Living on the road comes with so many challenges on its own, but it can get even more challenging when throwing a creative job into the mix.

I’m a silversmith, so I’m lucky that my jewelry can pack down into a small space, but my tools take up a large chunk of our storage. My experience of course won’t equate to creatives in other mediums, but I hope some of my insight can be helpful if you’re looking to move on the road as a creative!

Here’s the top 5 things I wouldn’t go without:

Disclosure: I will always recommend shopping directly from independent brands when possible! But I know some folks need the discounted shipping + deals that Amazon can provide, so I will always include a link to both if possible 🫶🏼

This blog includes affiliate links which means I get a *very* small commission if you happen to buy though them, at no cost to you. I only link products I have tried myself and love! Thanks for your support.

(1) An easy + secure studio space

I cannot stress this enough!!

If the studio is not easy to set up, you won’t work — I promise. Creative inspiration comes so spontaneously and having to pull out and set up a table, pull out all of your tools, and then start is too many steps — you’ll lose all of your creative momentum!

It took me 3 months before I built an easy studio set up and it was a night and day difference in my creative output and studio time.

Having the studio space be secure as well allows for you to take breaks in the middle of the day and not have to break down + set up every time. For me, I have a slide out table from the side of our truck camper than lives in a locked compartment. All I have to do is slide my in progress work back into the compartment and lock!

(2) Modular storage

As a jeweler, a lot of my tools are small so a modular storage system was necessary.

I use Milwaukee Tools pack out boxes to organize everything! They’re definitely an investment, but I can organize between boxes as well as within them, they’re air tight (which is really important for silver!), and they all lock into place so they don’t move around when we’re driving. Tools are also incredibly heavy, so being able to pick up individual boxes is really helpful!

Here’s a breakdown of the tool boxes I use:

(3) Buy the mobile tools

It’s a big investment up front, but the space and battery power mobile tools provide is worth it! If you’re anything like us, you won’t be near electrical hookups while on the road. So saving your battery power (and not plugging power hungry tools into your battery bank) is really important!

Mobile tools allow you to charge when you have excess power, and use when needed. They also are a lot smaller than the usual tools so they save you in the storage department as well!

For tools you can’t go completely mobile on, miniaturize them. It’ll at least save you on the space!

For me, this looked like replacing my flex shaft with a portable battery powered flex shaft and replacing my pickle pot with a mini fondue crock pot!

(4) Thermacell

If mosquitoes love you, this is a must — especially if your studio space is outside!

The Thermacell [Amazon] will create a 10-15 foot mosquito repelling dome around it. It works like a charm and it has saved me on many occasions!

(5) Label printer

If you’re a creative that mails, I’d recommend bringing your label printer. It’s not worth the extra money and inconvenience to buy labels in store! Plus it’s not too big to store in your rig.

I use a Rollo printer [Amazon] (:

Let me know if you have any questions!! Always happy to help my fellow creatives 🫶🏼

Note: I will always recommend shopping directly from independent brands when possible! But I know some folks need the discounted shipping + deals that Amazon can provide, so I will always include a link to both if possible 🫶🏼