Repurposing "Trash" for Organization

The chance to get out of town for the weekend was just what I needed to get motivated to organize my studio. What really kicked it off is that my Aunt, who works at a hospital, saved a few boxes full of these little glass vials for me to put my beads in. Can you guess what they were originally used for? These tubes, which were full of Morphine, were used in PCA pumps for patients who were in severe pain after surgery. Once they were emptied, the nurses cleaned them up and saved them to reuse in other ways. What a great way to eliminate waste in the work place!


Above is one example of how I have reused an item in my workspace. This plastic box full of silver findings once held screws, nails, and tacks. I peeled the original logo sticker off, and over each compartment I placed a small sticker with descriptions and prices on the lid. I always keep this box at my fingertips when I work, and find it to be a very handy organizational tool.


Beading Tip: Also, since the world's silver is quickly depleting, I save my silver scraps which will eventually be melted to make new silver items. I will get a cash credit for the cost of the silver. Also, if a silver head pin is still long enough to reuse, but the "head" is no longer there, I melt the end of the pin with a blow torch. It will form a ball which can easily be polished and you will have a new head pin. Two for the price of one!


Another way that I am trying to keep my workspace tidy while still trying to eliminate wastefulness is to reuse old plastic seal able bags. If you are a beader you know that when you place an order on line all of your items come in individual bags. I peel the sticker off each bag, which I then transfer to the new bead vials, and reuse the bags in these ways:
1. place larger items in them that need to be protected from scratching such as the items above
2. deliver jewelry to my customers in them
3. use them to protect my personal collection of jewelry
4. separate paper clips, rubber bands, etc.
5. put my makeup in the larger bags when I am traveling

I would love to hear what other people do to organize their supplies, and eliminate waste in their workspace. My organizing is still a work in progress, and in an attempt to live more "green" I will be looking for other ways to reuse items in the studio. Happy organizing everyone!