I Am Not a Hoarder

by Judy Larson
I recently saw a poster that read something like this: I am not a hoarder. I am the curator of an extensive private collection of fine jewelry making components. Another poster read: I am not a hoarder. I just need a bigger craft room.
Buttons-I have eleven large mayonnaise jars full-I am not a hoarder. There are several places in my garage with stored bits and pieces of lumber left over from various projects-I am not a hoarder. There are 48 large, divided boxes of beads on the shelves and many more extra-large ones in the closet-I am not a hoarder. Really, I only save what I might have a use for in projects planned for the near future (except the buttons, for sentimental family reasons). When spring/summer rolls around, I do get rid of many things that were not used in the previous year, especially if I forgot that I had them.
Who knew that 30 years of "collecting" sewing machine drawers would lead to a wonderful storage piece for jewelry making supplies. Many things have uses that they were not originally purchased for. I used end bits of lumber from the dock sections I recently built in jewelry making. They make great blocks to hammer against to obtain three-dimensional shapes and texture.
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder
Beads and buttons can be used in non-jewelry or clothing items. The photos are of a quilted wall hanging I made for my mother many years ago. Pearls, crystal beads, buttons, lace, and bits of fabric from her and her mother, as well as buttons from outgrown, worn clothing of my two brothers' and my children were incorporated into it.
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder
If I think it can be used in a project I will save it, especially bits of chain since chain can be pricey. The one foot lengths of Sterling Silver Chain With Bezelled Gemstones (enter "bezelled in the search bar) are gorgeous and I love using them in earrings, bracelets, and pendants. It is obvious from the amount of chain saved when separating the gemstones that I have ordered a lot of strands. I am not a hoarder! I will use all of it!
Pro Tip: If using for earrings, order several strands of the same gemstone to be more likely to obtain similar size and shape sets.
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder
Save the little pieces of rings cut off one end of each stone used for earrings....and use them to make three-dimensional texture pieces. I love how these asymmetrical earrings turned out when there were two very dissimilar stones left after pairing all the others.
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder
There are so many uses for short pieces of chain in earrings.
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder
Judy Larson's I Am Not a Hoarder - , General Education, , I am not a hoarder

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WireJewelry - Ultimate Wire-Pliers Jewelry Pliers with Case, Set of 5
G15-20
  • G15-20
  • Lesson Quantity: 1.00 pieces
  • Purchase Quantity: 1.00 each
  • Price: $170.72
  • Gold Club Price: $128.04
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  • Category: General Education
  • Technique(s): General Education