Friday, December 3, 2010

Welcome to the Messy Beaders' Club

So, I was reading through a magazine the other day, and I came across an article about embracing chaos.  Well, I thought, that would certainly sum up my beading table!  Attached to the article was a photograph of a messy desk and a quote by Albert Einstein: "If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, then of what is an empty desk a sign?" 

And I thought, THAT'S IT!

My desk isn't cluttered - it's CREATIVE. 

God knows, I've promised my husband about a million times that I would keep the chaos to a minimum, particularly when we moved my work area from a cramped corner of the dining room into a full setup in the living room. 

But no matter how hard I try, I manage to have a bijillion things on my work table. 

I see a tube of beads and a focal, and I think, "Oh!  New project!"  And onto the table it goes, only to be pushed into a corner by the eighteen other projects I have going at the same time...

And so, when I published this photograph of my messy desk on Facebook the other day, I got loads of comments, and I realized that most of the time, I hear from other beaders that their work areas look like a bomb has gone off, particularly when they are in the middle of creating something.

So I created this blog.  The Messy Beaders' Club!  You don't have to be ashamed of your messy tables anymore - embrace the chaos, take a picture, and send it to me at vanbeads@yahoo.com with a short blurb about why you LIKE your messy space and how it helps you create!

And while we're sharing stories and pictures of messy bead tables, let's talk about organizing, because we do need some control over the chaos.  Not a lot, mind you - personally, as long as I can remember which drawer I stuffed that tube of seed beads in or where I tossed the bag of Czech glass leaves, I'm good.  But do you have any tips for organizing your beads?  Take a picture of your organized spaces, too, and tell me what kinds of tools and organizers work for you, and where others might be able to purchase those containers.

Last, but not least, happy beading!

8 comments:

  1. Oh definitely COUNT ME IN!!!! I'll try to come up with pics sometime this weekend... LOVE this idea!!

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  2. Oh boy!!! Is this ever the place for me!! Even my mess is MESSY!! I am afraid there is no help from me. House Beautiful, or Studio will never come to use my beading room (or House) as their poster child...unless it is to show how messy messy can get!

    Sig

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  3. Lol...you KNOW I'm in! I've been thinking about having a tidy up and organize day, I did organize all my beads bit the beading area definitely needs help. I thought about doing it today, then I thought "on my birthday? Screw that!" Maybe this weekend will some organization happen and I'll be sure to take before and after shots :)

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  4. I feel at home already. I don't have a really good picture of my beady mess, but I posted one that gives a glimpse of it in my blog post about this group. This is gonna be fun! :-)

    http://time2cre8.blogspot.com/2010/12/perfect-group.html

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  5. Me too!!! I am part of your club!!!! I would take a picture of my messy workspace, but I can't find that #$@%^%^ camera anywhere...
    Tali

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  6. LMAO @ Tali...I have a zillion pens in my studio and I can never find ONE!

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  7. Hi Jennifer! Count me in! I have never, ever been without clutter in my life. And a creative mind is a messy one, in my book. If you are too organized I think there is a sickness there! ;-) I wrote a blog post recently about how I longed for the Pottery Barn look but knew I would never attain it, or I would get it and bury it under clutter! The magazine Where Women Create will never be knocking down my door!
    When I get a chance I wills end you a picture of the creative chaos I work in. Thanks for your inspiration!
    Enjoy the day!
    Erin

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  8. I love that Einstein quote. I am always doing loads of things at one time, even at work. A former boss would always put on my review that my desk is too cluttered. I did 10 times the work that she did and she knew it, too. So one year,right after my review, I made that quote into a sign and put it up above my desk. After that, she never wrote about my cluttered desk in my review again. - Debbie

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