Feeling Squished

I should have photo examples for you, but I don't.   Just a question I'd like some input on!  

I'm wanting to make a functional work space.   

First, I'll tell you my dilemma.    I currently work in 3 locations:

1) Office/Workspace-- A very small former bedroom that I use both as an office for my library job I do remotely and for my beadwork, bead storage, photography, storage of mailing supplies, storage of jewelry ready to sell, equipment such as embosser, paper cutter, etc.   It's so crowded I have a small table on top of a larger table.  The small table has my light tent on it.   Biggest problem:   a futon....nice to rest on, but takes up too much room.   Advantage:  Have most of my things together.  Would like to have more so I wouldn't have to run from room-to-room.

2) Garage-- I use a small portion of a kitchen-cabinet turned work bench that holds my metal-working tools and equipment.  There are handtools such as my collection of 4 (garage) hammers, dapping blocks, disc cutter, stamps, files, saws, and more.  There are larger pieces of equipment such as a grinder/buffer and a tumbler, as well as sheets of copper and brass.   Everything is always laying on top of everything else as my husband and I inch our way toward the center zone for more territory.   Only there is no more territory.   Biggest problem:  Not climate controlled, too little space.   Advantage:  keeps noisy tools out of the main part of house.

3) Kitchen-- My latest take-over.   Never in my life have I spent so much time in the kitchen!   And still no food to show for it!     I moved the antiquing and patina processing of my metal components indoors when it was in the 100s this summer.  It's still over 90 degrees many days.  This winter it will be too cold for the garage.  So I cut and hammer  and file metal in the garage, then rush in to the kitchen to finish the process.  Problem?   This is anything but tidy-looking in a pretty open area of the house.   I used to move it every day, then found myself moving it several times a day, until it just came to rest there permanently.   Advantage:   Right near the sink and water.   Both the kitchen and garage have cabinets and work table that are high enough I can stand and not bend over.  My back is grateful!  




Okay, so any ideas on how I "FIX" this?

• My first thought is to move the futon out of the workroom and move in.... cabinets?....or a work bench?... or a tall table?....so I can gather my tools together.   (Wish I had running water though!  It's not like I have to go "fetch a pail" though.  It's just around the corner!)

• Expanding in the kitchen or the garage are not really options.

• Moving to the basement is an option.  I can connect to the internet, there is running water, built in cabinets (short ones though, but lots of them), windows (it's a walk out basement).  There's much more room, it just has to be "repurposed."    Down-sides:   It's an open shared space so I don't have the ability to shut a door when I'm working my library job and need quiet.     I'd have to take the stairs several times a day which is not easy for me.   In bad weather, I'd be sharing the space with our pet dog and I'm allergic to dander...which is why he stays downstairs and I stay upstairs.   Hmmm....

• Keep things as they are and go nuts?  :-)

Ideas?   What suggestions do you have for me?   Any links to photos?   Suggestions for work tables/benches/cabinets that work well or don't work well?   

Any and all ideas welcome!  Funny stories are welcome!  Wild, crazy brainstorming is welcome!

Thanks for your help in getting me "unsquished" and organized!

Sharyl

P.S.  If you have a similar question or problem, please feel free to post that in the comments too!  Maybe someone will have a suggestion for you as well!

* * * * * * * *

Tool bench:  http://www.wpclipart.com/tools/hand_tools/toolbox/workbench.jpg

Downstairs: http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/BW/stairs_elevator/.cache/stairs_down.png

Upstairs:  http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/BW/stairs_elevator/.cache/stairs_up.png

Cairn Terrier:  http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/dogs/C/.cache/Cairn_Terrier.png

* * * * * * * * *

Chatting with Natalie Pappas

Do you recall this necklace from the March 2012 Art Bead Scene Challenge? If not, you can go to my blog entry for the March ABS Challenge to see a photo of the inspirational art piece, "Street Scene in Montmartre: Le Moulin a Poivre"by Vincent Van Gogh, read about the design process, and get a close-up look at the art beads created by Natalie Pappas.

I tell you this not to brag on my great necklace (ha!) but to brag on my great taste in beads!  :-)   Because the truth is.... 

...one of the bead styles I used in that necklace, made by Natalie, has just been published in a book released today, June 19th, called "Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry," by  Lorelei Hill Eurto and Erin Siegel!    

I'm sure the book will be selling elsewhere,  perhaps at jewelry stores near you, but it is on sale at Amazon starting today if you are looking for a copy to buy ASAP.   (Remember that many local libraries will it carry too.  If not, you can request they purchase a copy for their collections!)   

You can buy more of these fabulous (now famous) beads at Natalie's store, NKP Designs.

And while you are checking out "all things Natalie,"  if you drop by her blog, you'll find her interview with me!   It was great fun and a great honor to appear on her blog.  Hope you enjoy it too!   

Many thanks to Natalie for the interview and for continuing to deliver wonderfully creative beads for us all to use!   Continued best wishes!

Sharyl ~ Sharyl's Jewelry  

Take 3 Giant Steps Back--Then We'll have a Give-Away!

I'm doing so many new things lately that occasionally I leap  before I've got all the rules down.   Thing is, I never knew there could be so many rules.   (My family would totally disagree--I've often been accused of making up rules!)  


But alas, in reading through a rather hefty volume having to do with marketing on Facebook, I've come across a bit about seeking permission through Facebook before hosting promotions there.   ...And a second bit about not offering gifts on Facebook for people "liking" your page.   


So... that means I goofed and yesterday I just announced an offer on Facebook that would be another goof.   Mid-stream, I'll need to change how I manage the upcoming give-away and I apologize to anyone caught in the middle.   


So, first I'll take  3 GIANT STEPS BACK:   

• I won't automatically put anyone's name in a drawing who "likes" my "Sharyl's Jewelry" page on Facebook.   

Then, ONE STEP TO THE SIDE: 

• I will let you know that I would REALLY APPRECIATE it if you would "like" my "Sharyl's Jewelry" page on Facebook if you haven't already done so.   I would also welcome sharing the page with others to help spread the word.  

Finally, 3 GIANT STEPS FORWARD!

• When we finally reach 50 "Likes" (which will enable me to get free advertising on Facebook),...  I will personally be so excited and gratified that I will have a drawing for ANYONE interested in winning the "Trellis Pendant" I made for the January Art Bead Scene Challenge.    

"Trellis Pendant" -- Entered in the Jan 2012 Art Bead Scene Challenge

• All you have to do to be entered is... comment to this  blog post that you would like to be entered.  No strings attached.  (I really think it's much better this way anyway!)  You can be a member of my blog (or not), like or follow me on Facebook (or not).   I'll announce the winner on this blog and on Facebook then ask for the winner to contact me privately with address info.    

• The drawing will be held on the blog and will not be associated with Facebook except that I will make my correction there and encourage people to come to this post to comment if they want to sign up.   

Hope I didn't lose anyone in that explanation!   And, hopefully, I'm in alignment with rules now.   (I make a terrible rule-breaker, so I get the goose-bumps when I discover I've broken one!)  


Okay, back to the fun and games now!   Please play along!  




Sharyl
Sharyl's Jewelry


P.S. During the making of this blog entry, no actual monkeys were harmed.  These however are the out-takes:

           Sharyl upon reading FB rules.     Sharyl after bringing give-away under compliance.

Want to leave a comment
to sign up for the give-away?  
Keep scrolling...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Graphic Credits:


Monkey reading:  http://www.wpclipart.com/education/reading/reading_2/monkey_browsing_at_the_library.jpg


Another monkey reading:
http://www.wpclipart.com/education/reading/monkey_reading.jpg


Happy monkey:  http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/primates/monkey/.cache/monkey_happy.png


Dancing monkey:
http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/primates/monkey/dancing_monkey.jpg


Screaming monkey:
http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/primates/monkey/monkey_c/.cache/screaming_monkey.png


Smiling again monkey:  http://www.wpclipart.com/animals/primates/monkey/monkey_c/.cache/monkey_profile.png


Green arrow down:  http://www.wpclipart.com/signs_symbol/arrows/round/.cache/button_arrow_green_down.png

Please leave comments, 

including wishes to be included 

in the  "Trellis Pendent" 

Give-away Drawing) below!  Thanks!

I heart macro: Treasures - From my Living Room

I've never been one to have treasures because they are worth a lot of money.  Something is a  treasure to me ...just because I like it, ...because it  brings cheer or joy to me in some way, or ...because it is meaningful to me for some reason--typically because it reminds me of someone I love.

I started photographing wooden furniture 

for this week's "theme."  

I found it much more challenging than I expected! 

The wood reflected light so much!

Items kept looking washed out, white, too red, etc.

I learned a bit about photographing wood in this session.

This piece is a "treasure" 

because it belonged to my mother-in-law,

who I loved dearly.

This is another interesting wooden piece of furniture.

I like the lines.

My late mother bought it for her parents 

when she first started working.

It was returned to her when they passed away, 

and she gave it to me when I moved to my first apartment.

So it's a "treasure."

Along the way, I decided not to limit myself to wood.

This basket has no deep sentimental value.

I just really like baskets!

My husband groans every time I bring another one home.

This is one of a pair!   These are very tall baskets.

These are inexpensive metal foldout shelves--

like a bookcase that can fold completely flat.

We use it for storing movies.

A plant

(in a basket of course)

sits on this top shelf.

I just like the lines.

Back to the wood...

This piece and the few following

are from a rocking chair

my parents bought for me

 from a friend of my grandmother's.

My dad redid the seat and sturdied the wood.

My mother helped with the refinishing.  

They were a great team.

Another sentimental treasure.

The lampshade from a cheap Tiffany-wannabe-style lamp,

but I love it.

(If you love Tiffany lamps,

you might enjoy this book as much as I did:

"Clara and  Mr. Tiffany" by Susan Vreeland.

More about that here and here.)

Finally, a "treasure chest"

which looks like a "treasure chest"...

#20:   "Treasures"

....which I bought years ago, just because.

Hope you enjoyed my tour of living room treasures!

Be sure to visit all the other troves at:

at Studio Waterstone

Events Worth Celebrating

My topic today is a little different.  I'd like to bring  attention to a couple of upcoming events I find of importance.  (Of course, I've managed to work jewelry in at the end.  It's not my jewelry, but you can shop if you like!)


Wednesday, Sept. 21st, is the International Day of Peace. I hope you'll take a moment of your day to watch this documentary on how one person started an international movement toward peace:  "Peace One Day."   
It asks the question, "What will you do for peace?"

My answer to the question "What will you do?" is to help spread the word of this day through this medium since it is available to me.  That seems so simple, yet I feel very fortunate to be able to do that freely.  The same Amendment that allows me Freedom of Speech has a connection to the next event...
  

September 24-October 1, 2011 is Banned Books Week.  It exists to celebrate the U.S. First Amendment Rights that give us the Freedom to Read.  For more information on this event, and a list of frequently banned and challenged books, please visit the American Library Association's website, "Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read."   Challenges to having books accessible to the public in library collections have been made on classical literature, children's classics, religious texts, popular fiction, comics, and other genres.  (And I'm speaking about in the last few years.)   Don't be surprised to find a favorite book of yours in these lists.


Regarding jewelry:

• If you are in the mood to shop to support this cause, check out these bracelets sold at the ALA Store featuring banned books.  (I don't know if they are handmade, but they are still very cool!)   
• I also found these library-related jewelry items on Etsy.  Who knew?!  :-)
• To find jewelry with peace as its theme, take a look at this Etsy page.  There are some lovely things!

Thanks so much for listening.   Next time we'll be back to creating our own jewelry and the "CHALLENGE: Designing Jewelry for Special Audiences!"  (**By the way, I'm moving that Sept. 22nd deadline back to Sept. 28th, hoping to give everyone more time to submit your ideas!**)


See you then!  --Sharyl
Sharyl's Jewelry (& Librarian)  --------------------------------

P.S.  While I know she follows many blogs, I'd like to officially welcome Lori Anderson to our group of followers!  It's an honor to have her join us!  Lori is well-known in the jewelry world.  She has several sites including the blogs, "Pretty Things," and "An Artist's Year Off," and her website where she sells her jewelry ("Lori Anderson Designs," ).  She is the author of many articles as well as a forthcoming book.  You can read more about her fascinating life journey on her website.  


As I mentioned recently, Lori organizes the Bead Soup Blog Parties.  Check out the most recent results!  I've got the advertisement for the next party up on the right side of the page, but I'm having trouble linking to the information.  While I work that out, you can link to it from here.   


Thanks again, Lori, and welcome!
--Sharyl
--------------------------------------------------------------------
*Photo Credit:  NASA. "Peace in the Galaxy." 


*Photo Credit:  Stack of banned/challenged books by Sharyl, 9/2011   (Just a few from our family's collection!)


*Visit here to learn more about ALA's stand on Intellectual Freedom.

Office/Workspace Re-do

Sometimes looking at or experiencing something inspires my jewelry.   At others, a piece of jewelry inspires something else I'm doing.  The latter was the case in my recent "Office/Workspace Re-do."

Finding Space:  What was once a small bedroom in our house functions as office and work space for the two small businesses I have.  One takes very little space actually, a laptop, Internet connection, cell phone, calendar-- the basics.  The jewelry work could use a whole lot more space! I've never been known as a "neat freak" when it comes to my desk, (anyone who knows me would call that a tremendous understatement!),... but otherwise prefer things somewhat orderly.  When I moved all my jewelry-making activities to the same area as my other business recently, I realized I barely had room to maneuver!   So it was time for an office/workspace overhaul!

Organization:  The first thing I realized, and in a hurry, was that I need more shelving, and that I needed the units to go much higher than the 3 shelves each my former 2 cases had.   I looked everywhere for book cases, utility shelving, and other storage solutions, but couldn't find units that would fit my needs, budget, and space.  I didn't want particle board shelving because it chips and bends too easily under the weight of books and tools.  Solid wood cases seemed way out of my price range or were too small.  So I started hitting home improvement stores, garden centers, antique malls, and craft/hobby stores.  Utility shelving seemed an option, but without sides, I imagined things toppling off, and the shelves were too wide for the small space I had.






I decided to purchase solid pine stair risers for shelves and use wood crates in several sizes and directions for the braces.   This gave support to the shelves without taking away space. The current shelves are 11" wide, 4 ' across, and have 5 shelves.   (Hopefully, they are arranged in a way that they will be sturdy and stay balanced.  I had planned to add another shelf , but changed my mind the higher I went.   As I've seen noted on other sites with open shelving using blocks, bricks, and other materials, this type of shelving is  not advised for use where children or others might attempt to use them to pull up or balance themselves.)   Finally, I placed baskets of similar color schemes between the crates to help tidy loose electrical equipment, tools, business and jewelry supplies. 

Color:  I wanted something different in terms of color for my "new room."   I'm not sure it had a color scheme at all before!   A few items in the room (such as carpeting, my office chair, and other furniture had--or incorporated--some medium shade of blue, but that's about all one could say for it.  


One of my favorite color schemes is the light greenish-blue of turquiose and aqua.  While brainstorming for ideas for the room,  I looked at the jewelry I was wearing (shown below), when I got the idea that turquoise and coral would be a refreshing change for that room. It's bright, cheerful, and energetic--yet can also be soothing, calm, and relaxing. 

I didn't want to spend a large amount on the room though, just put a splash of color in it, primarily using items that I already had.   So I went looking about the house. 

 

I found some turquoise/aqua and white cotton fabric that I used on cafe rods with silver hoops/clips for new curtains.   I draped a very long beaded necklace of the same color that was my mother's across one of the windows as a constant cheerful remembrance of her.   (She enjoyed her beads too!)

Since this aqua shade is one of my favorites, I found other pieces of aqua and coral/orange I already had in this room and others I could pull together that otherwise had gone unnoticed. 

Texture:  Because the carpet is primarily  blue, I moved a textile wall hanging from another room here that had both navy and aqua.     A desk lamp with a navy blue glass shade that was once my son's became mine.  


Finally, the coral became a slightly more orange-like accent color, used sparingly in a vase of orange sunflowers in a dark navy glass vase.   Orange fabric covers a couple of lidless baskets.  A muted coral and blue are woven into pillow cases on the room's futon (see photo above).


My walls contain a few pieces of graphic art my son has made (in the appropriate color-scheme, of course)! And I am surrounded by pegs and hangings with my necklaces on ribbons, ready for sale.


It's not fancy, and I didn't spend a fortune, but it's a much more pleasant, colorful, and cheerful place in which to work and create.   (An added bonus is I can walk from the door to my desk chair without fear of tripping!)  


------------------------------------------------------------


See the jewelry Sharyl creates in her new room at Sharyl's Jewelry website.

Hand-crafted Jewelry: The many ways of learning

• A select few people are fortunate enough to learn the art and craft of jewelry-making by being enrolled full-time in university art design programs or attending art institutes. Nothing can quite compare with intensive study with master artisans. 
• Some students enroll in credit classes through local community colleges where they can take one class or many and be instructed by art professors and professionals. 
• Still others attend workshops at community centers and jewelry/craft stores. These also provide wonderful opportunities to learn fine design and jewelry-making skills.

However, if these don’t fit your schedule, budget, or life-plan at the moment, don't give up. 

There are many opportunities to learn!

---

1) Your local public library is likely to have many books on jewelry making.   There are books that discuss tools, materials, techniques, jewelry design, and sample ideas.   There are also books on how to start a jewelry business, how to price jewelry, sell and market your items, and tax-related information should starting a business later become an interest.  Most libraries will have a catalog on their website where you can search for items by keyword, subject, title, or author; or you can consult your local librarian for assistance.

                                   

Scrolling and flattening are two wire-working techniques  

that can be found described and illustrated in jewelry-making books.

See more hand-crafted earrings.

2) The Internet can be helpful in many ways:  

• "How-to" websites such as...  http://jewelrymaking.about.com/od/beginnerscorner/u/Basics.htm compile information of interest to those just starting to make jewelry. 

• You can search www.google.com or another search engine to find more information on your particular topic of interest.    

• In addition, many publishers and booksellers also advertise their books online, some even showing excerpts from the books.   (Amazon.com is a good source for this.)

a) If you find books advertised that seem interesting, you can see if your library has the books for checkout or if they can borrow copies from other libraries for you through their Interlibrary Loan service.  

b) Of course you can also purchase some of your favorite books from a local or online bookstore if you want a copy to keep, knowing it will be a good, long-term investment for your collection.

• You'll also find "YouTube" on the web—a tremendous free online collection of uploaded videos. Go to www.YouTube.com then type in the topic of interest, such as:   “wire wrapping crystals,” and you will find short videos demonstrating that technique.   Watch one, watch several!

Wire-wrapped quartz crystal necklace.  

See more examples of wire-wrapped crystals & stones.

3) Bead Stores are not only a great place to shop, and to take classes, but also to visit with the knowledgeable staff people who work there.   They can answer all sorts of questions about what materials or wire gauge you might want for a project, how to use certain tools, what stones or crystals you are viewing, and when you might want to save on one product and splurge on another.  

---

These are all inexpensive options for getting started learning to make hand-crafted jewelry and continuing to advance your skills.  In addition to fitting any budget, you can do most of them on your own time schedule.   

If you are truly interested, there are many ways to learn!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My special thanks to:

• The Johnson County Library, KS, for helping me learn much of what I know about jewelry making, the jewelry business, and related topics by providing me ongoing access to a wonderful collection!  Thank you for transferring books from one branch to another, and purchasing or ordering from outside libraries when necessary, so that I could have what I needed to learn and to start and grow my business!  From my local Shawnee branch to the couriers, from Collections to Interlibrary Loan, you have my thanks!

• The staff at Heartland Bead Market in Old Town Lenexa, KS, and The Bead Shop, Overland Park, KS.  You have been helpful and taken the time to look up minerals for me, taught me about types of wire and bracelet stringing materials, how to finish a piece of jewelry so that it looks "finished," helped me select the best materials for projects, and--above all--have always been friendly and kind.   It makes going there a special treat!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To see more samples of hand-crafted jewelry, please visit Sharyl's Jewelry at www.sharylsjewelry.com.