Comments on: Stuff I love - Trays

By: Dee Wilder

Dee Wilder — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:37:26 +0000

I, too, work off of trays. It is such a good way to be able to have numerous projects in the works, but out of the way.

By: Libby

Libby — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:35:45 +0000

Bettina, here in the U.S. you can find them at restaurant supply stores. Around here they run around $1 - $2 each, although sometimes you can find used ones even cheaper.

And Jeanne, I somehow doubt the reformulation of the polymer clays will stop raw clay from attacking certain plastics. The cafeteria trays don’t react with raw clay so I only use those with clay. I save the jeweler’s trays for beading projects or finished pieces or other bits.

By: Bettina

Bettina — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:17:46 +0000

I share your love for trays but I don’t have much of them. where did you get all these? Just take them with you when leaving the cafeteria?…*kidding*…

I use big plates as well (as I do not own many trays:)

By: Jeanne Rhea

Jeanne Rhea — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:55:41 +0000

I use these jeweler’s trays, too and love them! I keep them for different projects in process. The only thing I don’t like about them is uncured polymer clay will eat mine up! Even using plastic film or deli wraps under the clay will not prevent a problem. Does anyone know if the reformulated Kato clay will not eat up this kind of plastic? I have no idea if what was removed causes the problem or if it is a completely separate thing.

I have learned to just not use the trays for raw clay or at least use a tile if I want to leave uncured clay in them. If they are stacked though, this can be a problem if the clay is too high. I found them in 1″ and 1 1/4″ heights and wish I had bought all of them in 1 1/4″.

By: Libby

Libby — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:44:27 +0000

Shellie, no specific plans for those canes right now, although I did use a few in the Purple Shard Pendant I posted last week. I buy the cafeteria trays from a nearby restaurant supply company and the jeweler’s trays from Nile.

By: Shellie

Shellie — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:49:06 +0000

Libby, I recognize alot of those canes from Donna’s workshop….what are they going to become??? You are always thinking, I love the idea of the trays, hmmmm, where does one acquire them?

By: Libby

Libby — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:18:00 +0000

Linda, you were the one who got me started with the cafe trays! Now if only I could find a bakers rack that didn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Susan, that’s a great idea about supplying trays for workshop students. And a great excuse to pick up more trays.

I really really want a bakers rack!

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:44:17 +0000

Libby,

I use a few dozen cafeteria trays in my studio - and most are stored in an old baker’s rack that I got from an industrial kitchen. The rack holds two trays on each shelf (40 trays total). The rack/tray combo is a really efficient way to store a lot of materials in plain view - and the footprint is small. My trays are organized in such a way that I can grab a tray from the rack and drop it on my studio table as needed: a tray for paints, one for texture tools, one to store blades, punches and cutters, another that holds rubber stamps…you get the idea.

I also bought several colorful lunch trays at a dollar store for students to use at their workstations when I teach workshops. They absorb all of the tools, materials and supplies needed for each student. Happy organizing!

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:19:06 +0000

Hee! I love cafeteria trays too. And they go so nicely into bakers’ racks. =)

Love your blog, Libby!