Heidi Beads and More

BJP 2011

2011-08-10T16:09:00.020-04:00

I am finally getting around to posting my 2011 Bead Journal Pages. I was behind as of June. School endend and I went to town. I was afraid that I would be behind again when school started and I was on a roll and had some creative energy flowing so I finished my "Pages". They are approximately 3" circles, I've put pins on the back and given one away, the others will be gifts for certain people. The object of this year was to use only supplies I had on hand; fabric, pinbacks and beads. I used mainly 15s with 11s on the outside on all of them. I had all except the cat for main focal pieces.

This year started when I was sitting in class with my student and the english teacher was very much into the peace sign. He was so good to my student that I decided that I would make him a pin. He wore it every day from January to June! Then I just picked up a focal pieces and beaded. So here they all are:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Of course I miscounted somehow and made an extra :)

2010 Completed - Better Late than Never

2011-01-16T13:53:00.003-05:00

Yes, I finally finished December's page. November has been done for awhile but never posted. November is gold and December is copper. Once again I need to thank my good friend Miss Patty for the fabric for the backgrounds. I have never bought gold and certainly never seen copper fabric. They look much better in person, color wise anyway. I started the year off trying to be more creative and ended the year just being bored. It might just be the colors and not having enought to play with, I'm not sure but I think for next year, I'll learn some new stitches. I think that will be my goal for the year. I don't have much to write about, I can say that I'm glad I have finished another year of beading and am excited to start the new year. I'm always glad to pick up the bead embroidery because it is so meditative. It's just plain good for my spirit. I should do it more! January brings new beginnings and I'm gonna take it. Let's see what this year brings! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Let's start fresh.

October BJP

2010-11-14T14:59:00.003-05:00

I'm catching up! Only one month behind and I started it last night! Here's October, I just realized it's orange and it's kind of a fally color, so that's about as close as I can get to explaining this. I started the year off trying to do one angel a month, using a different color each month. Orange was next! I have a hard time with orange, I never really liked it but I'm getting closer. I can't believe I actually had that many different orange beads. My idea at the beginning of the year was to not buy any beads or fabric. I've done that so far. The next two months, I had to beg a friend (Miss Patty) for a scrap of fabric for the backing of each. She's an awesome artist in many media. I knew she'd have gold and copper. So now you know my next two month's colors.

As I've said in previous posts, my job as a para in the middle school here in town is draining. I am lucky I have a wonderful student to work with. This student does keep my on my toes.

Along with that, I have a almost 15 year old who is just blossoming in high school. I have the mom taxi up and running even more than ever. My schedule revolves around his, but that's ok. I realized I don't have too much more time with him before he goes off to college and really grows up. It's kind of scary. I'm enjoying the heck out of him while I have him. It goes so fast.

So my time is limited but I will finish and on time, I'm bound and determined!

I hope everyone is staying healthy and happy.

September 2010

2010-11-07T20:16:00.003-05:00

Wow, where has the time gone? With school starting and my son's schedule, who has time for the computer. I have been beading and I just found that I didn't post September's page, so here it is. October and November are almost done so they'll be up soon, too. I can't believe that our third year is coming to a close. It seems like we just started. January starts a new year. What shape will I use then or will I do something totally different. I've visited everyone's pages and wow there are some great ideas. Maybe I'll pick one of them! I have no idea why september is white, I guess it was the color I had on hand at the time. I'm trying to use the beads that I have and not buy any for now. Same with the fabric. I'm trying to thin out the stash of stuff. My local bead store has moved and I haven't even been in it and it's been since August. That's a bit scary, I think. Things are going well here. My by at school is a joker but I've seen some really big improvements since last school year. My son continues to grow like a week. He tested for his
3rd degree black belt yesterday, it was an 8 hour test and he did AWESOME. We are so proud of him and he is too (which is even better). I've been reading lots and enjoying the heck out of it. Will post soon the rest of the year maybe!

August BJP

2010-08-14T15:07:00.004-04:00

August is here and half way over. School starts for me in 2 weeks (from yesterday), personal development days. They just passed a new and improved budget for the BOE here in town. First, we're closing an elementary school and now we're not. So, we just found out that there will be lots of layoffs instead. I guess I'll know within the next two weeks if I've been cut. I think I should be ok but I'm close. Hopefully, we had a lot of retirements and people quitting.

We're off to New Hampshire tomorrow. Our first real vacation in 10 years! Where did the time go? JT was just 4 last time and didn't understand what a vacation was. Now, I'm not even sure he wants to go! :)

Thought I'd post up August's page before we went and I forgot I even did it. It's actually silver. Not sure if you can tell from the picture. Fabric is blue but all the beads are silver. The flow of the fabric just called for the flow of the beads. It was simple but it was very mindless - I mean meditative. I'm thinking white for September. Then orange, copper, gold maybe.

I've been snooping and lurking on the blogs and I love what everyone is doing. Thanks for your continued inspiration.

July BJP

2010-08-14T14:57:00.004-04:00

Here it is, July and it's only August 14th. Actually, I finished this in July while my son was at camp. It turned out to be a wonderfully quiet and productive beading and reading week. July is supposed to be irridescent. The fabric is kind of a etheral piece of fabric that I fell in love with. It didn't not turn out as I had planned but then again, nothing ever does. It actually started with 7 beads going down the center (including the heart of course) I thought "these are the seven chakras" and it took on a mind of it's own. It was a pleasant week but I missed my boy very much and was glad to get him back, all the dirt included!

June BJP

2010-07-12T09:17:00.002-04:00

Where does the time go? School is out and I welcome some time off. Time to be creative and time to read and time to spend with friends. Now my mind is there but my body isn't quite up to some of the tasks. It's pretty bad when you have to force yourself to do something you love. That's how it is. Anyway, June's page is done and I have actually started July. We dropped our son off at Boy Scout camp yesterday and I have the whole week during the day to myself. What to do, what to do. I want to do so much but then again, I don't. Anyone ever feel like this? Suggestions are always appreciated.

May BJP

2010-06-28T15:50:00.002-04:00

I can't believe it's June and almost July. We just got out of school late last week. Those snow days sure do eat up our summer vacation. It is nice to not have to go in every day. I was lucky the second half of the year to work with a very funny autisitc boy and as it stands right now, I'll have him next year, too. Ya me! It's very hot and humid today, upper 90s and we decided that we would stay in today, so out came the beads and I finished up my May page. It sure is YELLOW! Not one of my favorite colors but that's ok. I'm still one month behind but that's ok. I'm not presuring myself, I'll get the year done just like the last 2 years. I still don't believe that we're like half way through the year! Where did this year go? I think it has speeded by because I've had my head buried in a lot of books. I am enjoying reading again. My mother is probably laughing at me because as a child, I hated to read and I was the world's slowest reader, now, I am much faster and love it. I can go through 3, 4 or more books in a week. I think I'll get a library card,it's costing me way too much for this great hobby. lol!!!

April BJP

2010-04-20T12:09:00.003-04:00

I was fortunate enough to spend a whole day with some arty friends of mine and got to finish my April Angel up. She's supposed to be red but it looks like a fusion of red and fushia. Oh well! I wanted to get it up before I ran out of free time. We are on vacation from school this week and I just know it will be over before I know it! Time flies, right!?!

Jan, Feb, Mar BJP

2010-04-04T19:29:00.007-04:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I've had my computer in front of me and working. Some things take time as we all know, things do not happen in "my time". I've come back to html instead of pictures above in the post view. January is Blue, February is Pink, March is of course Green!

It's been an interesting beginning of 2010. I lost my student that I started the year off with. I knew it was happening and so bid fr another position. Lucky me, she left one day and I started working with a autistic boy the next, same school and everything. This made me happy. I love the hours for middle school. Can't say I love the kids, with their hormones raging and their attitidues testing and those who don't have real "families" hurting. It's sad but my boy has turned out to be a dream. He's high functioning and surprises me with some of the things he grasps. Sometimes I have to remind myself that he is autistic. I'm lucky. (oh, my son is in the same school!, what a trip!!:)

I have January February and March journal pages to present. Not much to write about them except that they are done, I don't know how they come about except that I have the original outline and I want each of them to have a heart after that, I have no real idea what will happen. I just put one bead down and then another (Thanks Robin!)

I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and I'm not happy about this, I have been fighting this diagnoses for 14 years. I have finally accepted it and have moved on. I'm taking a lot of yucky drugs which I'm not happy about. It seems that my old 3:00 in the afternoon rest period has extended itself to 2 or 3 hours on some day. I find I miss a lot of the weekends resting. I have a new rheumatologist and have decided that I don't like her so I have to find a new one. At least one with a sense of humor and one who tells me that my side affects are real insead of saying, that can't possibly be happening! Yeah right lady, live in my body.

I start a new program tomorrow, unrelated to my doctors drugs. I am taking sugar and flower and salicyclates out of my diet and toiletries. And adding guiafenesn (sp). We'll see. I can't see covering up my symptems is of any use.

Sorry for venting. I guess I needed to get that out.

So I guess, my theme of angels this year is to watch over me and get me through this stuff.

I thank you all for your beautiful posts, I've been able to view a few. You are all such inspiration.

Happy Easter, Happy Spring to you all.

June, July and August BJP

2009-08-30T10:53:00.004-04:00

August 2009

July 2009

June 2009

Well, my computer went on "vacation" right after my last post. I can't believe I survived all that time without a computer. I missed a lot and will need to take time to visit the main blog for everyone's works of art! Let's see, school finished, I worked summer school in the autism group. My boy that I was working with got sent back to his home school without a para, so I spent the entire summer bidding on positions. Of course, seniority reigns and I was one of the last to get a job but got one. I'm moving on up to 8th grade this year but as a tutor. Less hours, more money - I win! Maybe I'll even have time to bead this year. Besides that, my son spent lots of time at his TaeKwonDo and lots of biking and hiking and camping. I had a wonderful weekend with son and hubby away. It was so nice and quiet and I could do what I wanted - beading and not feel guilty. I've been finished since the beginning of the month so I'm proud that I finished another year on time! That says a lot for me. So it was a long a stressful summer and it's just about to end. School starts on Tuesday - did I mention that my son is in the same school and same grade! He promised me that I wouldn't embarass him in the hall way - can you even imagine! Looking forward to another year, will have to decide on size and all that but for now, I think I'll work on holiday and birthday presents and get a jump on things.

May Paths

2009-07-15T16:43:00.004-04:00

Here's my May page! So, I'm only 2 months behind. Not too bad! Right? Working is putting such a damper on my beading, along with the carpal tunnel that is really acting up. Just had the nerve test done for it and so far no nerve damage so that makes me really happy. I have a doctor visit on Monday to see what I'm supposed to do. Wearing a brace 24/7 helps but it sure slows things down. It hasn't stopped me though so that's a good thing. Other than work and running around with my son, not much happens here. Summer school is going well, only 2 weeks left after this one! The weather here has just turned for the better! We had a very soggy spring and now the sun is shinning and my flowers are blooming and everything looks beautiful. This page turned out totally different from what I saw in my head to begin with. I started with the cab and took my colors from there. If you look closely, you'll see that it is kind of geometric itself. It's purple and sage green, have no clue what it is, next time I'm at the store I'll ask. I liked it because of the striations in it. I used size 6, 8, 15s and delicas.

April 2009

2009-06-28T11:34:00.004-04:00

I can't believe it's almost July! Here is my April page. I'm not sure but I think the reason the page took so long is the color, they are actually golds (not a great picture). Not one of my favorites but I'm trying to stretch myself. Hard to believe that I use to not like orange! This one doesn't speak to me much. It was a long time coming. Any way, it could be that I didn't have a moment between work and 5 days with my son after school at TaeKwonDo and boy scouts when the time permitted, I slept! I'm not complaining. I'm glad this piece is done and I've picked out my next set of beads which will be another stretch for me but we'll see. School is out for now, summer school starts on Wednesday for the month of July but only Monday thru Thurs and half days so that's not too bad. I'll surely get some beading done. I've also taken up reading again. I've been plowing through lots of great books, some my son's some my own but I do enjoy it. I hope everyone is safe from the bad weather and enjoying some sunshine. We had a beautiful day yesterday after a hugh thunderstorm came through. It was so worth the storm.

March BJP

2009-03-22T16:53:00.002-04:00

Well, here's my March BJP. My only thought for this was green. I started with a green cat's eye cab and some flower beads and then there was no thought at all. I don't know which way is up or down so if you want to tilt your head either way and decide for me - that's cool. My mother always laughed at me when I said I don't like green and then I'd go and pick out green material for a quilt or a green something or other. Well, I guess this month I don't like green. Sorry to all you St. Patty Day fans. It's been a very busy month with my new job and learning all kinds of new things about autistic kids. Maybe this piece says I'm tired. Not sure - maybe someone out there can figure it out or not! No biggy. I still enjoyed putting bead and thread and needle to fabric so that's the good thing.

Spring, we think, has come to Connecticut. I have a daffodil in bloom in my window well and the crocus are about to pop! It was 50 today with a little sun. We got to hang out our clothes to dry and that's always a good thing. The days are staying light until after 7:00, so it feels like spring! Hope for a little warmer weather and some more sunshine!

Thank You CC

2009-02-20T13:08:00.005-05:00

Look what came in the mail - I have to admit that it came about a week ago and this is the first chance I have had to put it up on the web. I was so excited to receive this - it's a Pay It Forward gift from CC and it came all the way from Hawaii! It's a great friendship doll! It sure did bring a smile to my face when I opened it up. Thank you so much CC! I've put a couple of pictures up - front, back and a close up of the face - isn't it darling!

February BJP and Calendar Doll

2009-02-20T13:02:00.003-05:00

I can't believe it's February already and it's almost over. I've worked for 2 weeks and guess what? I'm on vacation! Back to work next week. I'm enjoy the heck out of the kids I work with and the other women in the department. I have actually had time to bead but not grocery shop. Gotta have prioritities right? Here's my Feburary BJP and my February Calendar Doll. I decided I'd bead a flower for valentines day and the doll just couldn't be pink so purple was my next choice.

January Calendar Doll

2009-02-20T12:58:00.002-05:00

Here's my January doll - no name as yet. I havent' finished her yet but will eventually. My girlfriend, Miss Patty, designed her. I wish I had done her justice. She was cuter on paper. She's supposed to be a fairy!?

January Bead Journal Page

2009-01-30T10:49:00.002-05:00

I've been done for a while now but never got to the picture until today. The colors make me think of being cold. While I was working on this, it actually told me to stop. I did get to a place where I didn't know what to do so, I listened and stopped beading. Most of my other months are totally encrusted but this month - oh well. I do like the fabric so maybe that had something to do with it. It was a cold month with lots of ice and snow. It continued this week with another 5 inches of snow paced down with a couple inches of freezing rain, then rain then very cold temps that froze everything over. Everything was just plain icy. I am a lucky person, I got a job this week and will start on Monday. I'll be working with a cute autistic boy 1 on 1 in one of our elementary schools. I'm excited about this new adventure but at the same time wondering - how am I going to find the time to bead and read. I'll miss my free time but I'll enjoy the financial benefits along with the knowledge that I'll be helping a child. My January doll is coming, soon. Happy New year to all!

December Calendar Doll and BJP

2008-12-16T09:57:00.005-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! It's a busy time of year here as I'm sure where you are. My son is counting the days to Christmas and then his birthday. It's a happy time of year for children and I enjoy his enthusiasm so much. The kids in the area are wound up and ready! I would like to present my December Calendar doll, Santa. He's made with a few scupty objects. I made the face from a mold and my girlfriend Miss Patty made the star, circle and heart. If you think about it Santa has the biggest heart, he travels the world (circle) under the starts, so I thought it brought a little old world feel to him.

My December BJP is a tree with the ornaments exploding off it. I think it shows the enthusiasm of the season from many points of view. Those who love this season and those who just want to say Bahumbug. Your choice. I'm not going to tell you that I wanted the ornaments on the tree but couldn't do it, it just happened that they put themselves where they are and I'm doing a loose interpretation! :)

Thanks for all of you who have visited my blog and let such nice comments, I appreciate it and enjoy reading them. Enjoy your holidays, breathe and be kind to yourself. I'm trying to do this and remind myself of it often since I'm in the process of looking for a job. I retired last February for health reasons and it's time. I'm feeling stronger but you know if I had my druthers, I'd rather be beading! Less stress

November Calendar Doll

2008-11-18T08:42:00.002-05:00

Introducing Leaf Me Alone, my November Calendar Doll. It's how I've been feeling. As I posted below, I've been thinking about what to do now that I think I'm about ready to go back to work. I am enjoying my peace and quiet and when people come into my space I get a bit agitated. I have just wanted to be left alone with my own thoughts. She started out as just a leaf to signify fall and all the beautiful leaves that have fallen and I think she is beautiful. So either way it will remind me of the peace that this month brought to me while watching all those leaves fall.

November BJP

2008-11-18T08:34:00.003-05:00

Here's my November Bead Journal Project. It started out very orderly and then went off track a bit - guess that's the story of my life right now - I'm wandering around in my head trying to figure out what I'm going to do next. Since I retired from teaching preschool last February, I've been healing. I'm getting antsy about now working. I consider myself lucky that I have a number of choices but making a choice is a problem so the right thing hasn't come up yet. So you can see that the beads kind of meander around the large stone - the meandering just happened.

October BJP

2008-10-13T09:06:00.002-04:00

I finished up my October page - I just love the blue stones in the middle - can't remember what they are blue sunstone or something like that. They have some wonderful sparkle in them. I just wanted to show them off.

Calendar Dolls

2008-10-11T15:48:00.002-04:00

In September, I joined the Calendar Doll Challenge on Beaded Art Dolls. I didn't think to post them until just now. So I'm posting September and October dolls now. They are about 4 inches tall and flat. I'm working up to 3D, not that I haven't made any art dolls before, just never beaded. I'll get ther. September is called Simplicity and October is called Harvest Pumpkin. I bet you can tell the difference:)

Gift in the Mail

2008-10-11T15:36:00.004-04:00

Look what came in the mail! I totally forgot that I had played a blog game - show off your bead tray on Denise's blog http://bitsofbeads.blogspot.com/ and got these great blue beads in the mail with a nice note from Denise! Looks like November might just have to be blue. This was such a nice treat. Thought I'd show them off. Thanks Denise!

Beading Area

2008-09-11T20:59:00.004-04:00

Denise from the Bead Journal Project 08 suggested that we show our beading areas. So today, I took a picture of my bead tray - it's really big! No, not really, it's actually a travel size diaper wipe container that I put a matt in. It's great because I take it with me wherever I go. It fits into my purse until I switched to my small winter one, today. I bead while my son goes to TaeKwonDo. I used to just drop him off and come home but with the price of gas I now go and stay so I bead. I can bead in the car with this, too. Most of the time I bead in a recliner with my feet up. I get comfy! What's everyone else using?

September Bead Journal Project

2008-09-09T10:43:00.002-04:00

I just finished my September BJP "page". I have decided on circles for a shape and began this month with a mirror. I am in transition and the mirror symbolizes reflection. While I was beading, I thought about turning 50 this month on the 24th (how appropriate to start a new year beading). What am I going to do for the future, career wise? How can I improve my health? How can I spend my time better? What do I really want? I guess that's what this year will be about. This was a freeing piece - totally impovised except for the mirror.

Summer is Almost Over

2008-08-24T12:15:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since I've added anything to this blog. Summer is almost over, school is almost to begin and it will be quiet in the house. Our Bead Journal Project for 2008 starts September 1 and will end August 31, 2009. I'm not sure what size I'll be using this year or even what shape but I have a few days to decide. I'm excited to being another year of beading with one full year under my belt and some knowledge, too it will be interesing to see what comes out and onto the fabric. I've been beading all summer and as soon as school starts I'll take some pictures of what I've done. I've learned a bit too which it neat. Anyway, it's almost time to start and maybe the blogging will continue too. For all those who are in BJP, good luck and happy beading.

New Adventure

2008-06-25T11:10:00.003-04:00

I just started an encrusted crazy quilt class on line with Joggles and thought I'd just share my first block. This is lesson one - create a block. I assume we'll be adding lots of embellishments in the next 5 classes. Maybe I'll add each step here.

The colors are off. I started with the offwhite with a lavendar hue brocade center, added lite blue, yellow, pink, green, purple a green and gold brocade a darker purple and a sparkly purple. I'm looking forward to seeing how this progresses. I can see many trips to the thread shop for silk thread and embroidery floss. I'm especially looking forward to adding beads and buttons but I think that's last because everything else will get caught on them.

I've Been Tagged

2008-06-06T09:29:00.022-04:00

Robin, from Beadlust and Bead Journal Project (see side lines for sites) just tagged me to do this mere. Just 5 interesting questions. It’s kind of fun learning about other friends out there that I’ve never met, so I’ve done my best to answer.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?
10 years ago, I had just quit my job after 17 years at the Hartford Courant to raise my son. We were doing the playgroup thing, the nap thing (I miss this), and just keeping a 2-year-old busy and out of trouble! Reading children’s stories and watching children’s movies, visiting museums, playgrounds and all those things kids do.

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?
Oh, I live such an exciting life! Grocery shopping, clean the house, write some emails to my boys (I am a boys scout merit badge counselor), write a thank you note, plant some herbs and veggies. box up some books to donate to the library, take my son to TaeKwonDo (he became a black belt at age 10, he’s 12 now and going for his 2nd degree black belt soon). There must be more but it’s still early.

3. Snacks, I enjoy?
That’s a tough one! Hum, it would have to be cheese, a really good extra sharp cheddar! I am choosing to eat right and have stopped eating sugar and white flour. I’m following the Atkin’s program and have lost 33 lbs in the past 3 months. Before this I’d have to say anything with chocolate.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire?
Wow, there’s a lot I could do with this amount! Pay off the house, get a new car, put my son through middle school, high school and college. Bead, sew, oh, have someone clean my house and then I’d donate, donate, and donate! I have a soft spot in my heart for Fidelco Guide Dogs. We were so lucky to be the caretakers of a retired Fidelco dog, Jordan. He spent his retirement with us and he was the BEST dog ever. We had Jordan, a beautiful German Shepherd, for 5 years. He was so fun to have. He was gentle, loving, vocal (not in the barking way) and protective without even doing anything! He was really big!! So I’d donate to them. I’d donate to other organizations, too but right now I can’t think of any.

5. Places I have lived?
Groton, Mass
Fort Devens, Mass
Newington, CT
Verdon, France
Atlanta Georgia (Atlanta Army Depot)
Fort Ord (Monterey, CT)
Williamsburg, VA
Newport News, VA
Heidelberg, Germany (Graduated HS in the Castle)
New Britain, CT
Newington, CT
Manchester, CT (I’ve lived here since 1991 – longest time I’ve lived anywhere)
I think that's it - just don't ask for dates - that's almost impossible. Can you tell I’m an Army Brat?

6. Peeps I want to know more about.

beadin'gram at http://beaded-creation.blogspot.com

Williamsburg Beader at http://williamsburgbeader.blogspot.com

http://sacredartist.blogspot.com/
http://nightbeaderatlarge.blogspot.com/
cc at: http://hrhcc.blogspot.com/

Not knowing many people on line, I'm tagging the above cyber-friends for this meme and hoping you’ll be willing to do it. By the way, “doing it” means you get to answer the same 6 questions as I have, and then tag 5 or 6 more people. Of course, you don’t have to do it. But if you do, please let me know so I can be an appreciative reader!

Finished 2007 Bead Journal Project

2008-05-10T07:56:00.004-04:00

Here are a few pictures of my completed book. The pages are 5x7 and it's about 6 inches thick as you can see from this picture.

Just a few of the pages. Funny, the book stands on it's own! I just realized that.

I used peltex as a stabilizer with cotton as a fabric or painted the peltex as a backing to the beads. I then sewed each page to felt and used grommets to loop them all together. I planned each page to have about an inch more on the left hand side. I didn't know at the beginning what I'd be doing with all the pages but I did plan ahead just in case by leaving the extra on the left. Good thing!

May Bead Journal Page

2008-03-23T15:57:00.002-04:00

I can not believe that this is the last page for the 2007 - 2008 Bead Journal Page quest. This is May. The face is a polymer clay face I made, painted with gesso and then used water color paints to drip all over it with my favorite colors. I really like this page because I used a bunch of different beads and used some in different techniques that I haven't used before.

I know that I'm really early with the last three pages but, I quit my job and have been using beading to "run away". I am happy that I actually finished the journey. I was afraid earlier in the year that I wouldn't finish and I really wanted to in the worse way. I proved to myself that I could make a year long commitment and do it. Best part is that I enjoyed the whole thing.

I have also enjoyed watching everyone else's pages. They are all so wonderful and creative. I have seen my own growth along the way especially in the beading ways. My favorite part is just letting the page create itself. What fun! Thank you to all for your sharing.

April Bead Journal Page

2008-03-23T15:50:00.004-04:00

April showers bring May flowers! That's what went into my head when I did this one. I'm hoping for lots of flowers since we had lots of rain. Wish the shine came out better with the sequines I used for the puddle.

March Journal Page

2008-03-23T15:46:00.002-04:00

March Bead Journal Page is celebrating the GREEN! I didn't catch the shine of the whole piece which started with the great cab in the center that has flakes of silver in the green. I don't know what it's called but I built around it.

Pay It Forward

2008-02-23T17:55:00.007-05:00

This is Milo.

There is a blogger Pay It Forward going on. The idea is this: As part of the PIF venture, I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment here on my blog requesting to join the PIF exchange. I am not sure what that gift will be yet, and youwill not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days! That is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is to Pay It Forward by making this same promise on your blog.I really love that this supports the random acts of kindness philosophy, & gives a boost to handmade, all in one. It's popping up everywhere - Pay it Forward. Are you in?

Catching Up

2008-02-19T19:35:00.006-05:00

Wow! Can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. Won't bore anyone with the whys and whatfores. Let's just say, I've been busy. Healing.

We're on school vacation and I'm breathing. I took pictures of my pages October thru February. I can't believe I'm actually caught up.

October's started slowly. I had the 3 stone leaves and thought it looked boring and needed some sparkle. You can't tell by the picture but the beads in the large leaf shine, the red veins match the red in one of the stones. It still wasn't enough so I just kept on going. A little here and a little there until I said - enough.

November's page took some time. I painted the pelltex a shiny black with acrylic paint. I remember someone else did that earlier and I liked it. Robin said go for it and of course, I didn't until now. I was going to do a cornacopia, then a turkey but as I thought about November, I thought about all our Veterans. My mom and dad were both vets and I thought it might be a nice way to pay tribute to them and all those who came before and after them. I started with the word Thanks. It looked stark and what am I thankful for? hum, I need an American Flag. Quick off to my mother's jewelry box. Yes, I have it and I haven't taken it over with my stuff. I still have my own. Anyway, I got a Bicentenniel flag '76. Ok, but what else. I remember seeing a bunch of my dad's stuff in a box of letters. I haven't read them but I think they are love letters from and to my mom and dad (to each other!). Anyway, I pulled out my dad's signias that he had collected. I wish I knew what they were for (that's another project). I put them on. I had some of the familiar pins that he wore on his uniform, the U.S. pin, the Engineer pin, the star. I found my mom's American Legion pin. So that's how that page came to be. It is by far the heaviest page!

December was a blur and to tell you the truth, I didn't want Santa or a tree or a stocking or anything like that. I thought how simple a gold star would be. I once again painted the peltex with acrylic paints and used gold triangle beads to go around the outside of the star. It really looks much better in person. A simple star can represent a whole lot of things for a whole lot of people. I just love the simplicity of it.

January's Page - Happy New Year! I thought I'd welcome in the baby new year with a bang of fireworks. It's going to be a wonderful year.

February's Page is of course a bunch of hearts. I started collecting hearts a little while ago and was planning on doing something totally different with them but they landed on the page. It's a happy hearts page.

I am so happy I am able to put these up to share with everyone. I have been taking sneak peaks now and again but haven't been commenting on any. I have LOVED what I've seen. What a talented group! I look forward to more from me and everyone else.

Hope all is well with you - Hugs from Heidi where the weather here in Connecticut can't make up it's mind if it's going to be winter or summer.

September BJP

2007-11-06T13:44:00.001-05:00

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

August BJP

2007-11-06T13:40:00.001-05:00

Here's the August page I promised to publish.

I'm Catching Up - Just like the Tortise

2007-11-04T16:48:00.000-05:00

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

2007-07-17T16:24:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-16T20:38:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-12T12:41:00.000-04:00

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

2007-07-08T10:50:00.000-04:00

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

2007-06-29T07:19:00.000-04:00

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?!

2007-06-26T11:31:00.000-04:00

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

2007-06-21T11:27:00.000-04:00

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

2007-06-20T12:38:00.000-04:00

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.

2007-06-19T11:29:00.000-04:00

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

2007-06-19T11:16:00.000-04:00

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

2007-06-15T09:44:00.000-04:00

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.