{Style} by Lori Delisle

Many of my friends ask me "when do you find the time to work on your jewelry?!"  With three boys ages 5 and under, it is virtually impossible to do it during the day.  Little fingers are EVERYWHERE!!!  So, I make my jewelry making time as relaxing as possible by working at night after we’ve put the boys to bed. 

I set up shop each evenning in my bedroom.  I sit in my nice comfy glider rocker that I used to rock each of my sweet babies.  Then I slide the ottoman over to the side and set up my lap top on it.  That way I can place re-fill orders when ever I notice I’m getting low on something. I keep a running cart at my major supplier, and keep adding things to it over a week or two.  I use a funky old piano bench for a desk.  I got it from my dear neighbor as a trade during one of our garage sales we’ve done together.  I did not know what I was going to use it for, but knew I had to have it.  It works perfectly!  Thanks Becky!   

Check me out last night!

 The key item in this picture is the TV remote.  I sit here in this chair making jewelry, usually watching chick flicks or one of my favorite TV shows.  Last night I watched "13 going on 30."  I use the yellow caddy to hold various findings like jumprings, headpins and wire.  I have one caddy for sterling silver and one for gold fill findings.  Since I have to pack everything up at the end of everynight I like to keep it all very portable.  I keep all of my bead stock in little baggies labeled with size, color, stock number etc so it is easy to find and re-order things.  As you can see below, I then package all the supplies for each of my collections, along with my hand written directions on how to make each piece, in plastic tubs.  I use the tubs that you can get the pre-washed organic lettuce mixes in.  It took me a little while to collect enough of them, but they are "free" and they stack really nicely.

I keep all of my tools in a little basket.  It is kind of a mess right now.  Nothing fancy about my tools.  My round nose pliers are a mess!  I’m ordering a new pair because the grips have come off completely on one side.  They are left over from when I was "playing" with jewelry so I am excited to get a nicer pair.   Let’s see, some of the other things in there, are sand paper, a bead reamer (one of my newer investements that makes working with gemstones and pearls easier.  They tend to have much smaller holes than other beads which make fitting wire and headpins through them difficult.), wire straightener, gem setting pliers, and … a lighter (I will reveal its use at another time… ha! ).

 And I work off a cheap "velvet" design board.  Definitely nothing fancy about that!    Hope you enjoyed your sneak peak!

Lori