Taking Good Photos

From time to time, there have been questions (some from me) about how to take good pictures for posting. The latest was in a response to Kandra's beautiful photo in Blog #1.

If you want a cool gizmo for taking excellent, well-lighted close-ups, you could make a Trashcanulator 2000.

I haven't tried it, but it looks like just the expensive professional equipment. Plus it has a great name!

Marty S
Crackpot Beader

Caught Up

My January page is done and up here on my blog. I had a hard time thinking up something to do for this month, especially after the way it started. But then, it snowed again. A snowflake was the perfect choice! This one isn't cold and it won't melt. That I like. Enjoy.

Z'anne

P.S. With 5 pages done and hanging on the dowel, my journal is beginning to look pretty good. I'll take a pick next month at the half way mark.

2007 BJP Decision

I've decided what I am going to do with my 2007 BJP when it's complete... NEWS

Kassie
aka Beadg1rl (DeviantArt page)
aka Beading Butterfly (blog)
The Beading Butterfly (website)

How do YOU use our BJP blogs?

Hi everyone!

I'm curious about how our members use the BJP Blogs. So I posted a poll on the side bar of Blog #1. Look for the second item down on the right. I hope you'll take a moment to respond.

Please check all of the items on the poll that apply to you. Also, if you have any suggestions, feel free to offer them as comments on this post or email our blog angel.

Thanks so much!
Robin A.

February pin

I've skipped January for the time being and made my pin for February. You can see it on my blog.

Life Lessons From Improvisational Bead Embroidery

I finished my January page, and it was not what I expected. Come to my blog to see it and the lesson it illustrates.
Marty S
Crackpot Beader

December is finally finished!

Between a very big art show, the worst weather in 40 years, an abscessed tooth and the holidays, I didn't even get my December page started until after New Year's. Here is where you can find my page and an explanation about it.

I hope to start on my January page this weekend, but you know how life can change things all at once. Wish me luck! ;)

Z'anne

December completed, Jan started

Hi all -

Here's a link to my December journal entry which is color based on Chanukah and Christmas. December Bead Journal. So, the colors I worked with are blue, white, red, and green. I don't think I'd ever choose those colors to work with exclusively on one piece, but there you go. I guess that's what the journaling is all about, trying new things. I've started my January one, so hopefully it will be completed this month. Or if not, certainly next month. This is fun.

Susan

January piece completed

January is finished. I had to continue with my medieval theme that I started last month - something about the regal feeling of the floor tile. But the colours in this one! Zounds! This isn't our ancestor's colour scheme!

sewing machine

Here's a question related to the creation of a BJP page:

What kind of sewing machine do you recommend?

In the past I had a low-end Singer and had lots of tension problems. So I want a good quality, solid, reliable machine to work on BJP and collage-type pieces.

Thanks, Susan

January block done - Double Infinity

My interest is growing in crazy quilts, so of course i've been working on a stash of fabric and fun things to use once i'm ready to begin that pursuit! I got both items (fabric and photo) early this month and they just seemed to be perfect for the New Year. Funny how things just work out :) So i went though all my beads (perhaps my favorite part!!) and got to work! I was not happy with the color intensity on the silk photo print (and since it is the first i've used, i don't know if they are all so soft) so i wound up beading the entire picture. My husband says "it's not done yet, is it? i don't see a thing!!" Well, it is done and it is a baby holding a bubble with 3 butterflies! I did the same picot edging on the photo and the piece itself using 11's which gives it a framed look. This is getting to be quite a bit of fun. Can't wait to see what everyone else came up with. http://www.flickr.com/photos/30235567@N07/3204099965/in/pool-871696@N21

January BJP lookie!

I finally got January done & it is STILL January. YEAH! You can see my piece here & I've got a surprise announcement too. I'm thrilled. It is very very very cold in Ohio. This morning when I let the dogs out it was 0 degrees...yes ZERO! But I'm sure it is cold every where in the US today.

dot

HI....I'm back!

Just a quick note to say I am back on BJP path and have just added a new post to my blog where you can see some of my beaded Christmas cards plus a couple of my BJP pages.

December completed....

While November took me forever to complete my puzzle piece, once the inspiration for December took ahold in my scrambled brain, I was done in a flash.

December 2008

First Time Blogger

Hi -

I'm Susan. This is all new to me, as I've never blogged before and am hesitant about what I'm doing, somewhat computer challenged until I do something for the first time and then I'm comfortable with it. This is also the first time that I've ever done a beading journal, which I find I'm really enjoying. I was right on time with my Sept, Oct, and Nov entries, but Dec got away from me with other things I had to do. I create jewelry, and actually each piece of my journal is a brooch. I had a jewelry party in my home for holiday gifts, and getting ready for that took a lot of time. Then, I had gotten some orders from the party and had to fill those. These aren't excuses, just an explanation. Finally, it's Jan and I'm half way through my Dec piece with great ideas for the Jan one. My pieces can  been seen on my web site http://www.mermaidsjewelz.com/gallery . Go to the last album on the page and click on it. 

A lot of my jewelry is actually bead embroidery but I've always called it sculptural beading. This is also the first time that I'm actually doing different embroidery stitch patterns. If you look at my jewelry, you'll see what I mean. 

Well. That's all for now.

December bjp pin

You can view my December pin on my blog.

First Post for BJP 2008

Hi all - I hardly get on the blog because when I do, it takes up most of my day - there are so many great things to see and read. I'm very happy that you all are so supportive. I love this project (did it last year, too). This year my theme is Mirror Mirror On The Wall as all my pieces are 5" mirrors, but the mirror faces the wall so you can see the beading! Anyway, each month is a new color scheme, includes something I've never done before (like a new stitch) and includes a machine embroidery (my newest hobby). Re: the color scheme -  I was trying to figure out how all of these relate to color theory and now see that they all don't, that color theory helps in finding a color when you are unsure what to use. I'd like comments on this as I'm trying to learn more about color theory. So, I'm a little behind (haven't started January yet), but have now finished my first 4 pieces.  The color theme for January is going to be Pinks and Greens (my sister's favorite colors) - now to decide on the embroidery. You can view my 4 on my website. Enjoy and have a BEADY Good Day. Karen

Okay, almost there.

I have almost caught up to where I should be. I have posted November and January's BJP pages on my blog but I wanted to give you a teaser of my favorite one so far. There is more to see so be sure to visit my blog.

Now that I have set my eyes upon my inspiration, I am moving right along with a lot of projects.

You may be asking why November and January but not December-- well I have a pattern that I drew years ago that I am hunting that I want to bead on my December page. It will go quickly but I didn't want that "Word" to get away, since I am using words for my BJP. If you wanna know more about the chosen words you will have to look at my blog post to understand.

Have a blessed day and enjoy all the pretty beads.

Thank you Robin

Thanks to Robin I was able to rework my BJP into a workable appealing project. I had such a creative block that I went back to an old love to find my way. I have posted a picture of September and October on my blog along with all the reasoning-- just in case you may want to walk around in my creative logic.
Thanks again Robin for the creative words and I am sure that is why you are the mommy of this project-- you are great.

December BJP Completed!

I finished my December BJP page while we were away for Christmas. You can see it at Crackpot Beader. Go to the second post on the page.

It has been too much fun to see what everyone else is doing! Lots of inspiration from amazing artists!

Happy New Year!
Marty S
Crackpot Beader