Creative Home Office: Driven by Color

I call myself an Architect of Delight. I look for beauty in everyday life and am thrilled by the intersection of things that are beautiful and interesting. When we were moving to Seattle, I kept saying that I wanted the office we set up to be overwhelming. I wanted to be able to see what I have and to look at what I love. I needed my huge stash of fabrics, ribbons, beads, threads, buttons, tapes, paint etc. to be clean and organized in a dustfree environment, but I also wanted to be able to arrange an area into a little color story if the mood struck. 

I thought that I would make a creative hive - and that it would be a mess. In truth, it looks great because I found the right wall unit that allowed me to contain and display.

I was hoping I could find something at IKEA and the BESTA cabinet with glass doors turned out to be perfect. They are like a giant Lego wall unit with spring hinge doors. The sections with glass doors also have glass shelves to enhance viewing. 

(Note: We paid to have a professional IKEA installer put this Besta unit together because it came during a hectic week for us. It took him more than 6 hours and he is proficient with IKEA instructions. If you buy this marvelous unit, you may want to budget that kind of professional help into your office project too.)

My home office is working well for me. I can be creative and handle my business all out of one room, depending on which half I'm focusing on. When I'm really making, everything explodes everywhere and consumes much of the first floor. For this post, though, it was important to me to show everything in order so that you could see these fabulous cabinets and get a sense of how they might work for you.

One of my favorite elements inside the cabinets is my bead and bobble storage in empty Bonne Maman jam jars. My best friend in Michigan gave me a steady supply there for a while and it set me up for a remarkable system. Isn't it pretty?

On the other side of the room is where I can write, print, sew and think. This is where my next book is percolating. I'd really like to write a modern coffee table book about Finding Delight in the Pacific Northwest. Someone asked me what my favorite word was recently and I immediately thought: potential. Stay tuned.

P.S. Do you like my watercolor palette? Would you believe it is a panel of fabric by Hoffman Fabrics? I loved it so much I had mounted on foam core as art. 

#homeoffice #creativespace #ikea #craftspace #beautyofeverydaylife #wherewomencreate

Ribbon and Faux Pearl Necklace

I have been working on the computer a lot lately.  (I'll tell you what I've been up to soon - it's exciting!)  Since I have been writing and thinking so much, I find that the perfect way to relax is to make jewelry.

I am particularly fond of this ribbon necklace that I made from narrow taupe and brown ribbon woven back and forth between faux champagne pearls and hung from a metal chain.  It is interesting and beautiful; sophisticated yet simple. 

I have listed in for sale in my Etsy store, but it may not be there long.  Have you seen my "ANA customs stamp?"  I use it to signify that something has been stamped with my approval...literally a stamp from my territory.

Do you know what the cursive "I.K.I" stands for?  It means: "I'm Keeping It!" That is how I know when a design is ready to sell, when I find myself wanting to keep it!

Bonne Maman makes Beautiful Jam Jars turned Bead Organizers

Lucky for me, my best friend's husband devours a jar of Bonne Maman preserves every week! She knows that I like to paint jam jars, so she asked if I wanted her empty jars before they hit the recycling bin.  Do I?!

I asked her to save the lids for me too, as I knew they would make beautiful storage containers. These beautiful glass jars would be perfect as bead storage for my jewelry making!  

It feels so good to walk into my craft room and see the abundance of components neatly organized (and dust free) on my shelf.  Doesn't it look pretty?  Thank you, Kim, for helping me to up-cycle!

Anne Reeves' bobbin necklace on Etsy

One of my favorite designs, a necklace made of bobbins that I wound in the colors I love: light plum, cement and gray.  This is where my love of sewing and jewelry making intersect - I call it when "World's Collide".

My jewelry making philosophy has always been "One for me; one for my mom, a few for Etsy." Most every piece of jewelry in my Etsy store is limited edition. Etsy is an online marketplace for artists.  It is a wonderful website that allows individuals to have their own little shop of items they have made.  I spent the last week loading my Etsy store (https://www.etsy.com/shop/annereeves) with my favorite necklace designs to sell for the holidays.

What spurred all of this?  I wore my "World's Collide" bobbin necklace to a book signing of my friends, Josh and Brent, and Brent urged me to sell it on my store.  He loved the shine of the thread and the unusual materials. He's right, it is fabulous and it is time to offer it to the world.

When you are shopping around the store, some of the necklaces are one-of-a-kind and some I can "make to order" and ship within 1-3 weeks.  I'm excited! Are you?

Bead Show Fever

Have you ever been to a bead show?  If you have the basic jewelry making knowledge (how to string beads on a wire, secure a crimp bead and attach a clasp with a jump ring), then attending a bead show could be a really fun thing to do with a friend. 

I had never been to a bead show before my friend Corinne took me to this show in Honolulu.  Up until then I had relied completely on Michaels Craft and Joann's for my materials.  The sheer variety of colors, materials and styles is reason enough to take this field trip.  If you have a new blouse or sweater that you want to coordinate with, bring it along! Your brain will thank you, as you often need an inspiration piece to start with.

I found this terrific list of bead shows around the United States.  I know that Corinne has found one for us to attend in Michigan this Spring and I'm already looking forward to it.  I love adding color to a classic outfit with a beautiful necklace and since most jewelry shows are open to the public, we can all enhance our wardrobe with a custom necklace.

Crystal Heart Pendant

This time of year, it seems that every television commerical is for a heart-shaped pendant in a velvet box. Romantic gestures are lovely, but you can guarantee that you'll have something pretty around your neck if you make it yourself.

I designed this necklace to be simple, elegant and cost less than $11 to make. All the supplies you need can be found at Michael's Craft store:
1 metal chain in soft-gold by Fresh (you'll need 18 inches)
1 packet of "Golden Shadow" Jolee's Jewels crystal bicones
1 packet of gold-plated 3 inch head pins (you'll need only 1 pin)
1 packet of gold-plated 10 mm jump rings (you'll need only 2 jump rings)
A needle-nose pliers (with wire cutter in head)
Slide 20 crystals onto a head pin. After 20th crystal is on, use a needle-nose pliers to gently bend tip up a tiny bit (this will prevent crystals from sliding off). With your hands, start by gently bending the crystal-covered pin in the middle and then arch each end into a heart shape. Be slow and gentle. Now you have a heart.
Measure 18 inches of the chain. Wear safety goggles. Using the "wire cutter" portion of the needle-nose plier head, snip through the first link after 18 inches and the excess chain will fall away. Now your necklace is 18 inches long.
Using needle-nose pliers, bend open 2 jump rings. Place one ring through heart and then through the last link of the necklace, bend closed. Your crystal heart is now attached to chain.
Drape chain around your neck with the heart in the front. Slide second jump ring through heart and then through the last link of the necklace, bend jump ring closed with fingers. This jump ring works as the "clasp." (Over time, this jump ring may need to be replaced as it will be bent often as you take it on and off. Simply pull out a new jump ring from the packet you bought and replace as needed.)
Voila! A pretty heart necklace with almost no skill required.
The Twelve Days of Valentines Day
Day 6: Dig through your jewelry box and wear some love-inspired jewelry.