Sunday, February 28, 2010

February is Amethyst


February's piece was wonderful fun, and went more smoothly than I expecteed. The three 'found' pieces are amethysts from my bead class friend, Pat Chipman, who says she found them near an amethyst mine she toured in Thunder Bay. Thank you Pat! They are perfect! I used fabric paint to color the Lacy's stiff stuff, and I think it makes a nice background. The pattern makes me think of ripples from a drop of water, or gravity fields. I'm not sure why so technical! I like following the thin line of beads running between the chips, and how it connects and divides.
I raided my stash for everything in the purple family, and used hexes, 15's, 11's, 8's, 6's, delicas and megatamas. I'm continuing with my goal to cover the entire space with beads, and practiced back stitch this month. Next month I want to try practicing couching, which I find very challenging. Several people are holding onto found pieces for me, so I'm eager to see them and pick the piece for March.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

January at last!


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!