September BJP

Here's the September page. Read below to find out what it means to me. Thanks

August BJP

Here's the August page I promised to publish.

I'm Catching Up - Just like the Tortise

I can't believe I haven't posted since July. Where did the time go? I know. Getting ready for school, starting school, my son started a new school, transitions everywhere. I learned how to knit and crochet in between sometime in August and September. I enjoy both but I really think I like the beading much better, hum, not a surprise. I learned in early September that my Aunt in California had lymphoma stage 4 with a few other things thrown in for good measure. See passed away the end of September. I fell at school a week ago, seems that hot wheel cars seem to go faster than my foot. I stepped on it and my leg went one way and my body went the other way and the floor came up to meet me! lol I rolled so the children (I teach preschool) couldn't see my face. Scared my co-teacher. She got the kids into another room, good thinking on her part and sent down another teacher to check on me. In the meantime, I'm doing a mental inventory. Everything was still in place and it seemed like everything could move. Good. Sprained my ankle and my body tightened up so much. Took about 4 days to easy the body but the ankle is still in an air cast. I was really happy to be able to have the whole weekend that weekend to myself. My son and husband went camping and I spent the weekend with my foot up and my beads in hand and clicker and phone next to me. I was a happy camper! Anyway, I finished my August page. I was trying to get the feeling that August(the orange piece) was hot but my son had another interpretation (remember he's 11) he said the yellow was the sun setting and the moon was getting the reflection of that. The rest of the sparkle was stars in the sky. So whatever you want it to be - that's fine! lol September (the pink piece) just came about by doing what Robin says, one bead down then another, then another and then it was done. I looked at it and looked at it and it came to me that because my Aunt had died, I was the flower at the bottom and I was holding on to the "stems" or "lines" but holding on to my family who are all gone now. My mother is the one on the left, my father is the one directly across from her and my aunt is the one at the bottom right. My grandfather is at the top. I'm holding on. hum. I'll have to write on that some time.

July Page Done

I finished July, it only took me 1000+ sequins. Glad I bought 2 packages. I like the way the light reflects off the sequins. I'm getting a little purple in the reflection and I like that. I think I like sequins. I used to think they were tacky but now with beads and in the right context I love em. My mind is wandering off to August and what I should do but I'm not going to start yet. Off to other projects. This picture doesn't do it justice but you get the idea. I think this brings peace and simplicity to me. I like looking at it and usually I don't like what I make.

Quiet Here

My husband and I dropped our 11 year old son off at Boy Scout camp yesterday. After I said goodbye to him, I told him I'd have his dad come by before we left and that I'd be in the car. A few minutes later, I looked back and saw my son running to the car. He came for another hug and a kiss. I asked him if he was ok "yes mom" but I know him better. He had just realized that he was going to be there with out us. We hugged and kissed and I told him it was ok to miss us and that he would have lots of fun and he'd be too busy to miss us. I told him as I was hugging him that I'd give him a wedgy and that perked him up but as he walked back to the camp ground I cried for both of us. Anyway, it's so darn quiet here without him, I almost put on Spongebob Squarepants to make some noise. I decided that I would do absolutely nothing today that I didn't want to do, so I sat in my recliner and beaded. It is so relaxing. I did remember to get up every now and then to stretch and give the dog water and run him around the backyard. It's going to be a quiet week! We'll pick him up on Sunday.

July 2nd edition

Above is the beginning of my background. I would have never thought to use sequins. I don't know why but never did, but I love the sparkle of it and the different colors it gives off and the texture. Right now it reminds me of a mermaid that I once made. Hum, watery flowy, pretty.

Below, you'll see and up close picture of one of the fowers with it's stamens. I'm not sure if I'll change anywhere along the way, I will if the want comes up. Thanks to everyone for answering my question about how one gets started. As you see, I have just the peltex that I'm using. I like the firmness of it but it is rather bland and needs to be brightened up. I can't remember who did it but I liked the underpainting. I might try that somewhere.

July Start

This is the beginning of my July page. I went on a bead hunt at Beads East a couple weeks ago. I was looking for beads to jump out at me and these did. The picture doesn't do the colors justice. At first I was going to add orange to it but when I sat down to work on it again, it wouldn't allow me to add them. My mind kept saying no, don't ruin it. Wonder why it said to get the orange beads in the first place? I bet I'll use them somewhere else.

June's Project Is Done

It's done. I finished it yesterday. I'm not sure how I'm going put them all together when I'm done. I was thinking of putting a backing on the pieces and extend them off to the left of each piece fold it over and bring it up very close to the beads then use grommets to make holes to bind that way. I think I saw someone had done that already. I liked that idea. Thanks. I'm very happy with the way this piece came out. I'm going to journal about it another place because I think it has a lot to say that I'm not ready to share with anyone yet. I think a separate "writing" journal might be a thing to do with this whole project. Have a wonderful weekend everyone. Oh and for those who celebrate - HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! I probably won't post until after that. Bead on...............

Can't Believe the Month is Almost Over?!

Wow, I looked at my calendar and was very surprised to see that it is the 26th already. Where has this month gone? I'm amazed. Here's a picture of my BJP for June as of right now. I think I figured out how to make it right side up so maybe everyone won't have to lean left this time. Hope you enjoy it. Looks like I have two bags that I'm carrying on either side of my hand. Weird. I'm enjoying the repetition of the stitches and relaxing as I go. I noticed at the begining my stitches are really tight, they are loosening up a bit now that school is out. I have been thinking about my inner child (as Robin) mentioned. I know she's screaming to get out. We'll see what happens next...........

Little child

Hum, Robin thought that maybe my hand is my inner child's hand who didn't get what she wanted when she was younger. That hit a nerve. "Little Heidi" has been an issue for a long time and I have been pushing her back in. I'm not sure I want to know what she wants to tell me. Does that make sense? Maybe she'll come out in the pages. If anyone out there has any inner child ideas to get her out and me not be afraid, please feel free to let me know. thanks. Thanks for all the wonderful comment, too. I'm off to spray my outdoor furniture with that fusion stuff. I have to do it with my glasses off so I don't get paint spray back on them. It's a funny site, me trying to spray something without seeing it - kind of like everyone lean left! Keep on Beading

Thank you

Thanks ladies for your very nice comments. I had some helpful hand suggestions. Yes this is my first piece and yes that is a tiny mirror in the middle about an inch or so wide. I still need to finish the bezel but it'll come. Thanks again.

Well, I got the picture posted but it's sideways. Everyone lean left when you look. Next time I'll try to have it straight up.

My Hand

I finally got a picture taken of my Bead Journal Project for June. Not sure what's going to happen next. I started out thinking I would do a 4x6 format but after tracing one of my preschooler's hands I realized that I wasn't going to make it all fit. So now it's a 5x7ish size - what have I got myself into? There might be less beads next month. I have no idea where the red nails came from - they just happened. Maybe I wish I had them?! Funny. I'm progressing little by little. Every time I sit down, I pick up the beads. I'm loving the process, can't say I love the hand but it may grow on me when it's done. Maybe someone can tell me what it means. Any art therapists out there?

First Post

Hi this is my first blog ever. I'm not even sure what will happen here but anyway...I've joined a marvelous group of beaders in the Bead Journal Project. This is a year committed to beading one page per month for an entire year. My pages started out as 4 x 6 inches but have been upgraded by a wedding invitation envelope. So I think I'm at 5X7 now. I have been working on my project daily. I started out frantic and working really hard on this project. I realized a few days ago that I was stressing about the page. I have since talked to myself and others and have realized that this is supposed to be fun! So, I am breathing slowly and playing with beads daily but inbetween life.

I probably should introduce myself - I'm Heidi. I live in Manchester, CT with my husband, son and our dog Milo. I'm a preschool teacher. We just got out of school last week! We graduated off our little ones and will welcome a new group in September. We are just a preschool - no day care so I work 8 - 12:30ish. Not too bad. I love my job. I teach basic beading at Beads East and make art dolls and other things.

I will try to post some pictures soon.