Is it really the end of December? I always look forward to this time of year...the crush of holidays over, the sun starting to show itself more.

But this has been a very tough month personally. My dear friend Jill Landers died on December 14th, from metastatic breast cancer, 11 years after her first diagnosis. She was only 51, and truly an inspiration in her life and in her death.

I spent many hours in the past 2 months with her, just watching tv with her, rubbing her feet, holding her hand, sometimes just reading/singing to her. I felt so lucky to have that time with her...relieving her husband so he could run errands, etc.

I'm so glad that I had that time, but also glad I had this journal project to keep me focused. I absolutely had to finish the edging on this piece today. Anyway, this is not my favorite piece technically or aesthetically, but emotionally it is right on! The sun will triumph, as will hope. The darkness will be pushed back, as will despair. This snippet is part of of my determination, which you can see in full in my blog here:

November - Done!!

Yes, I finally finished November's piece. I do like the way that the hawk hides in the colours.....

Happy New Years to everyone!

November and December BJP

I'm a bit late on the November doll. She took me a month and a half to make. I'm going to have to simplifiy in the future if I want to stay on track. : P Her name is Hiawatha and is for Thanksgiving.

December Doll is Jolly Holly. I wanted the Holly leaves to look more light and airy but I guess in a cold climate a heavy looking skirt would be warmer. All things work out in the end.

Dot's Fall Reveal

First off, I want to apologize for not being an active member these past 4 months. Let me explain & hopefully you'll understand why I've been so silent. First off, I need to tell you that I have had a great year. I was so blessed to be published in not only doll makers magazines, but in a bead book called Flatwork. I got a job teaching at the local bead store, and was invited to Albuquerque to teach my Podlings. Also, I had a great reception at a gallery show, and made enough money to pay for a lot more beads! But...it was in July or August, when I was at the peak of happiness about all my success, when someone told me that I needed to stop bragging so much as I was making other members of my guild unhappy with me. I was shocked! I thought that your Guild Sisters were the right ones to cheer you on. Heaven forbid if I expected my family or co-workers to understand what I've been doing, but other ARTIST? So I became very depressed, and began to question my motives about why I was doing this Art. I didn't stop creating, and do and STILL enjoy every single thing I make. But I stopped sharing my accomplishments at Guild meetings, and found myself uneasy about writing about anything on my blog. I kept quiet and for those who know me, that is not me. I even stopped blogging, and eventually forgot my pass word. I found myself sinking deeper and deeper pulling into a shell. Then a week before Christmas I was talking to my best friend about this, and she told me that I should not let a few jealous (yes, she made me realize that they were jealous) people stop me from sharing what I do with others. I've thought about this all this week. Then I realize that I do have the right to brag. I do have the right to share what I've been doing. Suddenly it was like a cloud was lifted from me. I felt alive, and happy again. So this is the reason, I've been so quiet.

Now let me tell you a little about my December Reveal. I have the 4 months projects & if you'd like to see better pictures of the 4 pieces for this year's entry, please go to my blog (which I promise to keep up) and see the inspiration behind each piece. My theme this year is ReCycle-Trash to Treasure. I'm doing beaded dolls this year.

I'm making a promise to myself and to YOU to keep up and not let this world crash down on me.
dot

First four months done

I"ve just posted my first four months of bead journaling. I forgot to size the photos, so if you click on them they're pretty big. Their "real" size is about 3 1/2 inch diameter. Enjoy, Susan

Pam T. Is Doing OK

Most of you have had some correspondence with our BJP Registration Angel, Pam T. If you've been following her blog, you know that she had a double mastectomy and lymph node removal surgery on the 19th. Her December BJP is a visual journal of her unexpected diagnosis and rush into surgery and next chemo followed by radiation.

I'm writing today to let you know that she's home from the hospital and doing reasonably well. She even sent a "group email report" today in which she joked a bit... "I still have drains in (ugh) and I am really quite sore and stiff and I feel like I am walking around like a robot or something trying not to move too much, but I guess the positive here is that I am moving, right?"

She is extremely appreciative of the support, prayers, healing thoughts, etc that she has received from BJP members. She hopes you'll all be diligent about getting regular checks/mamograms.

I'll post a progress report again in a week or so. In the meantime, if you wish, you can leave comments here or on her blog.

December Finished

My take on the beautiful old Russian icons of a black madonna and child...at my blog.

Happy Holidaze, everyone!
(now hopefully after they're over I can get back to beading!)

December BJP Progress

Here's a sneak peak at my partially completed page for December. You can see more at Crackpot Beader.

The thought behind it is that there are sparkles even on the longest night of the year.

I've really enjoyed seeing what everyone is doing. There are many talented and accomplished bead artists in the group.

I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful holiday.
Marty S
Crackpot Beader

Double Infinity - December page completed

Well I seem to be having some technical difficult getting a posting up today. Please see my piece here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/30235567@N07/3115938619/ and bear with me! I got the focal bead from Sculpted Window. You should check her out - very talented. There are so many cool little things on this bead - look at the crystal stalks and all the tiny details - just lovely. The bead reminds me of a Goddess Mother and who is the highest of all mothers in the eyes of Christians, but the virgin Mary? So I decided to use her as the focal point of my December page. I am also a mother of December - my youngest was 7 on the 12th!!! And also, the last time both my parents opened their eyes was while receiving final blessings from the church when the words "Mother Mary" were spoken. The rest of the piece just created itseld in muted metals and iris beads, with quite a few fire polished thrown in for sparkle. I just love the feathers, although they were hard to photograph. I took the bead to the fabric store and walked around 3 times before deciding on the sparly golden black knit. I simply put some black interfacing behind it before attatching it to the Stiff Stuff so it was easy to work with. Hope you have a lovely holiday season!

Not slacking, just busy

Not much progress lately, but here's an update on my Elemental Water panel (2007-2008 BJP).  So far for 2008-2009, I only have one month completed, but the second is in my head and will hopefully get going soon.

http://beadingbutterfly.blogspot.com

November bjp pin

I have my November bjp pin on my blog.

Be kind to yourself over the holidays and enjoy each day as it comes. Not sure I'll have time for much beading, but I'm really looking forward to time with my family.

Happy Holidays!

2008 Bead Journal Project Completed!

I just posted the final chapter of last years project on my blog (and my dining room)
It's complete!!

If you think you are behind...

I started an idea for the page format for September but because of a lack of love for it-- I have put it off and that made me put off every month since thinking I need to do that Idea.... Well I have come to terms with my creative self and have decided to scrap that idea so I am even further behind not having one page done as of yet. Ohh well, I know when that great light bulb moment hits I will be beading with a fury like no other and then I will be done in no time at all.
So many things are rolling around in my head, I need to just nail one of them down.
I have gotten to see first hand Mandi's pages-- they are ATC size. (we are both in the DBS and I saw them at a meeting) That inspired me to think harder and it also made me not want to scrap the work I have already done for Sept. (maybe I will incorporate it somehow) It also left me thinking that what I want to do is not solid beading-- I want to incorporate space and fabric and paper. I want to play LOL and make a big mess that creates a beauty in the process! I think I can, I think I can (chug, chug)

I'm behind....

...I'll confess out loud. I have been reading and viewing blogs all over the world thanks to this project. And loving everything that I see!

Then Facebook. Damn Pathwords. I believe that I am addicted.

And November sits on my workbench. Sad. Lonely. Dejected.

I've been working on ID badge lariats for Christmas gifts and have about 16 more inches on the last one.

Then November will be happy. And December.

November BJP finished

I had fun with November's page, it exactly mimics my November 2008 state of mind. You can see it here. Great work everyone!

What happens when you're TOO inspired??

I admit the bead-journal addictions are getting a little too much... I've finished January. D'oh! I've uploaded it onto the Flikr group, as well as wrote a bit about the whole page on my Contemporary Bead Art blog. Despite the fact I've already picked out the image from my sketchbook that I will tackle for February 2009's page... I'm going to dig into a few other projects to slow down.

-That Celticat Chick

November BJP is done!!!

Howdy fellow beaders,

Yesterday I completed my November BJP page. YeeeeHawww! I took a bunch of purty pictures this morning and if you'd like to take a look, mosey on over to my blog and check it out. I am not quite sure why I am writing in cowgirl language this morning. Perhaps I've had too much coffee.....

Have a might fine day y'all,
Pam