Storing Gemstone and Metal Beads, Tools and Findings

Hello dear Readers,

I've spent quite a large number of hours in the past month sorting, labeling and trying out a new storage system for my fairly impressive stock of beads. I have about 75 different gemstone beads in multiple sizes and shapes, and several boxes filled with metal beads, jewelry making findings and odds and ends. I work mostly in sterling silver and copper but am doing some gold these days. I've tried Plastic boxes that have 20ish compartments, display trays with different liners, a wall sized cork board with baggies of beads hung up on the board by Chakra color... these didn't work because I had so much work each day that I wasn't getting the left over beads to their bags and back up onto the boards. So I'm trying this new system. It is not perfect but so far it is superior to anything else that I have tried.

I use boxes with labeled bags. I can get most of the supplies very cheaply at the dollar store around the corner. For projects that are current, I have 'lunch combo' sized black boxes, one for each project. I often have about a dozen projects that I'm either working on, waiting for parts or waiting to be written up. So I keep 20 black boxes.

For the beads, I am using plastic boxes that are shoe box sized, with optional plastic sheets that make sections within the boxes. I have one or two boxes for beads in the colors that represent each of the main Chakras, several "rotating" boxes for stones that I am using often in designs at any given point (right now I have a Garnet box for example, to house my extensive collection of 6 varieties of garnets in many sizes, shapes and colors), a box for small fragile stones, boxes to house silver, gold and copper beads and findings, a couple of boxes of various types of non-gemstone beads, plus a box for grey and black beads (Chakra 32 -- EarthStar, one for wood beads and another for organics. I also have two boxes of pearls and one for Swarovski pearls. I have boxes for many spools of beading wire (Beadalon
, Accuflex, Tigertail, others) and another box for actual wire in a wide range of gages and metals, plus a box for silk and other beading threads, ribbons, sprung wire, found stringing materials, ribbons and miscellaneous collars that I've premade or have purchased.

I store the beads in labeled plastic baggies. I like the kind with a white horizontal strip the best as it makes it easier to label and read. Sometimes I have the same type of bead, usually well matched, in a couple of sizes -- like one bag for size 4 and 6 and a second bag for 8, 10 and any larger stones.

I decided to create trays with flocked liners for my focal beads as it is inspiring just to go through them and decide that I want to make something. I have about 20 of these with about 20-40 focal beads, pendants, etc in each tray.

All of these trays and boxes, plus larger compartmentalized plastic boxes filled with glues, baggies, and some of the other tools I use live on bookshelves that are behind my main beading desk. I have three 6-shelf book cases, shared between the beads and my library of jewelry making booksJewelry Making: Tips and Tricks of the TradeThe Complete Book of Jewelry Making: A Full-Color Introduction to the Jeweler's Art and craft books, catalogs, and magazines plus a three ring binder of ideas picked up online or in the various media.

My workshop has two desks. One is set up with my hand and power jewelry making tools, lights, magnifying tool, and two file cabinets for more tools for beadings. The other desk is a crafts desk. I work with polymer clay, scrapbooking, painting (but I usually am drawing to painting outdoors in bearable weather...) and so forth. Right now I am gearing up to start doing a bunch of polymer clay and foil beads, and other clay based jewelry. It sounds like a school project, but it can be made with metallic foils, color powders, and such a range of techniques and textures, I've only read about most of them. It is exciting to have my studio set up to do arts and crafts along with the jewelry, using different work spaces, and I can't wait until it is the right time to start. I'm sure you will hear of it. I have my dedicated toaster oven out and my pasta machine,clay extruder , food processor (all dedicated to crafts of course) and lots of polymer claysMaking Polymer Clay Beads: Step-by-Step Techniques for Creating Beautiful Ornamental Beads that dry in a toaster oven, powders, textured papers, guilding pens, styluses, a dremel and a bunch of parts, acrylic and oil paints, colored pencils, and more in about six large wire mesh boxes of "clay stuff" including molds, stamps, found visuals, made visuals, and purchased transfer images.

I'm saving for a Metal Art Clay kiln, metal clays and all the gadgets that I'll need to work in this medium. I've done several classes and have done some work with my torch, but I think it will be more satisfying when I have my own kiln. The rest will come in time.

I make custom prayer beads, healing necklaces, ascendence necklaces, plus earrings, bracelets, anklets and other beaded items for health and well-being. Everything I make is custom. This is why I keep a large stock, really enough for a small store, of beads, findings and all that I purchase or make.

I have three 4-drawered waist high chests that are each three-feet long. They house our 12 Tibetan singing bowls, our set of 8 frosted quartz singing bowls and our clear quartz "wand" healing singing bowls. We also have sets of tuning forksStudent Grade Tuning Fork (512Cps), a didgeredoo, guitar, Native American wood flutes and other instruments. We have a shelf over this plus 4 display cabinets (around the corner) plus two large display cabinets upstairs that hold our healing crystals. We have two XL chakra silk scarves to serve the stones, and a puja (altar) for the family on a smaller table.

Dr. John (my husband) has a desk that faces mine where he has set up a mini-recording and mixing area. We both have laptops which we use mostly on the bed.

I would love to read about your jewelry making/craft making storage solutions and the kind of things that you have done to make your workshop multi-functional.

Yours in Peace,
Dr. Laurie