Studio storage

I've been desperately needing to address some organization issues that were holding back my efficiency and comfort in my studio.  I haven't spent too much money on my studio, preferring to solve my needs creatively, meaning...I used what I already had. The amount of time I'm now spending in this room made me realize that its time to make it all work better.

I purchased some antique wooden boxes because I already was using some for storage, they are modular in that they stack, they aren't that expensive (for me, in rural Pennsylvania anyway) and no matter which ones I buy  they will give me a visually cohesive look. I have some modern/new/plastic storage but I know when they start to fall apart (and they will) I won't be able to replace them and will have to be concerned with how to recycle them.  (I have IKEA boxes that I really love but what happens when one cracks? Will IKEA still make those boxes?)

Now, I'm not going to completely clean up because according to Austin Kleon it will mess with my mojo.

I was gifted these hollow boxes. They make cool shelf like space. 

Recycling ideas

I continue my search for ways to recycle my shavings of baked/cured clay. (TerraCycle does not currently accept polymer as part of one of their programs although they encouraged me to check back as they are adding to their accepted materials list all the time.)

Here is one simple re-use of already baked clay thats working well for me so far.  I just treat the pre-baked bits as inclusions. No doubt some of you are already doing this but this is my method. 

Recycle

Chop the pre-baked clay by hand into pea size bits if its large and then pulverize it to varying degrees of grain in a coffee grinder. I worked with a mixture of sizes for these beads. I wear a mask to do this because some of the clay is so small that its dust.

I incorporate the grit into an unbaked piece of clay. Here I mixed up a "cardboard" sort of brown to play with the recycled theme.

 Incorporating the grits deeply into the clay or just into the outside surface will achieve different looks.

 Next I shaped and texturize the beads with sanding pads. I make my basic shape, they I pierced the bead and go back and shape further with the needle through the bead. 

I've tried differing amounts of the re-used inclusions and several colors of soft clay, keeping to neutrals so far. 

Do you have good ways to recycle/re-use pre-baked clay? I'd love to hear what you are doing!

Headed for the other hemisphere

We are officially on a countdown for a big trip to the small island of  Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean! (Yeah, check out that map, its WAY out in the ocean.) As some of you may know this is a return trip for us, having been there in 2008 when my husband was working on a photography project. 

This time we'll be visiting old friends and making new friends volunteering at SHAPE - Saint Helena Active Participation in Enterprise. SHAPE aims to provide training and work related experience for disabled people of working age, with the intention of them leading independent and fulfilling lives.

Much to be done to prepare for this kind of an adventure, much to be done...