You've Created a Monster

I hate to say it... I'm totally hooked. I've almost finished my November page - no fair! Anyhow, I've written a bit on my blog... these darn beads are getting out of hand. Of course, I'm counting on falling behind in the future, right?

-That Celticat Chick

October Page Posted

My Oct BJP is finished......early!!!!

If you'd like to have a look you'll find it here.

Comments are always appreciated.

Thanks,
SueU

Tagging Fun + Update

Today I'm showing off my progress, and having fun tagging other BJP participants!
http://beadcircleblog.com/?p=161

Elemental Fire - almost done!!

Second panel of my 2007 BJP (yeah, I know LOL) almost finished - yay!

http://beadingbutterfly.blogspot.com

Kassie

Not Quite Pink--October BJP Finished

I finished my October page, Not Quite Pink. It was made in acknowledgment of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Come and see it here.

Thanks to all who sent support after my first post about it. This time, I promise, more beads and less rant!
Marty S
Crackpot Beader

October BJP

Yay! I finished my October page. You can view it here. Everyone's work that I've seen so far is STUNNING!
Cheers all,
Sarah

Flikr Question

I'm mystified. Again. When I go to the 2008-2009 BJP Flikr site, I can only see some of the photos posted. To see all of them, I have to sign in to Flikr.

But it seems like I can see all of the photos for the 2007 BJP, which I did not participate in, without signing in.

Am I missing a step in trying to get to the 2008-2009 BJP Flikr site? Any ideas?
Marty S
Crackpot Beader

Running Crazy Behind

I've decided I've taken on too many projects -- go figure. And being the Libra, I try to give equal status and attention to them all. That explains the running crazy part. Anyway, I've decided that all of my BJP 'pages' are going to be pinkeepers like the ones I've been working on in a couple of swaps. I have the September fabric part sewn together and should start working on it this weekend. I know it is October, but I'll get there when I can. September's question to meditate is "What were you like when you were young?" I'll post a picture of my pieces to this puzzle this weekend, so all of you can at least see I've started. I am going to finish the round robins I'm in and then no more swaps or round robins until I get my BJP done. The BJP is for me, sounds selfish, but it is the truth. It will be my work for me. My time to stop and reflect. My chance to contemplate and grow.

October's Golden page is done.

Well, i finished my October piece the other day and am really enjoying the process. My parent's were married in the month of October and the only anniversary they were apart was their 50th, so i decided to make it a 'golden' page. I found a really neat spiral glass sun, and even though it has a bale, i knew i could make it work! When I first put it on top of my chosen fabric, i know it was the right choice. Then i found some cool glass tube beads in the most amazing earth tones. I decided to use 5 of these for 'rays' - significant in 2 ways - the 5 golden rings (!) and the fact that there were once 5 members in my family, where now it it only me. I can feel myself learning to trust my instinct and even allowed myself to put sequins on the piece! I can even see myself using fibers one day! I guess i am evolving into a textil-ist (?), but don't worry, there are lots of beads on this piece too! I think my favorite part of the piece is holding it up to the sun. I used square beads for my border which are amber lined and then i used bronze delicas and a clear teardrop with a copper center for the 'fringe', so it really shines! I love how a piece tells me when it is done - take a look at the Flickr site and have a look.

October piece finsihed!

I can't believe I've actually finished October this early in the month. Of course it helps that I don't like to completely cover my fabric with beads! I like to feature the color of the ultrasuede in the background. (Is that an excuse or a design feature? hmmmm)

This month's word was circles. You can see my finished piece here. I love the colors and the flow of the beads. I tried a few new stitches and did a few that I just made up (though I'm sure they are not original!). I've learned to not be afraid of ripping out, changing my mind, and enjoying the project just for the joy of doing it.

I've decided to add backing in the same ultrasuede color and adding a picot edge. Eventually, I'll sew them all together with beads. Next month's color will be....not sure yet! Whatever the color, I'll be thinking about my good friend Jill, who will lose her battle with breast cancer soon.

2007 BJP Elemental Series Update

Yeah, I'm still working on LAST year's BJP!  LOL!

It's not much further along than it was when I last posted, but I thought it would be cool to show the first two panels together.  The 3rd and 4th panels will be water and earth, water on the lower left and earth on the lower right.  The whole thing is approximately 16" x 16" square.  Now that October 15 has come and gone, I think I'll have a little more time to focus on this project.  For those of you who don't know, I'm an accountant and October 15 is a tax extension deadline.  Now I get to breathe until January comes around again!!

Picture is on my blog and in my DeviantArt gallery.

Kassie

October Update

I posted my October update to my blog. I blurred out the "word" I am using, but it will be revealed when the piece is complete.

I said this in my blog post, but I want to say it again. I am truly blown away by all the comments I’ve received. I’m really excited about growing, learning, and finding myself in this craft, and I’m so happy to have a wonderful, amazing group like you all to share it with. Thank you.

Mandibeads
http://www.beadcircleblog.com

September Complete

My September page is finished, however, not without lessons learned! If you care to visit, feel free to swing by my blog. I would welcome any comments, ideas, and smiles! Thankfully, I am starting October, and I know it will be a much smoother experience and my lips will be zipped!

I have been enjoying visiting blogs the past few days...amazing and beautiful work! What a great group of kindred spirits!

~Lisa ;-)

Sept BJP Page Posted

I have had my page finished since the last week of Sept, but hadn't had time to take the pictures or post them to my blog .

They are up now so if you would like to have a look just click on the blog link above.

SueU

September bjp

If you would like to see my beaded pin for September, go to my blog.

Jann

Letting Go

Well, after a bit of deliberating, I decided to just let the beads do what they will...and the result has been liberating for me! Already I'm much farther along than I was at the end of last month's piece...and itching for work to be done so I can get back tonight and get to beading.

You can check out the in progress piece here, if you want to...
http://cynjonnoah.blogspot.com/

October Buddha!

I finished my October Bead Journal project. I couldn't wait until I could blog about it... so I went ahead and uploaded it to my Flikr account and there's an image in our Flikr group. I'm really excited on how this month's piece turned out and can't wait to dig into November! This whole project is incredibly inspiring - my husband is even getting into it. (We've already picked out the November image from my sketchbook.)

-That Celticat Chick

My first: Ode to Purple

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I finished my September piece on Oct. 1st, and I just now posted it to my blog. (I had been in the middle of revamping my blog, hehe) It is my first piece of bead embroidery, and I hope some of you will have some feedback for me :) I wanted to start my October piece right after I was finished with September, but the perfect idea did not flow to me until a week later, so I'm glad I waited to start it. And that's what I'm off to do now!

Mandibeads
http://www.beadcircleblog.com

Running Behind

It's a good thing we're doing this solely for ourselves, as I'm already behind and it's just the start of the second month! Diane can attest to my wacky travel/work schedule, which made a serious dent in my time for the September page. I got it started, and about 1/3rd of the way finished, but that's about it...I'm planning on continuing to work on it during October as well, though, since I'm now back home and done with travelling.

All that being said, I'm kind of stumped as for this month's page....but in a good way. I've seen lot of fun work already, and it's sparked numerous ideas in my head as to what I want to do...too numerous, some would say!

Something abstract and freeform?
Something figural?
Something super 3-D?
Something Oct/Fall specific?
All of the above??

How do YOU decide what to do? Do you start the year with a preplanned notion (and throw it by the side)? Or do you just let each month speak to you?

October bjp begun...

I've started this one here....

October is here and on my blog

Happy Autumn and October, Everyone!

I do so love this time of year! The warm days and crisp nights, the full moons, big and bright, all the changes happening. Time to gather in all our harvests and get ready for the winter that always comes much too quickly. So, I offer to you my page for the month.

WARNING: If you are arachniphobic be forewarned, I have a spider as part of my page.

Z'anne

October BJP Page--Not Quite Pink

I'm getting ready to start my October BJP page. It will acknowledge October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I'm a survivor, and I'd like to hear what other survivors think about my decision to make the page not quite pink. You can see my beads and read about my reasons on my blog.
Marty S
Crackpot Beader

Remembering Cindy

This is a bit off topic... but very much ON topic.

Many if us knew Cindy McCornack. Cindy once wrote a small book called Exploring Beaded Art Dolls which had instructions, inspiration, and photographs of bead dolls. She died three years ago of cancer leaving a huge collaborative project of beaded 'mystery panels' completed by many artists unfinished. After years of tracking down, constructing, and gathering the unfinished project we have now published the panels as postcard sets and have them for sale on Etsy.
http://rememberingcindy.etsy.com/

Only a few people knew what the final image was to be and now they are all together - all proceeds from the sale will go towards cancer research at the American Lung Association. As a group, we received many beaded works that were a part of Cindy's estate - there will be regular listings of beaded art dolls, beadwork pieces and supplies that were a part of this estate. All sales will continue to the end of the year and in January 2009, we will close up the shop and donate any remaining items to the Minneapolis Textile Center.

Please share this information with your friends, family and anyone you feel would love just a little more inspiration. Dulcey Heller has also posted a beautiful tribute on her blog:
http://www.dulceyheller.com/wordpress/remembering-cindy/

I just hope that these amazing panels will make a difference in fighting cancer.

Gentle Reminder

Please remember that the Bead Journal Project Blog(s) is just that - for Bead Journal Project posts - not other news. I hate to be snarky but I've received several emails lately with complaints about posts not related to the Bead Journal Project. I realize that many people are excited to share information, but just as many come here only to read about the BJP. Please respect the purpose of the blogs as well as other participants and keep your entries related to the Bead Journal Project only.

Thanks for your understanding.

Diane