Since I signed up for another year of the Bead Journal Project (thank you Robin!), I thought it appropriate to change the title of this blog from Bead Journal 2008 Reflections to just Bead Journal Reflections. I hope this project keeps going and going, just like the Energizer Bunny!
Of course, this is a new year, and a new project, so I've made some changes too. 2008/2009 was my first time with the BJP and it was wonderful. I think 2010 will also be a great year, but I'm a little bit more 'relaxed' about the project.
Case in point, I just finished January, and it is already almost the end of February! But I'm in good humor and having fun with the new year.
New year, new guidelines. I'm going in a new direction on this project. I've asked 12 friends for 'found' pieces that will be the focal for each month. And I'm going to do a monochromatic palette, and I'm having a blast! January was all white with an old battery from my husband as the found piece. He also bought me a lot of fabric paints to use with the pieces, for which I'm using Lacy's Stiff Stuff...and I'm going to cover the whole piece with beads. No more negative space for me!
I'm looking forward to starting February...amethysts from Thunder Bay!
16 comments:
This is beautiful, Margaret! I just love that you are doing a monochromatic palette each month. And that you are using 'found' objects from friends to include. Looking forward to seeing more!
Gorgeous! Like a silver river running through snow! I love it!
Wow~ How cool is that?! A 3V battery! Ha! Does it have a special meaning to your husband? Funny... I thought of using spent hearing aid batteries in one of my pieces this year. You did a great job with the white beads. It's lovely, flowing, wintery and intriguing because of the battery! Yay!
Robin A.
I like the choices you made and it is always good to have a blast! Thanks for sharing your fun with us. I like the battery as well, it seems you are getting "charged up" for this new year and all of your new ideas.
What an idea -- a found battery! It's charming. I also see winter here, and I always love encrusted pieces. Haven't achieved them yet myself, but someday. Great piece!
what a great idea to include your friends in this project! i'll bet they will be excited to see how you used their object in your work. your palette was very good and i like the different beads stitches you used to add texture to your monochromatic palette. the colors are great. i see a winter scene, but with the battery and the colors for some reason it reminds me of industrial or technological things too. i think it's a very interesting piece...i kept going back to look at it again and again from the smaller to the larger view. nice!
I love the effect of the all white beads. Your piece really shows texture and variety. And the battery! Maybe we all need one to keep us going!
Marty S
Crackpot Beader
You're off to a great start! I like the idea of no more negative space - not only in your beadwork but in life as well?
Susan
Margaret! Your beading is just beautiful. I love your idea of colleting 12 items from friends. Perfect inspiration.
How clever you are and it will be an added challenge to come up with a design around found objects. Love it! I am truly a monochromatic beader so I'll be watching your palette each month to see what you come with.
What a great set of goals! I love the idea of beading pieces that will contain a tiny piece of your friends' lives in them. This first piece is beautiful :-)
Absolutely beautiful! I like the idea of the found objects. It's not something that I've thought of using. I too am doing a monochromatic pallette on each month's piece. It is fun, isn't it?
What a great idea. Found objects are so wonderful. I love that lost things are getting a job to beautify the world. Your piece is so beautiful. Julie C
Ohmygosh, I love it! I saw the battery right away and it fit so perfectly. Great piece!
Hey! A fellow Michigander! Of course, I've been out of the state for decades now but you never really leave the state you grew up in, especially one as beautiful as MI.
I love the idea of using found objects donated by friends and family as your starting point each month. How big are your pieces? Same size as last year's? I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with the amethysts from Thunder Bay ;- )
Thanks for the comments everyone. The pieces are 3 1/2 inches square, a little smaller than last year. The battery has an interesting special meaning...my husband is a total pack rat. After almost 33 years of marriage, it is the one thing I don't even think of trying to change in him. Despite this, I do sometimes daydream about picking up the house and shaking everything out into a dumpster! (After removing my beads, and glass rods, and yarn, and..well you get the picture!)
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