Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Create a Wall of Beads Storage System

Really, do I need to say anything about how spectacular a wall of beads would be in my studio? I am in serious bead storage lust over Elisabeth Auld's wall o'beads. (Yes, it's the same busy gal from yesterday!)

With a little DIY elbow grease, sheet metal and some hardware she created a wall to store these magnetic containers filled with her treasures.  This would definitely help with the dilemma of no table space and not wanting to pack away beads in containers where their visual inspiration would be lost.  Nope, these are in your face begging to be played with!

On Elisabeth's blog she shares a detailed tutorial to create your own wall of beads.

Maybe you couldn't devote an entire wall to beads, but wouldn't a smaller version be perfect for displaying your art bead collection?

Elisabeth's Wall of Beads in action.

26 comments:

Judith Johnston said...

Wow, that is truly magnificent. My only worry would be I would be so busy gazing dreamily at all the lovleyness I wouldn't get anything done.

Spirited Earth said...

i saw this and thought what a brilliant idea.
i've just gotten a stash of baby food jars from my neighbor and i want to explore some way to create bead storage with those.

marilyn said...

I should do that with all my sewing supplies..

Charlene said...

This is too awesome. A beading mind is a great mind!

Rosanne said...

Great idea with the baby food jars Nan...all that glass to look at your beads through. I have a filing cabinet in my "beadroom" (the one I'm never in) and I have some containers stuck to it. Hmmm, I just need a studio with wide open spaces....

Desert Rubble said...

That is a beautiful thing! I agree with you about wanting things out so that just seeing them is inspiring, this would be wonderful, even better if they were in clear containers!
Lynn

AJ said...

I'm in love with this idea!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Third Eye Gypsy said...

Lol, great idea! I guess that would keep them all right out where you can see them. I might just need enough containers to fill all 4 walls of a room!

Zyatica said...

Oh so envious.... I cannot wait till the day I get a studio/office.. oh what fun I will have organising it. CUrrently using a corner of the dining room so can't do too much. I miss having everything out to look at and be inspired by. This is definitely on my list of storage ideas now....

CHeers
Z

Anonymous said...

Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [09 Feb 12:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria

Anonymous said...

i've been thinking about doing this. cool.

Evie's Tool Emporium said...

How cool is this?!?

Jenni said...

Great idea and wonderful to be able to look up and view easily your beading choices.

Anonymous said...

That is so ideal! I would love to have all of my beads within view like that!

Beadcomber said...

my worry would be if those lids came off, those watch case tops don`t snap on and don`t screw on...often they come off way too easily. But great idea nonetheless

Unknown said...

Um, the comment I made on this post was not the one you approved. I commented about using baby food jars for storage. Pls remove my seemingly random comment abt Elizabeth Bonura & publish the correct comment for this post. Thank you.

Tari of ClayButtons.com said...

Barbara,
I cannot locate your comment. I am guessing there was a glitch when you published it, or it was accidentally deleted.
I did delete your other comment.
Apologies...Tari

Gail DB said...

Super idea... but it looks like the jars are taped to the wall w/ double-sided tape. So what happens when you unscrew the lids? -- a cascade of beads? Those magnetic jars with clear lids would work though... but they're kind of expensive, if you need 100 or so. Comments please -- other solutions to beads spilling out?

Gail DB said...

My apologies - I went to the orginal tutorial, and I now see that the tape is magnetic tape, not double-sided tape. Problem solved! Wonderful solution to space and viewing problems.

TesoriTrovati said...

In my old studio I had a wall o' metal like this along the countertop. I had a friend who runs a heating and cooling company come and install the sheet metal. I never got around to all the bead tins though, but I still have that dream. I now have some metal message boards on the wall in my new studio space. I have some tins and magnets holding fun things to look at. This really inspires me to start thinking in that direction. Thanks for sharing this!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

Mixed Kreations said...

What a awesome way to store your beads. Posting a link on my blog Mixed Kreations

Mixed Kreations
Thanks for sharing.

holli said...

I Like this Idea. I altered it slightly, I had lots of plastic see-thru baby food containers so I
put the magnets on the bottom and put them on the metal sheeting so they sit sideways just like the metal containers. Then I put small labels on the top edge of the covers so I see the size and Quanity inside each.:)

CrazyCatLady said...

I posted a link to this at my blog! Come check it out!

http://insilverscript.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

I am wondering if this magnetics system makes it difficult either to get the beads you want out or if you do not put a lid on the container, do the beads fall out easily?

Unknown said...

Awesome idea! FYI.. You can make a portable one (if you have limited space) by using a magnetic white board.. make the bottoms using a Xyron sticker machine (usually for paper crafts) but, use the cartridge (Magnetic/Laminate one). One side will come out magnetic and one side sticky.. You can make them any size or shape you want! Works great and, if on a white board, you can take it with you anywhere! I use the clear round stg holders with screw-on lid.. so NO MESS! Easy to make, easy to see the beads. I use it for findings, too!