Comments on: Cluttered vs. Tidy Work Area – Where are You More Creative? (Video)

By: Clara Hopkins

Clara Hopkins — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 23:42:13 +0000

I just organizing my hobby room, what a mess. I realize that much space is needed for me to be creative. I have so many beads to work with. When clutter I find that my thinking of what I should make fades away. You can be more creative with space, I feel that to many things around becomes over whelm

By: Clara

Clara — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 14:19:10 +0000

To much clutter, I just give up. I am the process of organizing my space so that I can be more creative. I have beads all over the place and I find that I my thoughts on what I want to use for my project.

By: Leslie Schmidt

Leslie Schmidt — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 04:17:28 +0000

I would love to have a clean workspace but that doesn’t work well for me at all. I make my creations on cookie sheets I purchase from the dollar stores, line them with vinyl shelf paper. I often have 10 stacked up at a time. When I start not being able to find things, that’s when I have to clean up, or when I don’t have any more cookie sheets to work on, need to finish some projects so I can work on more. That’s the way I read, too, I have 3-5 books lying around in various rooms in the house waiting to be finished. Having Fibromyalgia, I do a lot of resting and it helps to have some handy to read.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:27:08 +0000

In reply to David Kresge.

I can relate, David – often my best color combinations or wire inspirations come from a scattering of things on my work table. And I also concur about selling jewelry wherever you go – that works for me too! 🙂

By: David Kresge

David Kresge — Wed, 12 Sep 2018 20:19:30 +0000

I despise order.Long live clutter. My workspace is a glass table with a television in back. The table has bits and pieces of broken jewelry, beads, wire, tools… I rework the jewelry items in many ways. Hoop earrings form the basis for a pendant, etc… I sell at shows. I se to friends at the dog park. I have a waitress at a Waffle House who has bought a half dozen pieces over the past three weeks. Clutter places countless possibilities right under my nose.

By: Lexi

Lexi — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 19:13:19 +0000

Rena,

What a fun forum this was today! And I loved your coffee and cream jewelry. I could easily pick out which area of the necklace looks like my morning cup of joe. I am very definitely a clean workspace person. My mind works better when my inner slate is clean. The main reason I like a clean workspace is because the ritual of assembling each thing I’ll be using for a particular piece is every bit as enjoyable as creating the piece itself. For instance my hammer rack is carefully organized as to size and design. I recently picked up an 1800’s Coes monkey wrench with a wonderful design on the end from all the years of use and each time I pull off a different hammer or tool I think about all the previous craftsmen and what they may have used it for before it came to rest in my hammer rack. I like knowing everyone’s story is a part of my finished piece.

By: Christine Tapler

Christine Tapler — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 16:35:09 +0000

I like to design jewelry in a more cluttered space. Seeing different colors together and different textures together helps me think outside the box. But when it comes to execution, I work better in an organized space. If I can’t find what I’m looking for, I get frustrated and stop. So, I think you need a space with both or two spaces, one of each.

By: Coral

Coral — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 15:35:47 +0000

I start off reasonably clear on my table, but before long it’s cluttered with everything! I do have all my beads in boxes, then the floor fills up with them, but, I definitely am far more creative when I’ve got lots of clutter around me, and like some of the others above, I see different combinations of components, wire and beads which then lead on to all manner of interesting pieces. I’m currently living in a caravan (trailer) on a house plot and have little room, so am permanently surrounded by some sort of creative clutter as I screen print fabric and make it up into handbags, cushions, wall hangings etc. too, and of course need at least one of my sewing machines handy as well! Often beads find their way onto these items too – just as well I live alone, I doubt anyone else would put up with living in a workshop!!!

By: Chris Rehkop

Chris Rehkop — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 15:02:37 +0000

Overall I prefer all things neat and orderly at home and at work. However, if I’m trying to decide on complimentary components for a new jewelry design, I often have several things out on my work surface at a time, at least until I decide which components I’ll use. My biggest problem is I’ve got limited work surface area, so I’m always moving things around. It would be wonderful to have a dedicated room or ‘she-shed’ for my jewelry and craft work. Hmmm, maybe for our next home…

By: Michele Rappoport

Michele Rappoport — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 14:28:12 +0000

I find clutter (and sound) hugely distracting, so I work in a very quiet and orderly space. What I bring to my workspace, my imagination, is not so tidy, and I give it free reign. So I guess what I’m saying is that while my space is buttoned down, my creativity is all over the place!

By: Barbara Jacquin

Barbara Jacquin — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 13:06:28 +0000

In reply to Kathy Szmolke. Kathy, I feel the same way about having a clean bench. I pick out just a few stones that really speak to me and start sketching spontaneously, moving them around together or separately. Maybe a glass of wine or cup of coffee too but my Leonard Cohen albums really bring creativity. Or maybe not! So then I put them all back in the box and do something else.

By: Margaret Hobbs

Margaret Hobbs — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 13:06:27 +0000

I find I work better with a reasonably tidy area. I use my desk, with my beads. clay and tools in easy reach. As I also use my desk for my laptop, writing and sorting everything out, it needs to be relatively tidy (otherwise I’d never find anything!). I do a lot of cross stitch as well, so the bits and bobs for that need to be nearby! My desk is in ‘my corner’ and therefore is my space!

By: Lynn E.

Lynn E. — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 11:53:23 +0000

Like many others commenting here, I try to start out with a tidy work space but it gets messy very quickly. Tools hiding in plain sight, beads scattered everywhere, in short, chaos. This is compounded by the fact that I’m primarily a painter so in addition to jewelry making supplies my studio is crammed with canvases, brushes, paints, easels and the like. Whether working in a messy environment makes me more creative I can’t say, but I can definitely say it often makes me crazy!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 11:43:30 +0000

In reply to Sherry. Sherry, interesting perspective on the left/right brain scale!

By: Sherry

Sherry — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 11:41:24 +0000

Since I am 60/40 on the left brain/right brain scale, I need some of both. I start with a relatively clean work surface, but I need my palette of beads open in front of me. I design from the palettes as I go. (That’s the 60% working) My beads are organized into about 60 bead storage boxes by color, size and function. (This is the 40% trying to rein me in!)

Once I have the project finished, I need to regroup and put things away before moving to the next project. I often make several pieces from a color palette just to explore and push my limits. This may mean several days of working in a color wave. By then, I am ready to put it away, clean up and start the next one using the same process.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 15 May 2018 00:51:59 +0000

In reply to Kathy Zee. Kathy Zee, I can totally relate to that! Some of my best beaded jewelry has happened because of the random scattering of things on my table! :)

By: Kathy Zee

Kathy Zee — Tue, 15 May 2018 00:44:55 +0000

Hi Rena, well my workspace is ALWAYS a mess. Beads everywhere. I have a table behind me that is cluttered with beads and my work surface I hate to admit has so many beads on it in different shapes, colors, styles but for me, it’s inspiring. because if i am making a pair of earrings and see some interesting shape or color beads, i try and put them together and the earrings turn out totally different and much prettier than i originally planned. So yes to me, clutter is better when I design things.

By: Marilyn Hersey

Marilyn Hersey — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 18:49:48 +0000

If I look back at my work history, I find I am definitely the clutter type; even my years in upper management were clutter years. Now that I am retired and have ample time to keep things neat & tidy I don’t. ! Although my work-space may be cluttered, I am highly organized when it comes to storage. My beads are organized in divided boxes by color and type. My sewing is organized by projects to do, to finish and things that spark that creative juice we all know about. I usually know where things are located even when the room has bead boxes stacked everywhere and my work area is very “busy”. I need to “see” different items to give me new ideas. The only time I am pretty neat is when doing Chain Maille, which is my new love. But even with Chain Maille I am finding I look for ways to make it different by adding charms, beads or some unexpected item of interest. To me, that is what creativity is all about, messy or neat.

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 00:27:29 +0000

In reply to jackied. Jackied, thank you so much for your perspective on the size and use of creative work areas for people with PTSD or anxiety. I appreciate your sharing your knowledge.

By: jackied

jackied — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 00:19:03 +0000

well, I can answer this from my perspective as a counselor and a PTSD person. I know that when I have a small place to work in on my craft table it makes the larger world go away and I can focus better and be able to get into my crafting better, the part of me that is not PTSD tends to get anxious about the clutter. But having my stuff in containers I can see, surrounding my area reduces that anxiety. When all is clean and organized I love the look, which quickly turns to looking like chaos when I get going on a jewelry project. I oft times encourage my clients with anxiety disorders to do something in a small space, like coloring, or putting headphones on and concentrating on just the music to make the wide world diminish its noise. Playing tetris is also good, I like match three games too. So I can see why clutter in a small area can be very helpful to create. When you have PTSD you are constantly creating tools to cope. Isn’t it nice to find ones that don’t involve alcohol, drugs, or thoughts of homicide or suicide.

By: Betsy Murphy Adomkaitis

Betsy Murphy Adomkaitis — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 17:43:45 +0000

So glad you brought this question up. I recently was watching a tutorial or just a video and someone had the audacity to write to the person and say some like, “how can you work in that messy area?” I found the comment remarkably inappropriate, but people feel powerful while hiding behind e-mail, (and their cars) right?

Well, I’m not quite a horder but I do have, let’s say, an inventory of things: beading; silver smithing (torch and all); a huge buffing machine; an extruder; toaster oven; kiln; tables galore (collected on the side of the road); a drill press; 18 shelves to hold just mokume; and tools galore. The room is tiny so my husband is putting up more shelves (of course to the ceiling) so I can put things I don’t use everyday way up high (or as a 6 yr. old friend used to say, “apple pie” instead of way up high). I began moving immediately unused (so I thought) stuff out of the studio for him to work. I love a neat area but it always becomes messy as I work. I guess that’s just how it is. And, like you, I love to see stuff I’m working on out and about. I guess that makes me creative, huh? I hope so.

Love and kisses,
Betsy

By: Karen Watson

Karen Watson — Thu, 19 May 2016 14:15:53 +0000

What a wealth of comments! I agree with most everyone here, that I like to start out tidy, and as the creative juices flow, I can get terribly messy! Right now I am in a cramped work-space where I can’t have things as organized as I would like, and have several plastic containers stashed away in closets. We are working on creating a new large and wonderful work-space where everything can be organized and where I can see things I need for different projects. I dream of ways I can use the space efficiently, when I have a separate area for each skill, and it will be easy to move from one to another and combine them.

By: Selma

Selma — Sat, 26 Dec 2015 00:52:30 +0000

Hi, have been enjoying your articles, but don’t have the time to comment.I have been noted to be messy worker. I believe in this saying, “better a creative mess, then an orderly idleness.” Indeed this is true to my working style. I can produce more jewelry items when I see all sorts of materials cluttered on my work table,ideas of designs and colors just pop out my brain.
You may ask what I do with my creations, I make jewelry to satisfy my creative juices, for gifts and give always for certain occasions.
By the way, have been in jewelry making as a teacher in home economics and and livelihood instructor for different groups.
Selma, Philippines

By: Marie

Marie — Thu, 12 Nov 2015 16:27:24 +0000

I need to see everything I have for designing anything…so clutter is inevitable.
I constantly try to re.organize, but I don’t have a knack for it….so, I learned to accept it….besides, it s beautiful to look at. When I tidy up, I leave one of every bead I have on my table, and that works well as a reminder….I have a photographic memory of where things are when I need them, but I need to see as much as possible….

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 01:43:47 +0000

In reply to Cat. Hi Cat! I'll be interested to hear what happens as you experiment with having creative clutter to jumpstart your artistry! :)

By: Cat

Cat — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 22:59:10 +0000

This is my second entry to your question. My first was many months ago, before I moved my workbench to a new, larger area where I had room to put everything in its’ spot . . . no more tidy, cluttered area! And guess what? I’ve hit a brick wall! All my beads are put away in tiny drawers and I can’t see them . . . no glitter, no bling, no sparkle to spark my imagination and get those creative juices flowing. . . . . I haven’t been able to create anything in over a month!!!!

So, I’m going to try an experiment and get some creative clutter going on . . . and see if that helps.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 16:31:21 +0000

This post gave me a boost, as my work area quickly becomes cluttered…and it apparently encourages creativity! 🙂 I find it easier to work when I can find my beads (which I color code), but I like to “spread out” when I create.
I do clean and clear my area when it gets to be too much…and then build out my tools, wire and beads again!

By: Susan Anderson

Susan Anderson — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 22:53:38 +0000

I like to have a relatively clear space to begin a project, but once I’m off and running, I am happily working among the clutter. If I had to keep putting things away, only to need them 10 minutes later, it would interrupt the creative flow. As mentioned in one of the above posts, clutter doesn’t always translate to disorganized. To the untrained eye my studio space would look like a hurricane blow through when I’m in the middle of creating, but I pretty much know where everything is. I never feel stressed, in fact I’m the happiest when I’m working in the middle of my mess, totally immersed in a project.

By: Cece

Cece — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 08:03:51 +0000

Thanks to all of you for this great dialogue. Currently, I am so disorganized that no creativity is flowing. I am scheduled for brain surgery soon and all but the simplist creative processes are overwhelming. Something about overload on my brain stem, so I hope this resolves post surgery.
I am in gatherer mode now, as in women’s activity in hunter/gatherer culture. But, I can’t seem to collate that which I bring home into my studio. Maybe this is a better post for the disability section, but I’d love to hear or better yet, see images about staying organized during the creative process.
My torch area is separate from my studio out of necessity for venting, but I envy those with multiple work zones designed by function within one shop space. Rio Grande and Silvera metalsmith studio in Berkeley both have videos about best practices for work flow with torch/ metalsmithing based on safety. I’d love to hear about strategys for different jewlery processes to keep organized. I never seem to keep large layout tables free of clutter except for by the large plotter, at my day job, and the need to layout 36 x 48″ images. Any ideas?
Thanks

By: Sylvia

Sylvia — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 19:09:29 +0000

Cluttered…definitely, cluttered! I work with seed beads, leather cording and large hole beads for the most part. I almost find it necessary to be that way to discover the combinations that can be fashioned. But when the design phase is over, I do prefer a clean space to assemble the piece. If I get too overwhelmed or the design is coming together as I thought it should, the project goes into a “project tray” and it waits until my head is cleared enough to tackle the project again.

By: Pam

Pam — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 14:21:37 +0000

I have always crafted in one medium or another as far back as I can remember. All of my crafts have to do with either, stained glass, which led to mosaic, which led to fusing which led to lampworking, which led to lapidary, silversmithing, and now I have just learned the art of cloisonné and enameling. All this leads to jewelry making. Oh my, if you want to see a cluttered studio…. Being A.D.D. does not help. There are times when I have glass rods all over the torching station, jewelry components and U.F.O’s (unfinished objects) all over my jewelry bench and trays of mosaic tesserae waiting to be attached to something, and maybe a stained glass panel being worked on. When it gets this bad, I just have to stop and force myself to FOCUS! Finish one and clean that area, till I have a clean studio. Then the whole process starts over. I am organized in that there is a designated place for everything, it just always isn’t in that place. I am in fact reorganizing my studio right now, so I can find a place to put another kiln and be able to do enameling. Right now I am torch enameling, and am thinking maybe I need to give up one of my other kilns that isn’t used often to make room.

By: Cat Slavin

Cat Slavin — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 00:33:26 +0000

My work area is very small and clutter really stifles my creativity

Since I tend to have several projects in process at any given time, I’ve found that using bead trays for each project helps to keep me organized. If I’m doing earrings, I’ll use a small muffin pan to sort the pieces I’ll be assembling. If I get interrupted, it’s easy to stack everything back onto the tray and back on the shelf it goes.

Chains are sorted by color/material (gold, silver, gunmetal, copper, etc.) with each having its own clear plastic shoe box.

Beads are sorted (turquoise, red, black and assorted) and have their own shoe box on the shelf as well.

Findings, spacer beads, components, etc. are sorted similarly and kept in small organizer jars located behind my tools so I have access to whichever metal I’m working with easily.

That’s what works for me.

By: Selma

Selma — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:07:16 +0000

I am more creative and producting in any craftwork I do, specially in jewelry making when there is more clutter. I believe in the saying: ” better a creative mess then an idle orderliness.”

By: HELEN

HELEN — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 03:11:14 +0000

My daughter says that my bead room looks like I’m a hoarder!!

By: Karen Hess

Karen Hess — Wed, 14 May 2014 15:20:40 +0000

I try to begin each project in a clean workspace. If the piece involves any heavy duty work ~ etching, soldering, forming, punching, dapping…..then I’m in my studio where the space tends to get cluttered as I work. If I’m doing fine finishing work ~ earrings, bracelet, or creating the “necklace” for a focal, I work in a tidy space in my office. Since I’m working off a design I’ve drawn and a color palette, my choices are comfortably narrowed down so I don’t need to have everything in my repertoire on display. Thank you, Rena, for getting me to think about this!

By: Janet

Janet — Sun, 11 May 2014 00:27:07 +0000

I work best in clutter. With a photographic memory, I know where every scrap is. Sometimes it’s frustrating to have to move stuff to get to something else, but it’s the price I pay for small work area. Btw, I love your tutorials!

By: Moriah

Moriah — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 15:47:22 +0000

Normally, I am surrounded by beads on my mat, the problem is at times I cannot find what I am looking for and I realize I need to use more of my supplies that are sitting behind me in organized containers. If it gets too overpowering I move to the other end of the table, where the mat is empty and I create there for a while.

By: MaElena Rodriguez

MaElena Rodriguez — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 00:52:16 +0000

Its hard to keep a crafter/jeweler’s table completely clutter-free, but the discipline is well worth it. Not being able to find components because they could be anywhere, just drives me crazy; I have to keep my area clean, it gives way more to me in creativity and imagination. For my pliers, I use those stackable wire shelves that are covered with white soft plastic-like material. These have either lines of thick wire, or squares, where I can hang my pliers and I just keep reaching for them continuously while I am working (after training myself not to leave them on the table).

By: Laura C.

Laura C. — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 06:44:35 +0000

When the accumulating things that just seem to come from nowhere and find their way to my bench create a six inch deep mulch of potentially avalanching jewelry supplies it’s time to straighten things out.

By: MaElena Rodriguez

MaElena Rodriguez — Thu, 28 Nov 2013 06:45:12 +0000

I DEFINITELY like a clean and uncluttered work area. Mind you, I start off with this, but by the end of the day it is cluttered all over again! However, usually, before I start working again, I put everything where it goes, even the tiniest components, because when I need them, I want them accessible. And just about everytime I put things away, I find something else I’d fogotten I had! I have just about everything at arm’s length, and I love it that way. I have a couple of girlfriends that also like to make jewelry and they are always frustrated because they can’t find anything. I live in a very small one bedroom apartment, but I HAVE MY WORK SPACE! It is just so important to me and such a major part of my life. I look forward to being there, and most times that’s my reward when I have to do other things…being able to go to “that place” and enjoy look at my beads, components, wires, color, shapes, sizes, etc… When its clean it just motivates me so much to start my creative juices going and I feel a sense of accomplishment. Best to all.

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 02:37:45 +0000

Hi Rena,
My little brother calls me Felix, after the neat freak from “The Odd Couple” tv show. However when it comes to artisan projects, including jewelry making, there will be no space available by the end of any given project. Yep, I start organized but always end up with ‘stuff’ all over the place. Could be how I go about creating, since I often gather research material(usually lots), materials and tools first. On the other hand, I have to make a mess. Because I know I’ll have a great feeling after cleaning up the workspace, after a project is finished… he doesn’t call me Felix for nothin’.

By: Cebette

Cebette — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 17:28:02 +0000

I’m very much in the messy camp. While I love everything to be neat and organized (and I do get there maybe once or twice a year) I find it impossible to maintain organization. I also discovered a long time ago that I am a very visual and hands on (as opposed to conceptual) designer. If I cannot see a material it basically does not exist to me. I could never sit down with a pen and paper and design a piece. My designs spring from my materials so I have found a way to store most all of my materials (organized by color) in see thru containers that are on shelves on either side and in front of me. I will still end up with hundreds of beads on my work table and am forever cursing the fact that I can set a partially finished piece, or a tool, or a specific bead on my table one second and have it be totally lost 20 seconds later. What can I say?- I’ve learned to somewhat live with me 🙂

By: Ann Wittman

Ann Wittman — Sun, 06 Oct 2013 23:27:56 +0000

Rena, I love your site and gain so much from all the comments. I am lucky to have a small but enclosed lanai for my beading but I keep about 3 trays of projects I am workiing on so it stays contained. I store my beads more by color and categorized into natural stones or glass and seed beads so I can open my drawers to see what goes with what. I guess I do my best work when I wake up with a “fabulous idea” that keeps me awake. I am creating for three different venues and different clientele. Being retired, I can spend as much time as I please doing what I love and learning from all of you.

By: Noreen

Noreen — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 14:18:21 +0000

I usually start out clean and neat, but by the time my project is finished, I’ve used so many different tools and materials (along with all the scraps I’ve generated) that my area is vastly messy by the time I’m finished! Maybe I’m just a messy crafter. lol

By: Nelson Jewelry & Gemstones

Nelson Jewelry & Gemstones — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 16:11:56 +0000

Hey, Coral. I have a dedicated room for jewelry making, so I can shut the door. But that room also becomes the depository for everything that doesn’t have a home. I’ve got stuff all over the place in there!

By: Bev

Bev — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 15:42:16 +0000

Hi Rena,
Love your site and the great info you share.
I start with a clean work space that moves into clutter as I work. Most times I’m at the dining table and I store supplies and findings in drawers – so as I work I’m pulling out more things and before long the area is cluttered. I guess I work best cluttered with orderly intentions. lol
Thanks!

By: Coral

Coral — Mon, 30 Sep 2013 11:25:53 +0000

This is an interesting question! I’m definitely in the cluttered camp!
I work in my living room/kitchen, on what’s laughingly called my dining table (I don’t remember the last time anyone actually ate a meal at it!), fortunately I live alone, so don’t have to consider anyone else.
I do keep all my jewellery findings in colour coded boxes, and they’re fairly organised, but as I make one-off pieces I have loads of stuff out when I’m creating and I do find that having a lot of beads either on the table or just close by helps my creative process.
Funnily enough, the clutter on the table doesn’t bother me quite so much when I’m jewellery making, but when I’m card making it spreads all over the floor too, with stacking boxes of inks, papers, stamps, etc., etc., and that does get to me and I find that I spend maybe a week doing cards, then am relieved when I can put it all away and the area is clear again – well, for an hour or two at least!!!
I go to markets regularly during the summer months, and keep my bags of pieces, display stuff etc. all ready packed in large bags so that they can just be picked up and taken easily, and also have the same set up for the Pottery where I do one day a week, and take up things to make as I have space to work there. I do find that if I don’t have everything with me, I always want to use something I’ve left at home, so tend to take far too much.
I’m definitely more creative with lots of input and inspiration from things around me, but I do sometimes wish that I could walk away from it and shut the door! As I use my living area for work, that’s just not possible, so I clear it up when it’s driving me mad, then start all over again!

By: Melanie and Elizabeth

Melanie and Elizabeth — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 14:35:28 +0000

We enjoyed your video with our morning coffee. Although we are jewelry-making impaired, we do work on other crafts. I like a very organized work space, however Elizabeth likes an excessively messy one. (sorry, no photo to attach) :O)
Love, Melanie and Elizabeth

By: Sarah R

Sarah R — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 16:54:30 +0000

I would like my work area tidier but it is always more on the cluttered and messy side. Either way works for me. I do find it helpful to have lots of beads laid out to choose from.

By: Leslie Schmidt

Leslie Schmidt — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 05:16:39 +0000

I read this somewhere in February 2013: “A creative mess is better than tidy idleness.” I am a sanguine personality, and clutter is our personality. My art room starts out clean and then we move stuff in there when we have company, then another season starts and I have another craft to work on, then I don’t get that put away and it’s something else. For my jewelry ~ I have several cookie trays that have ongoing projects or pieces left over from a project just finished that don’t get put away. Right now I can hardly move my office chair to get to my desk. We rescued four baby kitties in July so have been spending more time keeping them out of my room and entertained than working on stuff that needs to be finished so I can put stuff away. Sigh, I actually like clutter ~ when I put things away (or someone else helps me) I can’t find anything. The problem is that it moves to other rooms and my hubby can’t handle clutter being a melancholic and perfectionist.

By: Carol M

Carol M — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 04:37:50 +0000

Hi Rena, this question is on my mind a lot at the moment because my worktable is an absolute MESS! I am working on two different designs right now for the upcoming holidays, plus I like to have a ‘go to’ project in progress that I can pick up in odd moments. I design by pulling out all my beads together and letting the design just flow, which means that my table is covered in boxes of seed beads. I have to clear a space to do any beading. From time to time I clear them all away and start again. It’s a bit like the tide going in and out…
but I love it!

By: Jules

Jules — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 00:01:27 +0000

Great subject and question!! I’ve always heard that a cluttered desk is a productive one. I guess I believe it because when it comes to my work area, I’m most creative when its cluttered.
Don’t be confused, cluttered is not necessary unorganized. I know where everything little thing is even though it may look like a mess to an uneducated person LOL.
Having everything around me makes my eyes and mind wonder across everything around me, quickly accessing what I can create by using this piece or that or combining this piece and that piece. Seeing certain things and pieces within my work area also serves as a reminder of what I may have put away somewhere that will work perfectly with what I’m creating at the moment.
I love a cluttered work area…a cluttered work area is a creative mind….thats my story and I’m sticking to it.

By: Cheryl Dunham

Cheryl Dunham — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 21:56:46 +0000

I’m like Nelson above, I start with a clean and orderly work area, soon to become cluttered. I work well for a while until I can’t find something I just sat down, then I have to organize it again,

By: coraNation

coraNation — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 17:54:25 +0000

Wow. This is not easy to answer. I like to think I’m organized, but my work space belies this notion. Sometimes my creativity get jammed. I have so many ideas that I have trouble with execution. These are the times that I start sorting, cleaning and discarding. When I can’t find a particular tool, notion or gizmo, it drives me crazy! I find it hard to work within too much clutter, but art is all about expression and inspiration. This is easier when you see color, texture, pictures. Depending on the day and on the project-I’m neat or I’m the queen of chaos.

By: Margo Clark

Margo Clark — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 15:26:50 +0000

I am inspired by the clutter that surrounds me, until I can no longer find a thing! I keep my sectioned boxes of beads scattered around me As I look around at what others would call a mess, I usually hit upon a new idea or color combo I had not thought of before! The way I look at it, if a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, what does an empty desk mean? Haha…just kidding!

Where I tend to stay organized is with my components. I mostly use clear, sectioned off plastic storage pieces on my shelves. They are clearly marked as to what is inside. When I get inventory in, the first thing I do is price the components and put the info in the section with the product. Saves a lot of time when it comes to pricing my jewelry for sale.

By: Jaime Surgil

Jaime Surgil — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 14:55:06 +0000

Funny you should ask!
Before I left for a vacation my workspace was a creative mess! I am a neat person by nature so it needed re-organizing..I have a very small table so I have to be organized..I usually get ideas and start pulling bead combinations and pendants out of the storage units and/or baskets I have organized…after several hours it can get crazy so I try and put away as much stuff after I complete a necklace or a series of similar things…then on to the next adventure! I even found things I forgot I had after the last clean up and was so pleasantly surprised!

By: christina

christina — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 14:14:38 +0000

Which do I prefer? Well, my work space is not that large considering most of my tools and my soldering area are all on the same table. Plus my son gave me his old monitor so now I have 2 monitors and one is on the table so I can watch what ever I want when I am working on my projects. Gotta love hand me downs…LOL Most of the time my work space is cluttered. But when I finish one project and go onto the next, I try to tidy up some. Most of the time my tools get in the way because I use maybe 3 or 4 different ones on what ever it is I am making. I need to re-organize my space so I dont have this problem. But I do think I do my best creating with the cluttered space. The not so fun part is putting all of the left over beads back in their spaces… 🙂

By: Nelson Jewelry & Gemstones

Nelson Jewelry & Gemstones — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 13:38:20 +0000

Great question. I like to start out with a clean workspace, which gradually becomes a mess. I can happily work in that mess until I can’t find my pliers when they’re right in front of me. Then I tidy things up and continue. A chaotic mess wears on me emotionally, and leads to overwhelm.

By: Val

Val — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 12:41:47 +0000

This is certainly one of those things that can really vary between person to person. I have a serious type A personality. I love things to be organized, neat and clean. This also holds true in my creative space. Like Kathy I get stressed when there is a mess around! Plus I have 2 cats so the beads and wire need to be tucked away so the paws don’t get at them.

By: Kathy Szmolke

Kathy Szmolke — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:46:34 +0000

Hi, Rena! Not too long ago I received a shipment of beads that I was excitedly waiting for. I went up to my craft room and took everything out and had it covering my work table. But after having it sitting there for a while, I found that when I sat down to be “creative,” I was instead feeling stressed. It was too much at once, and I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. So finally, I put everything away and started from scratch. I found that I worked better and had more imagination when I had a clean work surface. Of course, it helps to have my favorite country music station playing in the background!

By: Helen

Helen — Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:05:27 +0000

Interesting question – I think I am an in betweener and like you it depends on the material I am working with. I usually start with a clean bench when I work with my polymer clay. And working with polymer clay is by nature incredibly messy. Once I get going my stuff is everywhere – inks, clays, wax paper, tiles – when I make several items I run out space and leave some trays in the kitchen! Because it often days to complete things my work bench and conservatory tend to stay chaotic for a while. When I am finished with a project I tend to give it a good tidy and clean and also check what colours of clay I have left – until the whole process starts again. When working with beads I tend to be a bit tidier and things to get tidied away after use and not days after use. And with wire work I think a clear space does help.