Welcome to Studio Saturday, this where every week one of our editors gives you a peek into there studio. We ask a related question to our readers and hope you’ll leave comments. As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use the key board. The following week we choose a random winner.
This weeks winner is Cindi Congratulations! You have won a pair of Hibiscus charms from Heather.Email Heather with your address and she will get it right out to you.
This weeks Studio Saturday is with Jennifer Heynen.
Hi there, I was asked to step in as a last minute studio post. I am actually in the car today on my way home from a great week at the beach. This is our last week of summer. I can’t believe it but my boys start school this week!
I thought I would show you my studio on the road. I just snapped this photo with my phone. If you read my blog you saw that I cleaned and organized my studio. In doing so I found a ton of beads. I was so excited to create some new designs that I brought them with. My approach was similar to the muffin tin challenge. I placed all of the beads and findings I would need for each piece in it’s own zippered bag. I did bring some extra chain, headpins, etc. just in case.
I made so many pieces of jewelry in this box this week. I have counted 66 so far! Our beach house was right across the street from a bead store! Can you believe it? What are the odds of that? I did run there a few times for necessities.
I don’t sit still and always need a project. This leads me to the question of the week. Do you travel with your beads?
Leave me a comment and you could win a pair of my ceramic beads.
Have a great day!
Jennifer Jangles
gailwhitehead55
August 6, 2011 at 9:45 pmYes,I do always have a bag with beads and tools with me when I go on trips.And,I usually need them.
Kim Hale
August 6, 2011 at 10:11 pmI do not travel with beads, but I do travel with lots of bead/polymer books. I love the idead of putting things together in a bag as it would help get me organized. I love to make the beads but then do not make anything with them as I am off to explore a new technique.
Karen Williams
August 6, 2011 at 10:22 pmI almost always travel with my beads – in fact I travel with two art kits, one for beads and one for sketching watercolors.
My bead kit fits in 5×7 soft plastic box and generally includes all the supplies I need for one to three projects. Since I generally do beadweaving, which is slow, that's plenty to keep me through a week-long trip.
When packing for a trip, I like to choose beads that make me think of my destination in some way. Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it's a more emotional connection.
And I love adding in things I found along the way!
Kristi
August 6, 2011 at 10:33 pmI started beading as a hobby for when we go fishing! I now have too many beads to always travel with, but I have been known to put projects in individual baggies and go!
Kathie
August 6, 2011 at 11:03 pmI only have time to bead when we go camping… So my motorhome is my studio! I also put projects into baggies or small plastic containers. But I'm not as efficient as you; I'm happy to get a pair of earrings or a bracelet finished in a weekend!
JenniferJangles
August 6, 2011 at 11:23 pmKathie,
Wish I had a motorhome, then I could really spread out!
JenniferJangles
August 6, 2011 at 11:24 pmKaren,
I brought drawing supplies too, but had so much fun putting jewelry together I never got to it.
Elaine
August 6, 2011 at 11:44 pmI often have my travel kit – the box of tools & basics that goes to shows with me – and some beads for a few pieces stashed when we go places. And a sketchbook. Don't always get anything made but it's nice to know I have a fun activity to fill a few empty hours if need be.
Cindi
August 7, 2011 at 12:39 amFirst I have to say….I cannot believe I won Heathers charms. This is my very first win ever, and what a great first win. Thank you Heather! I don't travel with beads. Never seems to be enough time or space.
rockcreekcreations
August 7, 2011 at 12:57 amSo you got to go on vacation AND there was a bead store across the street!! How awesome!!
Susanm
August 7, 2011 at 1:26 amI always travel with beads. This year, I planned to assemble the bits for various projects together and put them into baggies – a modified "muffin tin" approach. Ran out of time to get organized so I stuffed everything into a shopping bag. So far, I have made 2 necklaces with another week to go and several longish car trips planned.
yogavq
August 7, 2011 at 1:36 amSometimes yes and sometimes no. It's always more fun if there's something to do, especially when it has to do with beads.
rosebud101
August 7, 2011 at 1:47 amNo, I prefer to find a bead store and buy my beads. After a minute or two, my budget goes away!
Alice
August 7, 2011 at 2:02 amI don't travel with my beads. I easily get car sick (we rarely fly), and once we hit our destination we are full speed ahead with no time to bead. But I do try to buy beads if there is a bead shop around (not that the family is happy about time spent in a bead shop).
susan-june
August 7, 2011 at 4:33 amWhat an inspiring bunch you are, working away at your beading even when on vacation. I never get time to do such things when we go away. My husband and daughter never give me a chance to sit still long enough.
KayzKreationz
August 7, 2011 at 4:36 amI do, but I don't really have a good way to carry them and it seems they always get mixed/messed up. Or I take too many with me. And then I never get the time to really do anything with me. You seem to be really organized in your "travels" with your beads.
Karen Williams
August 7, 2011 at 5:23 amJennifer, I'm not surprised you had no time for drawing – you were far too busy beading! 66 pieces completed – you rock girl!
I hope this is kosher – but here's a link to an earlier blog post with pics of both my drawing/watercolor and my beading kits: http://baublicious.blogspot.com/2011/02/protection-from-being-bored.html
JeannieK
August 7, 2011 at 9:04 amI never travel with my beads because I feel like I would have to pack up my whole studio. All beading projects stay at home.
chicandfrog
August 7, 2011 at 10:18 amIt depends on the journey. When I am out to see some new places, I never bring my beads with me but I always pay a visit to some local bead store. On the other hand, when I pay a long visit to my family, my bead kit travels with me, along with my yoga mat, my books, my music…
Ambra
Malin de Koning
August 7, 2011 at 10:46 amOf course I do! Can't live without them! Gotta keep the hands busy, and even more so when not at home for some strange reason. Maybe because you are not occupied with your normal tasks.
I find it very convinient to do bead stitching projects when I travel. Very handy and it doesn't take up too much place in the packing. My boxes of Delica beads and maybe a jar of mixed seed beads. Fire line thread, scissors, a beading mat, and some needles. I'd make finger rings from peyote stitch, or a bangle from tubular herringbone or other things.
What I make easily becomes small personal presents to people I meet on my trip. I like that.
I like your approach too. With the zip bags. Maybe I'll try that next time.
Please let me win!
maryharding
August 7, 2011 at 11:02 amWe often take long car trips to visit family and I usually bead as my husband drives. A trip can often result in a lovely free form peyote stitch necklace or bracelet.
Love it that your beach house was across from a bead store!!
Lucyblu
August 7, 2011 at 12:13 pmLove the traveling studio idea! And the fact that you vacationed across the street from a bead store is a huge bonus!
JenniferJangles
August 7, 2011 at 12:21 pmYou know what was really funny is next to the bead store was a paint your own pottery store. I did go in and there was a brief moment when I really wanted to stay and paint. But I realized that was a bit too much.
JenniferJangles
August 7, 2011 at 12:22 pmAnd there was ice cream as well, so my oldest son was always happy to walk to the bead store with me.
JenniferJangles
August 7, 2011 at 12:25 pmCongratulations Cindi! Make sure you e-mail Heather.
Steph L.
August 7, 2011 at 3:19 pmI may not always bring beads with me when I travel, but I always find the bead stores wherever I am going so that I can visit them. Nothing better then a new bead store, you never know what you might find.
Erin S
August 7, 2011 at 6:11 pmI never travel with beads. Too hard to get everything I need packed up ad I'm always worried I will lose something.
Sabine
August 7, 2011 at 8:05 pmI always take beads along. I also use ziploc bags to keep each project separate. I always have a crocheted rope in progress. Those are the best since you cannot spill the beads. (These are also great for meetings and waiting rooms and the car waiting to pickup my teen!)
If I am going on a plane, I usually pack a stitching project. The reading light in the plane is a great task light! I have pared down what I bring, leaving any tools that might be confiscated. No scissors – I use a dental floss container to cut thread.
Ann
http://mycriticaleye.com
Paula Lee M.
August 7, 2011 at 9:43 pmI always have several projects with me even if it's only aweekend. My husband likes to fall asleep in front of the tv in the evening and I am night person, this way I always have something to work on.
JenniferJangles
August 8, 2011 at 12:17 amErin,
I lost a flower charm in the car seat and it was for a pair of earrings. I am still determined to find it! I lost my toggles too, so I guess you do take the chance of loosing things.
JenniferJangles
August 8, 2011 at 12:18 amSabine,
I love to bead crochet, it is the perfect take along project.
Betty S.
August 8, 2011 at 12:53 amI always travel with beads and wire. I'm an early riser and that way if someone, ok, everyone but me, sleeps in I'm not going crazy from boredom. And I nearly always find a bead store.
thecolorofdreams
August 8, 2011 at 1:18 amI have taken beads with me in the car. I generally do not get much done though. But 66 pieces of jewelry – Wow!
Beadroe
August 8, 2011 at 3:26 amNo I have never traveled with my beads. I do bring my computer to look at beads while I am away.
Diane
August 8, 2011 at 5:34 amHi, Jennifer
I hadn't taken beads when I traveled until a couple weeks ago. My husband and I were planning a long weekend on our sailboat. I knew from experience that there would be lots of relaxing "down time" and since I'm happiest when busy (especially beading!) I decided to try it. I wish I could use the baggie method but I always change my mind and want a different bead or whatever, so I took a bunch of beads in my chosen color palette and it worked out great!. I will do this again for sure. I'm inspired by your "traveling studio"
Thanks,
Diane
Ashleigh Becker
August 8, 2011 at 1:43 pmI have tried to travel with beads, but usually we are headed to see my husband's family & the visits are PACKED FULL – there is barely time to sleep. I rarely get anything done except maybe a repair because my mother in law breaks a lot of jewelry!
CraftyHope
August 8, 2011 at 4:47 pmDo I? Heck yes!
I can't seem to go on any sort of trip without at least a FEW jewelry supplies. Often I may not get anything made because I'm usually having fun with the other activities. This last vacation, I found a way to pare down what I took and really enjoyed the challenge of having fewer beads with me.
Samantha
August 9, 2011 at 3:43 amA bead store right across from your beach house? Now that's a vacation! I actually have a bead store just down the street from me, so I can't complain 🙂 I rarely go on vacation, but when I do, I like to take crafty projects with me. Thanks for the chance to win some beads!!
Sandi Volpe
August 9, 2011 at 4:08 pmI usually bring my supplies and do not always get a chance to pull them out. My last vacation did not bring any, but sketched new desigsns and visited a bead store and found some great recyled glass beads.
May use the muffin tin challenge this weekend to bring 6-12 projects to put together.
Love your beads.
swopemelmel
August 9, 2011 at 10:55 pmI love to take beads on vacation. Wow a bead shop and a beach house across from one another!!!!! That's Heavenly!!! [email protected]
Cabby Crafter
August 12, 2011 at 1:36 amOh, I love my beads and my plastic organizers and toolbox. I make sure I bring basic tools when going out of town. You'll never know when an idea will come.. haha.