one of my new Christmas Tree beads. They are so new that I haven’t debuted them yet, you’ll be the first person to get your hands on one.
If your wondering about my Holiday projects that I talked about earlier, here’s the scoop…. Starting in a few weeks I will be sending out a free project every week for ten weeks. Sign up for my newsletter here(bottom of the page) to make sure you receive them.
Happy Saturday,
Jennifer Heynen
Jangles
Mikki
September 26, 2009 at 3:24 pmI'm glad someone else's work table looks like mine! Though at the moment I can still see table.
Great studio! That's the kind of studio I dream of having. Thanks for sharing.
Gail
September 26, 2009 at 6:05 pmI love all your ideas.Sure hope you can get my head in right gear.Your new items are lovely.
Heather Powers
September 26, 2009 at 7:42 pmyou amaze me Jennifer, if there was a prize for the woman who gets the most done it would go to you!
I love your new mixed media work.
For me, I have been playing with basic metalsmithing, making my own findings like earwire, headpins and clasps. This has opened up the door to a higher quality of work at a much more affordable price.
Good luck you crazed artist!
Adventures with Millie Making Jewelry
September 26, 2009 at 11:07 pmI love the color combos! I'd consider myself new to jewelry making (3 years) and now that I'm retired I have the time to feed my addiction to my craft. Trying something new makes me feel fearless and increases my confidence! Yet it isn't always pretty…I'm learning!
Sue
September 27, 2009 at 12:52 amYour picture of items is very fun. I am trying different seed bead techniques to add to the lampwork pieces I have been designing and selling for the past 4 years. It is fun to see something develop from tiny little pieces of glass.
Elizabeth
September 27, 2009 at 1:23 amI love your work. So vibrant and original. Can we bottle and sell your energy?
rosebud101
September 27, 2009 at 1:25 amJennifer, you know I love what you do!! I don't know how you do it!
The Joy of Nesting
September 27, 2009 at 1:52 amYikes I think my desk was a rival for your's this morning!! 🙂 But I had to switch gears so beads were picked up for a day or two.
After screwing up my courage I finally drilled a hole in sea glass!!!! It worked soooo well, I for sure say goodby to wire wrapped sea glass 🙂
Pattie 😉
Mazatlan Mx.
OO
September 27, 2009 at 4:39 amCongrats on the show! I hope it's dried out down there by then. I've seen some pictures from all the rain and flooding you've had and so feel for you! Your bags and jewelry pieces look wonderful, I really like the black and white stripes and spots. 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful time doing your show, It's been about that long ago for me too, not sure if I could hack it though! Make sure to get enough rest! Have fun!
TesoriTrovati
September 27, 2009 at 4:57 amI do not know where you get your energy Jennifer! You are amazing!
Good question! I live to try something new. I believe that it is not a good day unless you learn something new. I am frequently agreeing to do something that I have no idea how to do, and then find a way to do it (and look like I knew all my life how to do something I only just learned!) Recently I was given a round, egg shaped rock by a gentleman who wants a necklace for himself from it, no holes, and none requested, so I have to find a way to create a masculine looking pendant with this (jewelry for men would be new!), and also someone who asked me if I can design some jewelry with horse hair of a beloved animal who recently died…hmmmm horse hair jewelry would be new too! Thanks for sharing Jennifer! Enjoy the day!
Erin
Amanda
September 27, 2009 at 5:34 amYour studio area looks very comfortable! I really like your floor – it's probably the most unique standing surface I've seen in anyone's home.
I'm definitely interested in trying anything in the jewelry and beading world! I like finding new things to bejewel, and trying new techniques that other people use often. Since I'm still budding into all of this, the newest techniques I've tried are making rings (to wear on fingers, obviously) and my own jump rings. I have many other things on my to-do list, though… I'm thinking about making a beaded hair net for part of a friend's costume/wedding outfit. I've never made a beaded hair accessory before, so it will be interesting to experiment with!
Susan Z
September 27, 2009 at 10:38 amYes, I love to try new things. I also spent the yesterday cleaning up,organizing my beads. Now I can actually see what I have. I'd love to win one of your creations.
Susan Z
Denise
October 1, 2009 at 12:04 amwhat a fabulous blog you have!
Mel Mel
October 1, 2009 at 10:13 pmI was inspired by the Humblebeads blog to try my hand at Polymer clay. It was fun but I quickly found out that i'm no Heather Powers. (She's quite AWESOME.) I'm thinking about trying to create some resin filled Bezels. They look really cool. You'll never know if your good at something if you never try it.